Finding your personal information in Google search results can be more than just annoying—it can put your privacy and security at risk.
Sensitive details such as your home address, phone number, or financial information may appear online without your consent. This exposure increases your vulnerability to identity theft, scams, and even harassment.
To combat this issue, Google has enhanced its “Results about you” tool, making it more effective and user-friendly. The latest version doesn’t just allow you to manually search for your personal data—it also provides continuous monitoring and alerts you when your information appears in search results.
Additionally, Google has made it much easier to request the removal of sensitive data directly from search results, streamlining the entire process.
Steps to protect your data on Google
If you’re concerned about your private information being exposed online, follow these steps to set up monitoring and removal using Google’s updated tool.
1. Sign in to your Google account
Open Google Chrome and click on your profile icon, located next to the three-dot menu in the top-right corner. Select “Manage your Google Account.”
2. Access the data and privacy section
Once inside your account settings, navigate to the “Data and Privacy” tab on the left-hand menu. Scroll down until you find “My Activity” and click on it.
3. Find the “results about you” tool
Under “Other Activity”, locate the “Results about you” option. Click on “Manage results about you.”
4. Start the setup process
Click the blue “Start” button to activate the tool. This will guide you through the setup to monitor your personal information.
5. Enter your name
In the provided field, type your full name. If you use different names—such as a maiden name, nickname, or professional alias—you can add those as well.
6. Add your contact information
Next, input any personal details you want Google to monitor. This may include your home address, phone numbers, and email addresses. If you have multiple email addresses, you can add them all to ensure full coverage.
7. Verify your information
Review the details you entered to confirm their accuracy. Then, check the confirmation box at the bottom and click “Continue.”
8. Choose notification preferences
Decide how you want Google to notify you when it finds your personal information in search results. You can choose email alerts or push notifications on your device. Click “Save” to finalize your settings.
9. Monitor and remove your data
Once set up, Google will continuously scan search results for your personal information. If it detects any of your data, you’ll receive a notification.
At that point, you can review the results and submit a request for removal if needed. Google will then assess the request and take action to remove the information if it meets its criteria for sensitive data.
Why this matters
With the rise of online data breaches and identity theft, keeping personal information off search engines is more important than ever. Google’s improved “Results about you” tool gives users more control over their privacy by providing real-time monitoring and a simplified removal process.
By taking just a few minutes to set up this tool, you can significantly reduce your exposure to cyber threats, scams, and unwanted contact.
Don’t wait until your data falls into the wrong hands—take action today to safeguard your privacy.
