Google will be implementing a new privacy policy on March 1, 2012. This is a unified policy that will affect all of your Google accounts, and any information collected on you before March 1st. It will also include any information Google collects on you in the future.
Currently, all of your Google searches and visited sites (Google Web History) was kept separate from all other Google services. Your Web History tells a story about you that you may not want others to know. This story can include your location, gender, sexual orientation, age, health issues, spiritual beliefs and so much more.
In order to stop Google from merging your Web History with any information gathered about you from Google + or YouTube, you should remove everything from your Web History. Not only that, but you should also have the detailing of your Web History stopped from the present into the future.
The steps you need to take in order to do this are as follows:
First, sign into your Google account.
Next, click on “Remove all web history” button.
Finally, click “OK”.
Notice that by removing your Web History, you are also pausing it. The Web History will stay off until you decide to re-enable.
When your Web History is enabled, Google will keep your records indefinitely. However, it you disable your Web History, your records will be partially cleared in 18 months. Also, some customized search results that would normally be sent to you will be barred. Following the advice in the Electronic Frontier Foundation’s Six Tips to Protect Your Search Privacy will help you to lessen the amount of records Google will keep on you.
Keep in mind that you will need to follow these steps for each Google account that you have. It is also important to note that Google will still be able to store your information to use internally. Disabling Web History will not prohibit Google from sending any information stored to any law enforcement agency, if requested.
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