How To Change Your Privacy Settings for a Safer Online Experience | All About Cookies

Privacy online is more crucial today than ever before. As our lives and data have moved online, tech giants like Google, Facebook, Microsoft, and Apple have amassed astonishing amounts of personal information on all of us.

A 2019 study found that Google alone collects up to 20 types of data per user, analyzing over 70% of all card transactions in the US. Facebook accumulates 98 data points on average for each of its 2.8 billion users.

This data helps tech companies profile users to serve personalized ads and content. But it also carries risks like identity theft if the data leaks, as seen in recent breaches. Hackers stole data on over 500 million Facebook users in 2019 and 533 million in 2021.

I‘m a cybersecurity expert with over 15 years of experience in cloud data privacy. In my work, I‘ve seen how vital it is for people to understand data collection practices and actively manage their privacy settings. This guide will provide in-depth instructions on how to change your privacy settings for better safety.

Why Should You Update Your Privacy Settings?

First, let‘s discuss why limiting data tracking matters for your security and privacy:

• Prevent identity theft – If your personal details leak, criminals can steal your identity and open fraudulent accounts.

• Stop personalized ads – Creepy ads that follow you across the web are annoying and intrusive. Data brokers create alarming profiles of users.

• Avoid price discrimination – Companies charge different prices based on your personal data like income, Interests, and location.

• Enhance data security – The more places your data exists, the more chances it has to be breached. Limit collection.

• Protect your family – Children and teens can be especially vulnerable to data misuse and targeting.

• Regain privacy – You shouldn‘t have to trade privacy for access to free apps and services.

• Follow regulations – Data protection laws like GDPR and CCPA impose penalties for improper data handling. Stay compliant.

Now let‘s get into the step-by-step instructions for changing key privacy settings on popular platforms and devices.

How Google Collects and Uses Your Data

Google has incredible reach across web search, YouTube, Android, Chrome, Maps, Gmail, and other products. The tech giant assembles an intricate web of data points on users including:

• Web and app activity – Every Google search and website visited gets logged to show relevant ads. Google sees up to 76% of global internet traffic.

• Location data – Google Maps tracks everywhere you go with your phone. Location data informs advertising.

• YouTube History – Google remembers every video you watch on YouTube to recommend new ones and target ads.

• Voice recordings – Any "Ok Google" command gets saved to improve speech recognition and ad relevance.

• Chrome data – Google‘s browser shares details on your browsing with parent company Alphabet.

• Gmail content – Email text and links get scanned to serve related ads in Gmail.

• Contacts and calendar data – If you sync your contacts and calendar, Google sees your connections and events.

• Ad interactions – Google captures every ad click and purchase you make to measure effectiveness.

In total, Google could have thousands of data points on an average user, according to privacy groups. While this enables convenient, personalized experiences, many people feel uncomfortable with the breadth of surveillance.

Fortunately, Google does give users control to limit tracking and delete previously collected data. Here‘s how:

Stop Google from Tracking Web and App Activity

1. Go to your Google Account and select Data & Privacy.
2. Select Activity Controls.
3. Turn off both options under "Web & App Activity."

This prevents Google from saving your searches, sites visited, and activity in Google apps moving forward. Turning it off also means losing personalized Google features.

Delete Specific Activity Like Searches and Location History

1. On the Activity Controls page, click Manage My Activity.
2. For each activity type like YouTube, Maps, Chrome, click the three dot menu icon next to the timeline.
3. Choose "Delete activity by" and select a date range to delete.

You can also have data auto-delete every 3, 18, or 36 months.

Stop Location Tracking

1. Return to Activity Controls page and select Location History.
2. Turn the setting off and select to "Delete all Location History" if desired.

Google will no longer add your device locations to its database when this setting is disabled.

Limit Ad Personalization

1. Visit the Ads Settings page.
2. Under "Ads Personalization," select "Turn Off."

This prevents Google from serving personalized ads based on your interests and web activity. However, you may still see generic ads.

Adjust Microsoft Privacy Settings

Like Google, Microsoft collects user data through Windows, Office, Outlook, Skype, Xbox and more to customize experiences.

According to a Microsoft privacy statement, they gather data points like:

• Browsing history – Sites visited in Microsoft Edge browser inform ads and suggestions

• Search queries – Questions typed into Bing search power recommendations

• Voice data – Speech recognition in Microsoft apps use voice samples to train AI

• Location data – Physical location informs local search results and advertising

• User content – Documents, emails, photos, etc. get analyzed to improve products

• Contacts and relationships – Connections and communication in apps shape suggestions

• Advertising ID – Tracks activity to serve personalized ads in Microsoft apps

Much of this data collection occurs behind the scenes without user knowledge. Here are the key settings to change for more privacy:

Stop Web Tracking

1. Open Windows Settings and go to Privacy.
2. Turn off the following:

• Include browsing history
• Let sites provide locally relevant content

This prevents Microsoft from monitoring your web browsing to inform ads and suggestions.

Disable Location Tracking

1. In Privacy settings, select Location.
2. Toggle the main Location service to Off.

With location off, Microsoft cannot identify your physical location for personalized recommendations and ads.

