UPDATED VERSION

This guide provides detailed, idiot-proof, step-by-step instructions for securing your personal Google account—covering account settings, privacy, and secure location sharing. Following that, separate instructions are provided for securing additional Google services such as Gmail and Google Drive.

• Step 1: Use a Strong, Unique Password
  1. Choose a password that is complex: include uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
  2. Do not reuse passwords across your accounts.
  3. Use a reputable password manager (e.g., LastPass, Bitwarden, or 1Password) to generate and securely store your passwords.

• Step 2: Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
  1. Open your web browser and go to [https://myaccount.google.com/security Google Account Security].
  2. Under “Signing in to Google”, click on “2-Step Verification”.
  3. Click “Get Started” and follow the on-screen instructions.
  4. Choose to set up an authenticator app (like Google Authenticator) for a second layer of security.
  5. Important: Save your backup codes in a secure offline location (e.g., a password manager note or a printed copy stored securely).

• Step 3: Access Your Google Account Settings
  1. Visit [https://myaccount.google.com] and sign in if prompted.

• Step 4: Run the Security Checkup

1. On the Security page, click on “Security Checkup”.
2. Follow the guided prompts to:
   1. Review recent security events.
   2. Check connected devices.
   3. Evaluate third-party app access.
3. Remove any devices or apps that you do not recognize.

• Step 5: Manage Third-Party App Access
  1. On the Security page, locate “Third-party apps with account access”.
  2. Click on “Manage third-party access”.
  3. Revoke access for any apps or services you no longer use or trust.

• Step 6: Adjust Activity Controls and Data Privacy
  1. Navigate to the “Data & Personalization” section.
  2. Under “Activity Controls”, adjust the following:
     1. Web & App Activity: Enable or disable based on your privacy preference.
     2. Location History: Enable if you rely on location services; otherwise, consider disabling it.
  3. Consider enabling auto-delete options to regularly clear stored activity data.

• Step 7: Manage Ad Personalization
  1. In the “Data & Personalization” section, find “Ad Personalization”.
  2. Adjust settings to control what data is used for targeted ads.

• Step 8: Set Up Location Sharing in Google Maps
  1. Open the Google Maps app on your mobile device.
  2. Tap your profile picture in the top-right corner and select “Location sharing”.
  3. Tap “Share location”.
  4. Enter the email addresses of the family members you wish to share your location with.
  5. Choose whether to share your location for a specific period or indefinitely.
  6. Regularly review the list of people with whom your location is shared to ensure it remains limited to trusted contacts.

• Step 9: Regularly Update and Monitor
  1. Revisit your security settings periodically as Google updates its features.
  2. Monitor account activity for any unusual or unauthorized logins.
  3. Keep all devices updated and ensure each has its own strong, unique password and 2FA enabled.

• Step 1: Secure Your Gmail Account
  1. Access Gmail at [https://mail.google.com] using your secured Google account credentials.
  2. Confirm that 2FA is enabled as per your Google account settings.

• Step 2: Enable Confidential Mode for Sensitive Emails
  1. Click “Compose” to create a new email.
  2. In the compose window, click the “Confidential mode” icon at the bottom.
  3. Set an expiration date and, optionally, require a passcode for accessing the email.
  4. This ensures that recipients cannot forward, copy, print, or download the email content.

• Step 3: Review Gmail Settings for Security
  1. Click the gear icon (Settings) in Gmail and select “See all settings”.
  2. Go to the “Accounts and Import” tab to review account access settings.
  3. Check for any unauthorized forwarding addresses or filters.
  4. Use the Google Account Security Checkup to further ensure your Gmail is secure.

• Step 1: Access Google Drive Securely
  1. Visit [https://drive.google.com] and log in with your secured Google account.

• Step 2: Manage File and Folder Sharing Settings
  1. Right-click on any file or folder you wish to secure.
  2. Select “Share”.
  3. Review the list of people who have access.
  4. Adjust permissions:
     1. Set access to “Viewer” or “Commenter” as needed.
     2. For sensitive files, click “Advanced” to restrict further sharing options.

