In the future, Google will give users additional options for checking the search history in Google search. In addition to requesting a new verification when accessing the entire search history of the user, users can quickly delete the search queries from the last 15 minutes with a new delete function and thus keep them private. id = “section_zusaetzlicher_schutz_fuer_den_suchgeschichte”> Additional protection for the search history
The function for the additional protection of the entire search history by means of a new verification to be set up is intended in particular to protect the user when he is not only accessing a device but is sharing it with other people. Without verification, they will not have access to all search queries of the other user as before, even if the other user is logged in. The entire search history, if its storage is not deactivated, can be viewed via “My Activities” in the Google account. The new verification function can also be activated there, which then requires either a password or two-factor authentication.
Verification for access to the search history (Image: Google) Delete all search queries from the last 15 minutes
So far, users can also set that search queries and web activities are automatically deleted after 3, 18 or 36 months. Automatic deletion every 18 months is enabled by default for new Google Accounts. A new feature is the function that can be used to delete the last 15 minutes of your own search history – search queries that may later be uncomfortable can be deleted directly. The function can be accessed via the account photo in the app. So far it is only available in the Google app for iOS, but according to Google it will also be available for the Google app for Android this year. If the “Delete the last 15 minutes” function is not yet displayed in the iOS app, you can activate it manually by clicking on “Search history” once and activating or deactivating the automatic deletion once. After closing the app, the function for deleting the last 15 minutes should be displayed the next time it is started.
Fast deletion of the last 15 minutes (Image: Google) The possibility of deleting individual search queries specifically from the history is independent of this still available.
Developed again in Munich
According to Google, have again the employees at the Google Safety Engineering Center in Munich had a decisive influence on the development of the new functions for the protection of personal data.