Turn Off Voice Data Collection

1. Go to Privacy > Speech.
2. Toggle Off each of the following speech recognition options:

• Online speech recognition
• Getting to know you

This stops Microsoft software from collecting voice samples to refine speech recognition capabilities.

Limit Advertising ID Tracking

1. Go to Privacy > General
2. Toggle Off "Let apps use advertising ID to make ads more interesting to you based on your app activity."

Microsoft can no longer use this identifier to connect your activity across apps for targeted advertising.

You can manage privacy settings for all Microsoft services by signing into your Microsoft account as well.

Bolster Privacy on iPhone and Mac

Apple has built a reputation for taking user privacy more seriously than other Big Tech companies. However, Apple still gathers plenty of user data to deliver personalized ad experiences.

According to Apple privacy policies, they collect:

• Device usage data – How you utilize your iPhone, iPad, or Mac informs product improvements.

• Health app data – Apple Health app integrates data from other health apps.

• Location data – Where you go with Apple devices powers location-based suggestions and features.

• App Store data – Your downloads, purchases, and searches help Apple recommend apps.

• Apple News data – The articles you read in Apple News shape suggested stories.

• Advertising data – Ad clicks, views, and interactions allow targeted advertising.

While Apple does take measures to anonymize data, many users want to minimize tracking. These steps will help enhance privacy:

Stop Ad Tracking on iPhone

1. Open Settings > Privacy & Security > Tracking
2. Turn off Allow Apps to Request to Track.

This disables IDFA tracking used for targeted ads on iPhone.

Disable Ad Targeting on Mac

1. Go to System Preferences > Privacy & Security.
2. Select the Privacy tab and deselect Personalized Ads under Apple Advertising.

Limit App Tracking

1. On iPhone, open Settings > Privacy > Tracking.
2. Disable Allow Apps to Request to Track.

This prevents apps from connecting your activity to serve targeted ads.

Turn Off Analytics Data Sharing

1. On iPhone, go to Settings > Privacy > Analytics & Improvements.

2. Turn off Share iPhone/iPad Analytics.

3. On Mac, go to Privacy > Analytics & Improvements.

4. Deselect Share Mac Analytics.

This stops Apple from accessing analytics data from your devices.

Disable Siri Data Collection

1. On iPhone, open Settings > Siri & Search.
2. Turn off Listen for "Hey Siri" and Press for Siri.

With Siri off, Apple won‘t collect voice samples and recordings of Siri interactions.

Protect Your Privacy on Social Media

Social platforms should also be a focus when examining privacy controls. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, TikTok and others collect expansive data for advertising:

• Posts and messages – Content you share is analyzed to recommend relevant ads.

• Likes, clicks, views – Interactions with posts determine ads you‘ll see.

• Contacts and networks – Connections provide insight for suggestions and targeting.

• Browsing activity – Sites visited and links clicked while browsing social apps inform ads.

• Location data – Location posted and tracked via mobile apps powers local ads.

Here are some top settings to adjust for major social platforms:

Facebook

• Settings > Ads > Ad Preferences > Ad Settings > Manage Data Use > Disable data use for ad targeting

• Settings > Location Services > Turn off location collection

Instagram

• Profile > Menu > Settings > Ads > Ad interests > Remove all

• Privacy > Location Services > Never turn on location services

Twitter

• Settings & Privacy > Privacy and Safety > Disable Personalize based on your inferred identity

• Turn off Precise location and Allow location access

TikTok

• Settings & Privacy > Ads > Disable Personalized ads

• Privacy > Turn off User Targeting and App Activity

YouTube

• Go to Google Activity Controls page and disable YouTube History

More Ways to Boost Online Privacy

Adjusting platform privacy settings is a great start. You can also incorporate additional tools and practices for enhanced protection:

• Use a VPN: Virtual Private Networks encrypt traffic so ISPs and snoops on public Wi-Fi can‘t see your activity.

• Install ad blockers: Blockers stop ad trackers and keep your data away from advertisers.

• Try anti-tracking browsers: Browsers like Brave and DuckDuckGo block hidden trackers that follow you between sites.

• Delete your data: Use data removal services to delete your personal info from data broker sites.

• Monitor permissions: Be selective when granting app permissions like location, contacts, camera, etc.

• Use multi-factor authentication: Add an extra layer of account protection on top of passwords.

• Check privacy policies: Read the privacy details of apps and services before signing up.

• Change passwords regularly: Update passwords frequently to newer, stronger ones to prevent hacking.

• Beware public Wi-Fi: Avoid accessing sensitive info like banking on unsecured public networks.

• Review privacy settings often: Revisit your options every few months or after software updates.

Take Control of Your Data Today

As technology becomes further ingrained into every facet of life, we need to take an active role in controlling our personal data. The good news is tech providers offer privacy settings empowering users.

I hope this comprehensive guide gave you a better understanding of how data gets tracked online along with actionable steps to minimize excessive data collection. While privacy settings aren‘t foolproof, they allow you to reveal only the personal details you feel comfortable sharing.

Feel free to reach out if you have any other questions about boosting your online privacy as a cybersecurity expert. And be sure to check your privacy settings on all devices every few months for optimal safety!