• Step 3: Monitor and Audit Sharing Activity

1. Regularly check the “Activity” panel in Google Drive for any unauthorized changes.
2. Remove access for any users or third-party apps that should not have it.

• Always log out of your account when using shared or public devices.
• Ensure your connection is secure (look for HTTPS in the URL).
• Periodically review and update your security settings and permissions.
• Avoid accessing your account on unsecured networks.

By following these idiot-proof, step-by-step instructions, your Google account and its associated services will be secured to the highest standard while still allowing you to safely share your location with trusted family members. Regular monitoring and timely updates to your settings will help maintain a robust security posture.

For further details or updates, refer to Google's official support documentation and revisit your account settings periodically.

This guide provides a detailed and complete set of instructions for home users with no IT knowledge to enhance the security and privacy of their Google account. It focuses on setting the account to share the bare minimum of information with Google, minimizing advertisements, and adjusting privacy settings to be as secure as possible while keeping the steps simple and straightforward.

1. Open your web browser and go to https://myaccount.google.com.
2. Sign in with your Google account credentials.
3. Once signed in, you will be redirected to the Google Account home page, which contains various options for managing your account.

  {{ :google-account-home.png?nolink |Google Account Home}}

• Image Description*: The Google Account home page where you can manage your personal info, data, and privacy settings.

1. Navigate to the “Security” tab on the left side of the page.
2. Under “Signing in to Google”, enable 2-Step Verification for an extra layer of security.

1. Explanation: 2-Step Verification helps protect your account by requiring a second form of authentication, such as a code sent to your mobile device.
   
2. Code Breakdown: The process involves adding a phone number, which Google will use to send verification codes each time you sign in.
   

  {{ :google-2step-verification.png?nolink |Enable 2-Step Verification}}

• Image Description*: Example of the 2-Step Verification setup screen.

3. Review the “Your Devices” section and remove any devices you no longer use or recognize.

  {{ :google-your-devices.png?nolink |Review Devices}}

• Image Description*: A list of devices currently signed in with your Google account.

4. Check the “Third-party apps with account access” and revoke access from any apps that you do not recognize or no longer use.

  {{ :google-third-party-apps.png?nolink |Review Third-Party Apps}}

• Image Description*: The section where you manage third-party apps that have access to your Google account.

1. Navigate to the “Data & Privacy” tab.
2. Under “Activity controls”, pause Web & App Activity, Location History, and YouTube History.

1. Explanation: Pausing these activities limits the data Google collects on your searches, locations, and video watch history.
   

  {{ :google-activity-controls.png?nolink |Pause Activity Controls}}

• Image Description*: The Activity controls section with options to pause data collection activities.

3. Scroll down to “Ad settings” and select “Ad personalization”.

1. Turn off “Ad personalization”.
2. Explanation: Disabling ad personalization will reduce the number of targeted ads you see, which are based on your personal data.

  {{ :google-ad-personalization.png?nolink |Disable Ad Personalization}}

• Image Description*: The Ad personalization settings where you can turn off personalized ads.

4. Review the “Manage your data & privacy” section and select “Manage what you share on Google services”.

1. Adjust the visibility of your information on Google services to “Only you”.

  {{ :google-manage-data-privacy.png?nolink |Manage Data and Privacy}}

• Image Description*: The section where you can control what data and information you share with Google.

1. Under the “Data & Privacy” tab, scroll to “Ad settings”.
2. Select “Ad settings” and ensure “Ad personalization” is off as discussed.
3. Scroll down and disable all the topics Google suggests for ads.

1. Explanation: This prevents Google from using your data to serve you ads based on these topics.

  {{ :google-ad-settings.png?nolink |Disable Ad Topics}}

• Image Description*: Ad settings screen where you can disable ad topics.

4. Opt-out of Google’s ad network by going to https://optout.networkadvertising.org

• Google Takeout (exports information collected)
  
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