Google starts deleting accounts in December

Starting December 1, according to a new update, Google will begin deleting inactive accounts and all their content.

Deleting accounts – which Google announced in May – Includes Gmail messages, photos, calendar notes, contacts, YouTube videos, and Drive recordings. According to Google’s updated inactive account policy, Those that have not been used for at least two years These are the ones that will be phased out from Friday.

If you have an account that is at risk of deletion, You should receive multiple notifications from Google sent to the email associated with that account and its recovery address (if applicable).

Why does Google delete inactive accounts?

In a May announcement, Google This step was attributed to security issues. Accounts that have not been used for a long time They are more vulnerable to abuseThe company said, referring to “forgotten or unmonitored accounts.” They usually have old passwordsoften lack two-factor authentication and receive fewer security checks.

As a result, these accounts It can be intercepted and used for spam or other malicious content, And also for identity theft.

How can you prevent your account from being deleted?

The easiest way to keep your Google account active (and thus prevent it from being deleted) is Log in at least once every two years.

Other actions that meet account activity requirements include: the mission Or scroll through emailUsing Google search and watching videos on YouTube (YouTube is owned by Google), all of it While logging into your account.

Existing subscriptions created through your Google Account, including third-party app profiles and posts, may also be “counted” as activity.

Saving content to Google Photos requires a specific login. As Google previously announced, photo content can likewise be deleted after two years of inactivity, meaning you’ll need to open the app every now and then to prevent photos from ending up in the trash.

How we store data from your Google account

In addition to keeping your account active, there are some tools to help manage and back up your data.

the Google Takeoutallows users Download and export non-Google account data; At any time. Inactive account manager It allows you to choose what happens to your account and data if it becomes inactiveincluding options to send selected files to trusted contacts or delete them entirely.

Google’s online policy also states that a company may work with its close relatives To close the account of a deceased loved one Or submit any Account content without sharing login informationas may be the case.

With information from AP