Many internet users are searching for methods to stop Google from tracking their search activity in a time when concerns about online privacy are becoming more and more pressing. Being the most popular search engine, Google gathers a tonne of information about user behaviour, search terms, and browsing preferences. Although this data collection aids in customising services, ads, and search results, it frequently gives rise to privacy concerns. Thankfully, there are a few techniques you can do to protect your privacy and stop Google from seeing what you search for.
Employ Different Search Engines
DuckDuckGo
With an emphasis on privacy, DuckDuckGo is a search engine that doesn’t save personal information or keep track of your searches. It provides a Google-like user experience without collecting any data. You may do searches with DuckDuckGo and feel secure knowing that no one is watching.
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Google search results are provided by Startpage without any monitoring. It serves as a go-between, sending Google your anonymous search requests and providing you with the results. In this approach, Google is unable to directly monitor your queries.
Put in place privacy extensions.
Origin of uBlock
Strong ad blocker uBlock Origin also stops a lot of tracking scripts from operating on websites. You may limit the amount of information Google can gather about your surfing preferences by disabling these scripts.
Badger for Privacy
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) created Privacy Badger, which automatically disables trackers that follow you online. To safeguard your privacy, it discovers which trackers are on the websites you visit and disables them.
Turn off Google Apps & Web Activity
Users can opt out of Google storing their search history and activity across all Google services by disabling Web & App Activity. This is how you do it:
Open the settings for your Google Account.
Go to the section labelled Data & Personalisation.
Toggle off Web & App Activity by clicking on it.
Google will no longer monitor your search and browsing activity across all of its services if you disable this feature.
Employ a VPN
By hiding your IP address and encrypting your internet connection, a virtual private network, or VPN, makes it more difficult for Google and other organisations to monitor your online activity. Your internet traffic is routed through a secure server when you use a VPN, adding an extra degree of secrecy. Popular VPN providers include CyberGhost, NordVPN, and ExpressVPN.
Use the Incognito Mode to browse
You may stop Google from locally storing your search history and browsing information by using the incognito or private browsing mode on your browser. It’s crucial to remember that using this mode won’t stop Google or your ISP from viewing your activity. Incognito mode should be used in conjunction with other privacy-enhancing tools such as VPNs or privacy-focused search engines for enhanced privacy.
Modify the Browser’s Preferences
Empty the Cache and Cookies
You can help get rid of tracking information that Google and other websites store on your device by routinely deleting the cookies and cache in your browser. Most browsers provide simple methods for removing this data:
Go into the settings of your browser.
Go to the History or Privacy area.
Select cookies and cache after selecting the option to delete browsing data.
Turn Off Third-Party Cookie Use
You may block third-party cookies, which are frequently used for tracking, using a lot of browsers. You may limit the amount of information Google can gather about your surfing preferences by turning off these cookies.
Make use of secure messaging apps.
If you communicate via Google services, you might want to move to private, encrypted messaging services like Telegram or Signal. Because these apps use end-to-end encryption, your messages will remain unreadable by anybody but you and the intended receiver.
Protect Your Emails Using Encryption
Emails are scanned for advertising reasons by Google’s Gmail service. Use encrypted email services like ProtonMail or Tutanota to safeguard your email privacy. Because these services provide end-to-end encryption, your emails are safe and only you and the recipient can view them.
Turn off location tracking
Google frequently uses location data to deliver tailored services and advertisements. In order to stop location tracking:
Open the settings for your Google Account.
Go to the section labelled Data & Personalisation.
Toggle off Location History by clicking on it.
By changing the location settings on your mobile device, you may also turn off location monitoring.
Restrict Google’s Data Access
Examine the permissions for the app.
Check and modify the permissions that your devices’ apps have been given on a regular basis. Restrict who has access to sensitive information such as contacts, location, and microphone. As a result, Google is able to get less data from its apps.
Control the Ad Settings
You can restrict ad personalisation and modify your ad choices with Google. To carry out this:
Open the settings for your Google Account.
Go to the section labelled Data & Personalisation.
Turn off ad personalisation by clicking on Ad Settings.
This lessens the quantity of information that is gathered about your interests and activities by stopping Google from using your data to provide tailored adverts.
In summary
It takes more than one strategy to keep Google from tracking your searches and preserve your privacy. You may greatly improve your online privacy by switching to other search engines, downloading privacy extensions, turning off Google’s tracking tools, utilising a VPN, and modifying your browser settings. You should also think about turning off location tracking, limiting Google’s access to your data by managing your ad settings and app permissions carefully, and utilising encrypted email services and secure chat apps. These actions can help you take control of your online privacy and limit the amount of information Google can gather about you, even if it could be difficult to totally stop Google from collecting data about you.