Google Dashboard and Password Security

This week's blog is going to cover two very important things. First, we would like to introduce you to Google Dashboard and second, we would like to remind everyone about the importance of strong and complex passwords. So, let's get started!  Google has a very interesting tool that you should check out called Google Dashboard. This is a where Google gathers information about you and everything that you do. If at some point in time you have authorized Google to collect data on you (knowingly or unknowingly) you will be able to access this dashboard and see all of your activity on the web. Think of this as a personal activity log that is automatically populated. The data is only collected if you are signed into a Google service, such as staying signed into email and browsing the web at the same time. This service tracks the locations that you've signed into your account from, the browser that you were using, the YouTube videos that you've watched, the locations that you've searched for on Google Maps, the calls that you've made with Google Voice, chat logs, and of course, all of your search and browsing history. 

Once again, in order for that data to be tracked, you must be signed into your account as well as authorize Google to do it and you can turn it off. There are multiple ways that you can use this data to your advantage and track what you do on the internet. While the service is kind of neat due to the huge amount of data that it provides, it can also pose a security threat. Here at TechFarmer, your digital security is very important to us. We constantly write blogs and newsletters to remind people about the importance of complex passwords and the importance of keeping the passwords hidden and not written down on a sticky note. Why are we talking about passwords right now when the blog is about Google Dashboard? Because if someone gets a hold of your username and password and your account activity is tracking this data, what can be done with your personal data is endless. Keep yourself safe and prevent account hacking by following one simple rule, create a long complex password that you can remember and change it as often as possible. Contact TechFarmer with any questions that you may have about keeping your data secure, we will gladly answer them!