Google Maps - How to Protect Your Privacy

[@jeanettesozpix]

I'm not that good at keeping records, so I find it awesome to look back and see where I've been, especially seeing that I've travelled around a lot. Then on the other hand, knowing one's every move is being monitored can be rather disconcerting, hence I have a love/hate relationship with Google. I do like the fact that we are able to download this information and keep it private. Thanks for showing us this.

[@davidoickle1778]

I see you have been to Nova Scotia. Glad to have you!

[@dottotech]

I did! LOVE it!

[@TheresaJamone]

Once again, an excellent short video illustrating the issue. I have shared with my colleagues / end users.

[@jeffreyjackman7053]

I'm not good at remembering new places I've visited hence the reason I have it turned on. Feels good when I can go back on my timeline and look at places I visited on my first trip to the NYC back in May 2022

[@OddsandSods26]

That was a very interesting video, packed full of information. Thank you.

[@1WhoConquers]

One thing to be aware of... at least on more recent versions of Android... when you enable WiFi, you're also enabling location. And there's no way to disable that, it's mandatory. Maybe not a huge deal when you're on your home ISP/router, but good to know if you're in the habit of using public WiFi when you're out and about.

[@vancity2349]

Awesome video Steve, thank you. I dont use google maps anymore for the same reasons.

[@landonpraught9170]

Thanks Steve This so imporant we must be so careful on the web . Great video

[@frankstone]

Very helpful.... thank you

[@michaelhammond4788]

Thanks for the video, taught me things I didnt know including making a trip to Melbourne Australia where Ive never been, In fact I havent been to Australia for about 6 years.

[@LANDSEAAIRCANADA]

Thank You

[@florencebishop-wf2ku]

hey steve! just watched your video on location privacy; and i found it most interesting... thank you so much for this advice and your very wise to share this with me. i will make a note and change some settings for,i am a very private person,dont travel much,but; i do prefer my private life as my own... great stuff and i appreciate your input...

[@Urbanthick]

I often see the map icon pop up on my phone. I have no idea why this happens. I have everything turned off.

[@douglasmowat7143]

Thank you for this. Please how do I remove search history from google maps?

[@harrynickel8691]

Thank you sir. I appreciate your content.

[@dottotech]

You are very welcome

[@subramaniamsubra5030]

God bless you sir. Thanks for sharing this information

[@mikeruiz9327]

Steve great job!!!

[@donotneed2250]

The only time I turn Location on is for the app I use when I go walking. When I'm done using it I turn it back off. When I was working as an over-the-road driver I already was tracked by most of the companies I drove for as it was. I also had to keep a logbook so I knew where I had been. First it was done on paper and then electronically. Since I itemized my deductions I still have copies of them which I keep for 7 years before discarding. I was medically retired in 2018 so I still have a couple of years to still keep. I also periodically check to make sure everything is turned off. What I can't understand are apps that say they need my location in order to work. I tried to use a couple of Bluetooth equalizer apps and they wanted to know my location. I have backgrounds in computers and electronics and I know an app does not need my location to equalize a Bluetooth headset two feet away from it. Needless to say they were quickly uninstalled and one was from the manufacturer of my Bluetooth headset.

[@laviniaxxo7899]

An interesting video, thanks for bringing this to us. I went and had a look at mine and was fascinated. I reckon they would be quite intrigued why we went to certain locations, especially when you head out of town to nowhere for 30 minutes turn around and come back, and your stopping and starting along the way, sure would make for a lot of head scratching. You could be playing an actual literal game. One trip I took in 2019 has me travelling from place to place non-stop and supposedly staying at a truck stop ALL night. I sure didn't camp at a truck stop all night. It said I rode a motorcycle part of the way - how strange, but I was in a car all around the town the following day. The following day I somehow I managed a 500km (310 mile) trip in 12 hours in a car and intermittently rode a motorbike for 7km of that trip. Hilarious!! I wonder where I put the car while on the bike and visa versa. Obviously the history is not 100% on occasion. Very handy to have this available. I am in agreement with you and do much the same thing as you. Great to be able to know how to get to this information though. Thanks.

[@HandsIntoHistory]

I would assume that the only way for anyone else to see our timeline info, or any Google info for that matter, is if they hacked into our Google account, correct? So, theoretically, as long as I have 2-factor authentication, don't give out my password/account info to anyone, no one would see this info, even people at Google, correct?? I realize people can hack into accounts, but we run that risk with everything, but I'm asking if I have done all I can to protect my account, then theoretically, I could leave location services on all the time and not worry that someone at Google is watching me all the time......correct??

[@dottotech]

Google is still collecting information, such a s real time data to pinpoint traffic jams etc. But as far as I know they are not specifically collecting YOUR info.

[@mreventos]

@@dottotech but that information and data could be counted towards your free 15 gigs, right?

