I ignored this Google privacy feature for years, but you should use it right now

As much as I criticize Google for its privacy track record, it also has some pretty useful tools available that can help you protect your personal data. But I have to admit that, even as a privacy enthusiast, some of these features have flown under my radar.

Recently, when delving through my Google app settings, I finally decided to take a look at the Results About You feature. And since setting it up, I feel much less worried about my private information appearing in search results.

The Results About You feature enables Google to check whether certain private information about you shows up in search results. If it finds any results, you can submit a request to delete them.

The type of information Google monitors includes phone numbers, email addresses, and home addresses. It also introduced the ability to scan ID and Social Security numbers, but the availability of this specific field depends on your region.

If Google finds a result including your personal information, you will receive a notification. You can then request that the company remove the link from search results. If your request meets the removal criteria, Google will remove the result for all users.

Setting up the Results About You feature is pretty simple once you know where to find it. You can access the feature on your Android phone by opening the Google app, tapping on your profile icon, and selecting Results about you. Alternatively, you can visit the Results About You website.

You will need to provide Google with the information you want to monitor. According to the company, this information is encrypted and used only for monitoring, testing, and improving the monitoring system.

Once you’ve opened the Results About You page, you can tap on Get started. On the next page, you will need to add your name. You can also include a nickname that people may use when searching for you. Then tap Continue.

Next, fill in the information you want to monitor. I added my home address, phone number, and three email addresses that I don’t want to be publicly available. You can add multiple items for each field. Once you’re done, tap Continue again.

Finally, review all the information you’ve entered. You can also use the toggle buttons to select where you want to receive notifications for monitoring results. I selected both my email and the Google app. You also need to check the box next to I confirm that the info that I’ve added here belongs to me. Once done, select Save.

Google completes its first scan within six hours. For me, it didn’t pick up any results. If it does find results, however, you can submit a removal request.

Even though it didn’t find any results the first time around, the tool will continue to run periodic scans to see if anything pops up. Considering I’ve had personal data leaked in breaches, it gives me comfort that I at least have something checking whether this data pops up on Google.

However, it’s not the only tool I have running to keep me aware of any leaked data. The dark web monitoring tool in Google Password Manager keeps track of whether any of my online account information appears on the dark web. This really helped me recently when an old password of mine surfaced on the dark web, and I had to change the credentials for over 100 old accounts.

I also use the HaveIBeenPwned website to check for leaks and breaches related to my email accounts. I’m subscribed to receive notifications of new leaks. However, it didn’t flag the most recent breach of a local retired app that exposed my password and email address online. But that just emphasized the importance of having multiple tools keeping tabs on whether my personal data is at risk.

After all, data privacy is important for everyone. Luckily, tools like Results About You make it easier to protect your privacy without requiring you to meticulously track everything yourself. If you haven’t set it up yet, I really recommend doing it to safeguard your private information.