Google Hardening Guide

Click on your profile icon at the top right corner of the screen

Click "Manage your Google Account"

On this page, you will be able to access your privacy and security settings

Click your profile icon

Click Manage your Google Account

On the left hand side of the screen, click personal info

Here, you will be able to see personal details and contact information

You will also be able to see any addresses you have shared with Google, as well as your other Google profiles

Go into your Google Account following the steps above

Click security

Click password

Enter your current password

After you enter your password, click next

Enter and re-enter your new password. Once you've made a strong, unique password, click change password

Go back to your Google Account

Click security

Click 2-Step Verification

Click get started

Enter your phone number

Select the method for enabling two-factor authentication

Click next

Enter the code you receive from the text message

Click next

Click turn on

Two-factor authentication is now enabled. However, BlackCloak recommends adding an authenticator app as your primary method for two-factor authentication. Go back to the 2-step verification section under security

Click authenticator app

Click Set up authenticator

Follow the steps on this screen and click next

Enter the six digit code produced by the authenticator app and click verify to complete the process

Go back to your Google Account

Click security

Click review security activity

Here, you can see all of your recent logins. If you do not recognize a login, Google recommends changing your password as soon as possible

Go back to your Google Account

Click data & privacy

Scroll down and click profile

On this page, you'll be able to adjust who can see what pieces of your profile. Click on one of these fields

Here, you can choose whether everyone can see this piece of information, only people within your organization, or just yourself

Once you've made your selection, click save

Go back to your Google Account

Click Take Privacy Checkup

First, you'll be asked to review your web & app activity settings. Click here

Here, you will have the choice to allow Google to use your activity within its services to give you faster searches and a more personalized experience when you use Google's services. You can also include your Chrome history and voice and audio activity for a more personalized experience

Next, you will be able to adjust your YouTube history settings. Click here

On this page, you can choose whether Google saves the YouTube videos you watch to give you better recommendations

The next section covers ad settings. We will cover these later on in this guide

The next set of privacy settings allows you to view the third-party apps you've granted account access. Click here

Here, you can see all the apps your Google Account is tied to

The last set of privacy settings allows you to keep your playlists and subscriptions private on YouTube

Go back to your Google Account

Click data & privacy

Scroll down and click My Ad Center

Here, you can see what information Google uses for ads. To adjust your settings for personalized ads, click here

Click turn off if you do not wish to receive personalized ads

After you turned off personalized ads, you can review your settings for sits and apps that partner with Google. Click here

Click here if you want to receive personalized ads when you visit sites and apps that partner with Google

Go back to your Google Account

Click data & privacy

Scroll down and click location history

Click here if you wish to turn off location services. Note: Location services are turned off by default when you create a Google account