Khaberni - Amid escalating concerns about digital privacy violations, Google has launched a free tool that enables users to remove their personal information, such as phone numbers and addresses, from online search results, in a move aimed at enhancing the digital privacy of millions of users worldwide.
The British newspaper "Mirror" reported that the tool is named Results About You, and allows users to request the removal of some personal information that appears when searching for their names via the Google search engine. This service can be activated for free using the email and password associated with the user's Google account, or by creating a new account for those who do not already have one.
During the setup process, users are asked to enter the personal data they want Google to track appearing online, such as: names, phone numbers, or home addresses. The tool also allows enabling email alerts to notify the user when new results containing this information appear.
The initial search process conducted by Google takes about six hours after activating the tool, during which the system scans the internet to find results associated with the entered information. After completing the scan, the results are displayed in a special control panel, allowing the user to review them and decide to request their removal from the search results.
When a removal request is submitted, Google reviews it to determine if the information can be removed from search results. In some cases, the company may reject the request, especially if the information falls within the scope of public interest or is reported in a journalistic context.
Depending on each user's privacy settings, Google displays a variety of information in the search results, including: names, contact information, and geographical location, in addition to public data associated with the user's accounts on various Google services, such as YouTube or other personal profiles.
If the removal request is denied, users can obtain additional support through tools and guidance provided by Google to help them reduce the appearance of their personal data on the search engine.
In related news, reports have warned users of messaging apps such as WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal on Android devices of a new cyber threat named Sturnus.
According to the cybersecurity company Threat Fabric, this threat is still in its early stages of development, but it poses a potential risk to user privacy, as it allows hackers to access private conversations and view sensitive data if the device is compromised.
Although the malware has not yet widely spread, experts have emphasized the importance of caution and strengthening digital protection measures, urging not to neglect dealing with increasing cyber threats.
