Google amps up privacy features with Incognito Mode for Maps and much more

Introduction:

Google has been on a bit of a privacy kick lately. Following the massive data breach of Facebook user information, Google has decided to revamp its privacy features. This includes a new Incognito Mode for Maps that will keep your location and activities completely hidden from others using the app. As part of its “Security and Privacy” update, Google is also adding new features to its Chrome browser, Gmail, and YouTube. Here’s a look at all the new privacy features Google has announced.

Google launches four new features focused on boosting user privacy

Earlier this month, Google announced four new features to help boost user privacy. The first is a new Incognito Mode for Google Maps, which will allow users to navigate without leaving a trace (similar to the Incognito Mode in Chrome). The second is that Google's ubiquitous browser will now come with built-in privacy alerts, notifying you if one of your passwords has been compromised in a known data breach. The third is Password Checkup, a new tool that will automatically nudge you if you've been hacked. And lastly, Google is expanding its Location Tracking Transparency Report to include information about Android devices. This report provides users with data about which apps are tracking their location and how often. Taken together, these announcements signal a renewed commitment from Google to protect user privacy.

Mapping out a more secure future?

Google has announced that it is bringing Incognito Mode to Google Maps. The new feature will work much like it does in Chrome and YouTube - it will stop Google from tracking your searches for locations and directions. However, your ISP or cell phone provider will still be able to log your Maps history. This is because Google still needs to track your location in order to provide you with directions. While this may seem like a step back for privacy, it's really just a way for Google to comply with the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

"Hey Google, delete me!"

Google's been on a bit of a privacy kick recently. Earlier this month, it announced that it was adding Incognito Mode to Maps and YouTube. The mode will enable you to set your YouTube History for automatic deletion at regular periods of time. But arguably the most useful new feature is the ability to ask Google Assistant to delete your interactions with it. You'll be able to do this from next week. Other languages will follow in November, the search giant says, and one week is the longest time period that can be erased by your smooth talking.

Conclusion:

As data privacy becomes an increasingly pressing issue, Google has been hard at work developing new features to give users more control over their information. With the launch of Incognito Mode for Maps and a new "My Activity" dashboard, Google is making it easier than ever to keep your data private. These new features are a step in the right direction, and we hope to see even more focus on privacy in the future.