Urgent warning Google can track millions of Americans’ every move unless users make four changes to their devices

GOOGLE app users are subject to detailed location and information tracking, including those who use the platform’s Map, Gmail, Review, or even simple Search function.

The apps can store data even after tracking features are turned off, but for maximum privacy, users need to take these four steps on all devices they use their Google accounts on.

1

Google tracks your location, even when you aren’t using an app, like Maps, that requires location services to function.

You can stop some of Google’s tracking by turning off location history in your settings, but that’s only half the battle.

Switching off the feature only removes where you’ve been from the Google Maps Timeline feature, according to MSN, which provides a visualization of your daily movements.

Google admits on its support page that even when turned off, “some location data may continue to be saved in other settings.”

And Google also tracks your non-physical movements–that is, your movement around the web.

If you have any third-party apps or online services connected to your Google account, the tech giant is collecting data on those usage profiles, too.

Tech companies compile the information in order to build a comprehensive user profile so the user can be targeted with specific and clickable, and more profitable, advertising.

Turning off and deleting tracking is a multi-step process.

How to turn off Google location tracking

If you want to completely turn off location tracking, you’ll have to follow these steps.

1. Open up Google.com on your smartphone browser or desktop.

2. Log into your Google account by hitting the top-right icon.

3. Select that icon and then Manage your Google Account.

4. In the Privacy & Personalization box, select Manage your data & privacy.

5. Scroll down to the Activity Controls, and hit Manage your activity controls.

6. In the box called Web & App Activity, slide the toggle switch to off. 

7. A disclosure will explain what disabling this setting will do before you select Pause.

How to delete old location data

Along with turning off tracking, you’ll need to delete your location data from the past.

1. Open up Google.com on your smartphone browser or desktop.

2. Log into your Google account by hitting the top-right icon.

3. Select that icon and then Manage your Google Account.

4. In the Data & Privacy box, select Manage your data & privacy.

5. Scroll down to the Activity Controls, and hit Manage your activity controls.

6. Select Manage History, which will open a map and corresponding timeline. Click the Trash button on the bottom right hand corner of the map to delete your history.

7. A disclosure will explain what disabling this setting will do before you confirm you want to Delete.

Stop Google from tracking web and app activity

1. Open up Google.com on your smartphone browser or desktop.

2. Log into your Google account by hitting the top-right icon.

3. Select that icon and then Manage your Google Account.

4. In the Data & Privacy box, select Data from Apps & Services You Use.

5. Scroll down to the Activity Controls, and hit Manage your activity controls.

6. In the box called Web & App Activity, slide the toggle switch to off. 

7. A disclosure will explain what disabling this setting will do before you select Pause.

Delete Google’s web and app data

1. Open up Google.com on your smartphone browser or desktop.

2. Log into your Google account by hitting the top-right icon.

3. Select that icon and then Manage your Google Account.

4. In the Data & Privacy box, select Data from Apps & Services You Use.

5. Scroll down to the Activity Controls, and hit Manage your activity controls.

6. In the box called Download or Delete Your Data, you can erase all collected data–and you can choose to back it up first if need be.

7. A disclosure will explain what disabling this setting will do before you confirm you want to Delete.

This post first appeared on Thesun.co.uk