Google is probably watching your location right now – here's how to stop it



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When we learned that a tool called Location History Visualizer could use Google data to create a heat map of all the places you visited, it aroused both a fascination and a worry. What exactly does Google know about your travels and daily commute?

Unless you have specifically changed the history settings of your positions, the tech giant probably knows just about everything. As Todd Haselton wrote for CNBC, Google knew when he arrived at his office – at the exact minute – and also stored a copy of the photos he took at each where he went.

This information is collected and stored even when you do not use Google Maps or another Google app. The company says that this personal card is only visible to you, but if you do not want your location scanned, there is a way to turn off Google's location tracking feature.

Go to Google's privacy verification page, scroll to "Location History" and select "Manage Location History." Then, scroll down to the bottom of the page and select "Manage Location History," then enable the button to disable tracking.

You can also delete previous data by clicking "Delete All Location History" under the "Location History" map settings. But wait – this is not the last step: you will also need to check your Google activity controls and turn off "Web and Activity". After that, you will finally be out of the grid.

Do not forget that "some Google apps may not work the same way as before," according to Google. The company uses location data to provide real-time traffic updates, custom maps, and recommendations based on the places you visited.

[h/t CNBC]

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