Every time we use an app or a website, we leave behind “digital exhaust” –small trails of data like our location history, what we’ve searched for, and which apps have permission to see our contacts. Over time, this builds up and can compromise your privacy.
This week, we are going to perform a quick “Privacy Checkup” on the two most common platforms: Google and Facebook. This will only take about three minutes.
1. The Google Privacy Checkup
Google has a built-in assistant that walks you through your settings. It will show you things like your YouTube watch history and location data.
Step 1: Go to myaccount.google.com and sign in.
Step 2: Look for the box that says “Privacy & personalization.”
Step 3: Click on “Take the Privacy Checkup.”
Step 4: Follow the prompts. I recommend looking closely at “Web & App Activity.” You can set this to “Auto-delete” after 3 months so Google doesn’t keep a permanent record of every search you’ve ever made.
2. The Facebook Privacy Checkup
If you use Facebook to keep up with family, it’s worth checking who can see your “exhaust” (like your hometown or friend list).
Step 1: Open Facebook on your computer or phone.
Step 2: Click your Profile Picture in the top right.
Step 3: Select Settings & privacy, then click Privacy Checkup.
Step 4: Click the first box: “Who can see what you share.”
Step 5: Hit “Continue” and review your email address and birthday. I recommend setting these to “Friends” or “Only me” rather than “Public.”
Why This Matters
Scammers often gather “digital exhaust” to make their phishing attempts look more convincing. By tightening these settings, you make it much harder for strangers to find personal details about your life.