Archives - Privacy Settings


Turn on “Auto-delete” settings on your Google account

Many companies are now allowing users to decide at what point data should automatically be deleted from their account history. For example, users can choose to have Google delete their information after 3, 18 or 36 months of storage. Here’s how to do it: Log in to your Google account. Click Data & personalization. You’ll […]

On shared computers employ private browsing

All major web browsers provide options for private or incognito browsing. In this mode, a browser does not retain your visited sites, account logins and HTTP cookies (i.e.,the digital files allowing websites to track you). Accordingly, you gain extra protection from others trying to use your saved credentials or look at your history, especially on […]

Review online privacy policies

Privacy policies are the Internet’s counterparts of fine print: They frequently hold many important details that nevertheless usually go unnoticed. Any time a company informs you of an update to its privacy policy, be sure to read it, since it might explain how your data is collected and shared with third parties. You can then […]

Hide yourself on the Snap Map

If you have a Snapchat account and you open the Snap Map, your location will be shared. That means your friends — or users who are not your friends, if your privacy settings allow it — can see exactly where you’re located on the map. If you don’t want to be on the Snap Map, […]

Avoid sharing links to your Instagram posts to other accounts

If your Instagram is set to private, no one can see your posts through the Instagram app except for your approved followers. However, if you post a link to an Instagram post on another account, the permalink will work for anyone, not just your approved Instagram followers. If you want to limit who sees your […]

Change your privacy settings on Spotify

Like many other account-based services, Spotify collects information about its listeners. It only collects relevant information, but if you want to have as much privacy as possible, you can update your privacy settings. For users of the free service, you can opt out of ads that are tailored to your preferences (users of the paid […]