Taking into account the symbiosis that our cell phones perfectly form, the truth is that these are no longer just devices for making calls and sending messages, but they are also our cameras, our gateway to social networks and, in many cases , our personal assistant.
However, behind all this magic and help, there is a dark side that many users overlook: the constant monitoring of our location by large technology companies, such as Google.
Google Location History is a feature that collects data about where you have been at any given time. Use your phone’s location information to create a detailed record of your movements over time.
This includes not only your daily commute, such as going to work or having drinks with friends, but also more intimate information, such as visits to specific places, travel patterns, and time spent in different locations.
As soon as I discovered that everything is detailed on a map, it scared me a little.
The truth is that despite knowing this meticulous record that Google makes of our location – you perceive it when it sends surveys to your mobile asking how about that site you just visited -, What I didn’t expect was to find myself in three simple steps with an authentic map with all my movements since 2018. —It is the deadline for which you have my data.
He knows what hotel I stayed in when I went to Seville two years ago, of course he knows where I live and even how many times I have visited my house in a specific period.
He knows my favorite bar or gym perfectly and, leaving Spain, he knows absolutely all the places I have visited and the streets I have walked through.
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I can’t deny that as a map to have an idea of what places you have visited in your life it is priceless, but when I saw it the truth is that I had the feeling that someone was chasing me.
Even I find it striking that Serbia appears marked on the map when I have never been. It probably has to do with a cell phone that was stolen from me many years ago and that may have ended up there.
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This is how you can turn off Google Maps tracking
If all this scares you too, the truth is that It is very easy to deactivate this Google tracking and when I realized it I did it immediately. To do this you must:
- Go to Google, click on your account icon.
- Click Manage your Google account.
- On this screen, click on Data and privacy.
- Then go down and click on Location History. Here you can see if it is stopped or not.
- Here you must click Manage history.
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And what does all this really mean for your privacy and security?
The reason behind this constant monitoring is clear: Location data is incredibly valuable to tech and advertising companies.
With access to your Location History, Google can create highly detailed user profiles, which can then be used to target ads, offer personalized recommendations, and ultimately influence your online and offline behavior.
But, What does this really mean for your privacy and security? The answer is much more than you might think.
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On a superficial level, location tracking may seem harmless, especially if you’re used to sharing your location on social media or using apps like Google Maps to find nearby restaurants or get navigation directions.
However, when you look closer, it becomes evident that Location History brings to the table some fear and a lot of concerns about the privacy and security of your personal data.
For example, with access to your Location History, A cybercriminal could get a detailed view of your daily movements, including where you live, where you work, what places you frequent, and what your daily routines are.. This could endanger your personal safety, exposing you to theft or harassment.
In addition to the risk of exposure, there is also the possibility that Google may use your location data irresponsibly or abusively.
Although the company claims to have strict data privacy and security policies, there have been Some cases in which large technology companies have been caught improperly collecting and sharing location information or without the consent of the users.
So what can you do to protect yourself? The answer is simple: disable your Location History on Google. Although this may seem like a radical step, it is a simple and perfect measure to take control of your personal information.