[@pauladams1915]

Location services once proved someone was lying when they accused me of confronting them one time. At the time of the so called incident I was at work which was over fifteen miles away from said location. After showing them this and having the backing of my boss I never heard from them again.

[@andrix6063]

can you tell us if its possible to use gmap, offline or else, without tracking and historing?

[@dottotech]

You can use it offline using your phone's GPS without any tracking

[@mreventos]

@@dottotech not only your phone's GPS but triangulating from cell towers as well, even in airplane mode. I use a tablet with no cell service only WiFi.

[@sherrireves1570]

More info on the download info please. Is it a clickable file, or would we need an app? TYVM

[@jeffgraham2986]

This is great info but can you explain using Bixby Routines to activate and deactivate location on the Android to help in this situation. Thank you.

[@dottotech]

What is a Bixby Routine?

[@jeffgraham2986]

Go to Settings, Advanced Features, Bixby Routines, Maps Locations. You can then choose which apps you want Loc to turn on when the app is opened. When the app is closed so will the Loc feature close. Just another way of Loc management.

[@JimRobertson]

Bixby is a Samsung phone feature

[@JimRobertson]

Great information Steve. Is there a way to save the travel history on any specific date as a gpx file? Currently when I go out photographing, I turn on Strava to track my location and then when I get home I save that track as a gpx file and "co-ordinate" that info with my picture files so i know where I took any particular picture. Trouble is I frequently forget to turn on Strava. This, at this point, is always on.....😊 Thanks

[@ro_boat]

How about doing a video on "deleting your private information on Google" ?

[@Hindrellations]

Lovet so interesting to know more

[@robertemmons8610]

I went to Google maps, your data in maps, and turned on location history yesterday, but when I click see and delete activity, it is empty. What's wrong?

[@robertemmons8610]

Dunno? I fiddled around with settings, and it seems to be working now.

[@marekj3918]

It was a very interesting video. I was a bit surprised because you otherwise use Google products extensively. Don't you have concerns about data protection? Greetings from Germany

[@dottotech]

Yes I have, my goal is to make people aware of what is happening so they can make decisions that work for them

[@anthonygarcia49]

Since this person is from Germany I'm wondering if the data collection agreement between users and Google are different for different countries. Is the data collection agreement different between the USA and Canada?

[@elvistrejo3058]

Work, Work and Work

[@CurbSideManor]

I turn it on only when I'm on the road exploring or in unfamiliar areas.

[@deutzmans1]

Well presented information again ,can you tell me how to correct my home address on google maps timeline ,blue dot is correct ,it has my neighbours house name 100m away on my journey start point

[@reamsel]

But google makes really good solutions with these data. If everyone turned off location, we would not be able to see where the traffic is and/or navigate around it, we would not see how busy a place or restaurant is, and not see expected busynes for a place

[@Akongano]

Is it possible for google to activate off /on location settings or data timeline by google hackers

[@anthonygarcia49]

Does this Google Map data count towards your free 15 gigs on the Google Cloud? If so, another good reason to turn off location information and delete the previous history.

[@dottotech]

No it does not count

[@froggyfrulz]

USE google maps logged off, nondata in google

[@AsifAslam-fn5zq]

2:06 1:❤43

[@Santamike212]

thank you, I am using Fire Fox. I can not get the travel history to work. What am I doing wrong? Mike

[@lisaberlin475]

Electronic medical records

[@christinamariehicks1078]

meadows....

[@SantoshGairola]

I cannot believe that you said, "you can delete this data and google have no access to it anymore". Are you really that naive?

[@dottotech]

apperently

[@PaulLimoges]

I guess that because these phones might not work like computers and possibly like super computers or servers then they run Linux and that is secure. But your only as secure as the weakest link in the chain your password and iPhones try to make serial numbers for passwords but people don't like use them. I just found out that if use a serial number is the best possible answer besides 2factor. Unbelievable though how people are being hurt by this technology and we will never here about it.

[@sifamtube]

Use my tele birr account.

[@miltonbrownrigg8409]

Interesting indeed. I don't mind Google keeping this stuff. I'm not that interesting.

[@anthonygarcia49]

But, if it counts towards your free 15 gigs then you may want to turn it off unless you want to pay for additional storage

[@len801]

Until you are. Abuse victims have and are being tracked and harmed by their abusers using Google maps, but as long as you're OK, that's the main thing. SMH.

[@miltonbrownrigg8409]

@@len801 That's crime. You can be a victim of crime just stepping out your front door. People will choose to be criminals no matter what. Should we not internet bank as well? Thanks for the attitude but I'm sorry I'm not interested.

[@dottotech]

It does not count towards it

[@deletingmychannel]

If you care about protecting your privacy and using google you’re gonna have a bad time