Google search is one of the services offered by Google for which you do not have open an account. But, when they provide you accessibility to the full range of services, some of your personal information is collected by Google.
Some of the Google services require registration such opening a Google account. During registration, Google will ask you about your personal information (such as Name, Email Address and an Account Password). Also, for some other services such advertising programs, you will be asked to submit you credit card number. Though, all the information is kept in an encrypted form on secure servers. Google performs all these functions so as to provide you a better experience at Google.
The giant search Engine, Google, will be providing a better way of acknowledging the facts being captured by Google such as Gmail, YouTube, etc. This service is to be called Google Dashboard. Now, the new application will allow the users to adjust their privacy settings for different Google products.
Google Dashboard
The first week of November, 2009 cited the launching of this service. This application stores information in relation to all the Google services visitors’ utilize. The services include contact Email addresses, Contact Numbers, Conversation in the Gmail, User’s profile at Google and the most recent web entries. YouTube, Reader, Checkout, Web Albums, Gmail, Web History are some of the fields from where the statistics are accumulated.
The Google Dashboard can be found by visiting google.com/dashboard, or logging into your Google account such as Gmail, then accessing the settings.
All of the information already available in the account of a user will be displayed by the Dashboard at one place. For instance, the conversations as well as your chat sessions in Gmail will be listed by the Dashboard.
The new application is also beneficial as it provides a user with more control and transparency. You can keep yourself updated about the fact that what and when did Google know about you?
Features of Google Dashboard
A small icon to indicate the public and non-public information is used by Google Dashboard. For instance, if any of your pictures or personal information is public by default, then you can access it and make the desired information and photos private. Hence, this enables a user to have a list of public and private pieces of information.
The recent Google searches or other content created via Picasa, Blogger, and other services can be edited by the users. Therefore, it can also be known as the summarizer of all your activities occurring on Google. The information in regard to the visitors and comments on your blog or postings is also sent to you.
Privacy concerns
The Google Dashboard service was announced at the 31st International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners. This was done in regard to the privacy concerns of the Google search Engine and how it manages the personal information of several users.
So, the users can now keep track of their personal information and maintain a privacy level. Though, this could not be cleared as to how the giant search engine will use the information accumulated on its servers.
