Nilanjan
Google has made an announcement that it will implement a policy to cut the risk of having inactive accounts as these are most vulnerable if it comes to security issues. Google claims that its upcoming “account delete spree” will be a part of strong security measures.
According to reports, Google will implement the policy in December. The Search Engine giant has claimed that they will delete the inactive accounts to enhance security against identity theft because these are soft targets for security issues. The Big Boss has also claimed that they will take actions against accounts that have been idle for the last two years or more.
What to check?
Do you have a Google account? Do you use it often? Or has it absorbed digital dust for two years or more? In the 3rd case, Google might erase the existence of your @gmail.com account. Google will start cleaning its digital house from December 1. The accounts, which have been inactive for the last two years or more, will get deleted.
“An inactive Google Account is an account that has not been used within a 2-year period. Google reserves the right to delete an inactive Google Account and its activity and data if you are inactive across Google for at least two years,” the Big Boss describes its upcoming action in its blog post.
Google has decided to go on a cleaning spree. This is because they want to improve security measures. Inactive accounts are more vulnerable to identity theft. If you have used or signed into your Gmail account within the last two years, it will have a higher chance of getting deleted.
What is an inactive account?
Google has defined an inactive account. If you have not used your account to send, receive or check emails or to access other types of Google services for a period of minimum two years, Google will consider it as “inactive account”.
This policy will apply to only your personal Google account. Any Google account, which was set up for your use via your school, organisation or work, will be exempted from Google’s consideration of “idle account”.
Why is Google keen on implementing the policy?
It has already been mentioned in this article that Google will do the “cleaning” work to cut down the risk of security threats as these inactive accounts are soft targets for malicious intrusion. It’s kind of a security measure against identity theft and other unfriendly digital activities.
“Our internal analysis shows abandoned accounts are at least 10x less likely than active accounts to have 2-step-verification set up. Meaning, these accounts are often vulnerable, and once an account is compromised, it can be used for anything from identity theft to a vector for unwanted or even malicious content, like spam,” it says.
Google claims to be going slow, starting with accounts that were created but never used again. However, they will notify the users before hitting the delete button.
How can you prevent your Google account from being erased?
If you want to safeguard your Gmail account from being deleted, take the steps mentioned below:
Ø Log in to your Gmail account at least once every two years. It is the easiest way to keep your Gmail account active.
Ø Send and receive your emails by using your Gmail account. Even if you don’t use Gmail on a daily basis, at least check it every once in a while, as well as send a few emails.
Ø Watching a YouTube video will also be considered an activity.
Ø Use Google Drive.
Ø Use Google Search.
Ø Use Sign in with Google to sign in to a third-party app or service
