{"id":138380,"date":"2019-05-13T18:58:07","date_gmt":"2019-05-13T16:58:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sftarticles.wpenginepowered.com\/en\/?p=138380"},"modified":"2025-07-01T21:58:38","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T04:58:38","slug":"google-maps-privacy-update","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/google-maps-privacy-update\/","title":{"rendered":"Google Maps latest update will help you protect your privacy"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-138383\" src=\"https:\/\/articles-img.sftcdn.net\/sft\/articles\/auto-mapping-folder\/sites\/3\/2021\/05\/Google_Maps_Incognito_Mode_mbgvi5.jpg\" alt=\"How to activate Incognito mode on Google Maps\" width=\"700\" height=\"394\" \/><\/p>\n<p>At the beginning of the month,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blog.google\/technology\/safety-security\/automatically-delete-data\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Google introduced a new auto-delete feature<\/a> for all the data it gathers on your web behavior. The feature gives you more control over your personal data for sure, but it is a little limited. Google will automatically delete any data that has been stored for longer than you wish it to, but the problem is that the new feature only gives two choices for how long that period may be: three months or a year and a half.<\/p>\n<p>This is definitely a step in the right direction, but the feature&#8217;s clear limitation is somewhat frustrating. Fortunately, however, one of Google\u2019s most invasive programs, Google Maps, is getting a much stronger privacy protecting feature.<\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-card-program\">\r\n  <div class=\"sc-card-program__body\">\r\n    <div class=\"sc-card-program__row clearfix\">\r\n      <div class=\"sc-card-program__col-logo\">\r\n        <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"sc-card-program__img\" alt=\"Google Maps\" src=\"https:\/\/images.sftcdn.net\/images\/t_optimized,f_auto\/p\/95612986-96d5-11e6-af7c-00163ec9f5fa\/3278374776\/google-maps-logo.png\" width=\"100px\" height=\"100px\">\r\n      <\/div>\r\n      <div class=\"sc-card-program__col-title\">\r\n        <span class=\"sc-card-program__title\">Google Maps<\/span>\r\n        <a class=\"sc-card-program__button sc-card-program-internal\" href=\"https:\/\/google-maps.en.softonic.com\/android\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Download Google Maps<\/a>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n      <div class=\"sc-card-program__col-rating\">\r\n        <svg class=\"rating-score__content\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.1\" x=\"0\" y=\"0\" viewbox=\"0 0 50 50\" enable-background=\"new 0 0 50 50\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><path class=\"rating-score__background rating-score--good\" fill=\"none\" stroke-width=\"6\" stroke-miterlimit=\"10\" d=\"M40 40c8.3-8.3 8.3-21.7 0-30s-21.7-8.3-30 0 -8.3 21.7 0 30\"><\/path><path class=\"rating-score__value rating-score__value--70\" fill=\"none\" stroke-width=\"6\" stroke-dashoffset=\"70\" stroke-miterlimit=\"10\" d=\"M40 40c8.3-8.3 8.3-21.7 0-30s-21.7-8.3-30 0 -8.3 21.7 0 30\"><\/path><text class=\"rating-score__number\" content=\"7\" text-anchor=\"middle\" transform=\"matrix(1 0 0 1 25 31.0837)\" data-auto=\"app-user-score\">7<\/text><\/svg>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"sc-card-program__row\">\r\n      <span class=\"sc-card-program__description\"><\/span>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"sc-card-program__row\">\r\n      <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"sc-card-program__bigpic\" src=\"\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none'\">\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <a class=\"sc-card-program__link track-link sc-card-program-internal\" href=\"https:\/\/google-maps.en.softonic.com\/android\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><\/a>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n<h2>Google Maps is getting an Incognito Mode that will stop the app from tracking you<\/h2>\n<p>The new Google Maps Incognito Mode was introduced Tuesday at the big Google I\/O Conference. According to the keynote speech that introduced the new privacy-protecting feature, you will be able to switch it on with a simple click of a switch and when activated, it will hide all of your activity from your Google account. This means Google Maps will no longer be tracking things like places searched for or directions followed.<\/p>\n<p>Privacy was a bit of a buzzword at the Google showpiece with CEO Sundar Pichai running through the search giant\u2019s history on the subject before introducing some new features. One such introduction was the rollout of the aforementioned auto-delete feature. Another was one-tap access to your Google account&#8217;s privacy management page. These two new features, as well as Google Maps\u2019 Incognito Mode, should soon be front and center when clicking your Google profile picture in the major Google apps or Google Maps specifically.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_138382\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-138382\" style=\"width: 700px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-138382\" src=\"https:\/\/articles-img.sftcdn.net\/sft\/articles\/auto-mapping-folder\/sites\/3\/2021\/05\/Google_apps_getting_one_tap_access_to_privacy_settings_uu5xbd.jpg\" alt=\"one tap access to Google account management page\" width=\"700\" height=\"422\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-138382\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Google&#8217;s major apps will soon offer one click access to privacy controls including auto-delete<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The roll-out of auto-delete and easy access features began on Tuesday but as there are so many Google devices out there, it will no doubt take a while before they land on all Android phones. If you can\u2019t see them yet, they should be there soon. The Maps Incognito Mode will begin rolling out soon.