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Google’s new security tools to track and protect online life

With most of us spending our lives online and a lot of that spent on Google-related sites like Gmail, YouTube, etc, it's only right that the tech company should be concerned about security and protecting your online life. That is why they have released two new security tools that will help users, not just IT managers, track their online life and at the same time help keep it secure.



A Devices and Activity section is now seen on your Google dashboard. This basically means that whatever you do on any Google-related product, whether it's on any Android device connected to your account, or Google Chrome (and even Firefox and Safari) will show up on that section. Don't worry, it doesn't list exactly what you did (are you trying to hide something?) but rather the time and locations where your activities happened. So if you notice something amiss, then you can act on it. The section says it only keeps data for the past 28 days, but knowing Google, it's definitely more than that.


To help you with taking steps to keep your accounts secure, Google has also introduced a new security wizard that will help you understand what you need to do to recover or strengthen your device or activity. First things first, you need to set up your account for recovery scenarios, in case you find yourself digitally compromised. This includes adding an alternate email address, disabling apps connected to your account that you rarely use or seem dubious, and tracking your online activity. But this security wizard will show you the step by step guide you need to follow when you've already been compromised, in a language that you will understand.


With hackers and malicious software and sites becoming more "sophisticated" nowadays, it's a great idea for Google to provide more tools to help you keep your digital life more secure. But it also underscores the fact that it knows a lot (maybe too much?) about your online life. You have to remember, Google never forgets.


SOURCE: Google