Google’s handy tool can now remove your most sensitive info from search results
Given the increasingly online world we live in, it’s not a far-fetched possibility that some of our sensitive personal data, such as a phone number, email, or home address, could be lurking on the internet. To address this concern, Google rolled out the “Results about you” tool in 2022 to help users identify and remove such information from Google Search.
We’ve seen the tool receive key enhancements since its release nearly four years ago, including an update last year that introduced visual enhancements to the Results about you hub. Google is announcing a significant expansion of this tool today to cover additional types of sensitive data, including driver’s licenses, passports, and Social Security numbers.
The process is fundamentally unchanged, with users now able to add these additional data types so that Google can “keep an eye out” for their appearance in search results. If you’ve already signed up before, head to the Results about you hub and enter your passport number, Social Security number, or driver’s license via the dropdown.
New users can tap Get started to add the names, aliases, phone numbers, and email addresses they want to monitor, then enter details for any (or all) of the three supported government ID types on the next page.
Rolling out in the US now
This update to the Results about you tool is rolling out in the US “over the coming days,” with plans to expand it to other regions, though it’s unclear when.
Google says it uses advanced encryption and “rigorous security protocols” to keep users’ sensitive private information safe. When any of the details appear in Search, Google will notify the user, who can then request their removal.
The fact that alerts appear on your smartphone means you can take immediate action on the exposed data in a few taps. Alternatively, users can also set the tool to email them whenever their personal data is spotted online.
A key point Google makes here is that removing sensitive data from search results doesn’t mean it will be gone from the internet. However, this tool ensures that your personal information is permanently removed from Google Search results, providing a layer of protection against potential malicious activity involving your data that may have been compromised.