<\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-card-starred-link\">\r\n  <div class=\"sc-card-starred-link__body\">\r\n    <div class=\"sc-card-starred-link__row clearfix\">\r\n      <div class=\"sc-card-starred-link__col-logo\">\r\n        <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"sc-card-starred-link__img\" src=\"https:\/\/articles-img.sftcdn.net\/sft\/articles\/auto-mapping-folder\/sites\/3\/2018\/09\/cloud-data-storage-192.jpg\" width=\"100px\" height=\"100px\">\r\n      <\/div>\r\n      <div class=\"sc-card-starred-link__col-title\">\r\n        <p class=\"sc-card-starred-link__title\">10 tips to keep your data private<\/p>\r\n        <a class=\"sc-card-starred-link__button\" href=\"https:\/\/en.softonic.com\/articles\/keep-data-private\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer sponsored\">Read Now \u25ba<\/a>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <a class=\"sc-card-starred-link__link\" href=\"https:\/\/en.softonic.com\/articles\/keep-data-private\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer sponsored\"><\/a>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n<h3>How to use the Google Maps Incognito Mode<\/h3>\n<p>Using the new Incognito Mode on Google Maps couldn\u2019t be easier. All you need to do is open Google Maps and then tap your account icon in the top-right of the screen. This will either be the profile picture you connected to your Google account or a circle with the first letter of your name in the center. Once you\u2019ve clicked this, you should see the <strong>Turn on Incognito mode<\/strong> option just below the Manage your Google Account button.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_138381\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-138381\" style=\"width: 700px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-138381\" src=\"https:\/\/articles-img.sftcdn.net\/sft\/articles\/auto-mapping-folder\/sites\/3\/2021\/05\/How_to_use_Google_Maps_Incognito_Mode_tujnxx.jpg\" alt=\"Google Maps has an Incognito Mode\" width=\"700\" height=\"379\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-138381\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The new Google Maps Incognito Mode is easy enough to use<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Adding Incognito Mode to Google Maps now means that three major Google apps (Chrome, YouTube, and Maps) have the tracking prevention feature. Pichai also announced that the internet giant will also be bringing the feature to Google&#8217;s search later this year.<\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-card-starred-link\">\r\n  <div class=\"sc-card-starred-link__body\">\r\n    <div class=\"sc-card-starred-link__row clearfix\">\r\n      <div class=\"sc-card-starred-link__col-logo\">\r\n        <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"sc-card-starred-link__img\" src=\"https:\/\/articles-img.sftcdn.net\/sft\/articles\/auto-mapping-folder\/sites\/3\/2017\/11\/security-192.jpg\" width=\"100px\" height=\"100px\">\r\n      <\/div>\r\n      <div class=\"sc-card-starred-link__col-title\">\r\n        <p class=\"sc-card-starred-link__title\">How to enable private browsing mode on different browsers<\/p>\r\n        <a class=\"sc-card-starred-link__button\" href=\"https:\/\/en.softonic.com\/articles\/how-to-enable-private-browsing-mode-on-all-browsers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer sponsored\">Read now<\/a>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <a class=\"sc-card-starred-link__link\" href=\"https:\/\/en.softonic.com\/articles\/how-to-enable-private-browsing-mode-on-all-browsers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer sponsored\"><\/a>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Google Maps is getting an Incognito Mode that will stop the app from tracking you<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9073,"featured_media":138384,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","wpcf-pageviews":0},"categories":[1015],"tags":[2346,1068,1061,1624,1027],"usertag":[839],"vertical":[],"content-category":[],"class_list":["post-138380","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-app-subdomain-redirectiongoogle-maps","tag-google","tag-google-maps","tag-privacy","tag-security","usertag-vpn"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/138380","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9073"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=138380"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/138380\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":326078,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/138380\/revisions\/326078"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/138384"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=138380"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=138380"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=138380"},{"taxonomy":"usertag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/usertag?post=138380"},{"taxonomy":"vertical","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/vertical?post=138380"},{"taxonomy":"content-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/content-category?post=138380"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}