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Consumers can request a privacy blur over any pictures of their homes on Google Maps.(Photo: Videoblocks)

I use Google for so many things, from looking things up, handing my email and calendar, video chatting with my team, to peeking in on the Nest cam in my mother's living room. The company provides a slew of really great products. But you have to remember, you are also a product in their profit stream.

Lately, theres been an anti-Google movement with more people interested in options. You can use a different search site that wont track you. There are also private email servers and video sites that arent YouTube. Tap or click here for a list of Google alternatives.

Google Play Music is shutting down, which means all those songs youve gathered over the years could be lost forever.You can transfer your music collection over to YouTube Music and that likely means a paid subscription. If you want control and no monthly fees, set up your own music server. Tap or click here for the steps to set up your own music server on my site.

Here are some ways that Google has control over your data and what you can do about it:

As convenient as Google Maps and Street Viewis are, they can be unnerving when your house and address number are visible to anyone in a photo. You can request a privacy blur over any pictures of your home:

OpenGoogle Mapsor theStreet View galleryand look up your address.

Find and open the Street View photo you want to have blurred. The image has to show your face, home, or other identifying information.

In the bottom right, clickReport a problem. Complete the form.

ClickSubmit.

Once the photo is reported and blurred, theres no way for Google to reverse it. Make sure youre 100% certain about removing the image.

You have a public profile on Amazon:Here are 5 privacy settings every Amazon shopper needs to check now.

Do you use Google Assistant? Its a handy way to set reminders, get quick answers and much more. Google keeps tabs on those interactions with Google Assistant to improve its AI and personalize your account. If this creeps you out, delete those recordings.

Open yourGoogle Accountpage.

From the left navigation panel, click Data & personalization.

In theActivity controlspanel, click Web & App Activity, followed byManage Activity. From this page, youll see a list of your past activity and items with the microphone icon indicate a recording.

Next to the items you want to delete, select thethree-dot iconand thenDelete.

Google uses your search history to build a detailed profile about you that it shares with advertisers. This personalizes the ads and content you see. Its also part of the reason why data is such a big business.Tap or click here to see how much money your data can sell for online. Youll be shocked.

If you want to start removing your information from Google, your search history is where to begin. Heres how you can clear your search history and activity:

Go to myaccount.google.com and log in. Alternatively, go to google.com while logged in and clickthe circle icon in the upper right-hand corner with your image or initials inside. Then clickManage your Google Account.

Click Manage your data & personalization, located underPrivacy & Personalization.

. UndertheActivity controlspanel, you will see checkmarks next toWeb & App activity tracking,Location HistoryandYouTube History. Click each one to adjust your settings. You can toggle them off to stop further tracking.

Below Activity controls, click onMy ActivityunderActivityand timeline.

On the menu that appears in the left sidebar, clickDelete activity by. Select how far back you would like to delete your history in the pop-up menu. ClickDeleteto confirm.

Once youve followed these steps, not only will your search history be gone, but youll also have disabled tracking through apps, location history and YouTube views.

If you use Googles web browser, Chrome, youre also giving the company access to your web history. Go ahead and remove your Chrome browsing data, too.

To get started,open Chrome and click thethree-dot menu.

Hover overHistoryand click Historyat the top of the menu.

ClickClear browsing dataand select your date range for deletion.

From here, you can choose to delete your history, cookies and cache. Select the time range you want to wipe, from the past 24 hours to as early as the beginning of your browsing activity.

If you want to stay on top of information that pops up about you on social media (or the rest of the web), you can set up a free Google Alert for your name. Its an easy way to keep tabs on your online reputation.

Heres how to set up a Google Alert for your name:

VisitGoogle.com/alertsand type what you want Google to alert you about in the search bar.

ClickShow optionsto change settings for frequency, sources, language and region. You can also specify how many results you want and where you want them delivered.

ClickCreate Alert to start receiving alerts on yourself or other search topics that interest you.

What do you do if you want something about you on a website removed? Tap or click here for our step-by-step guide.

Need more help? Get concrete answers from me, along with other tech pros for 30 days for free. Sign up at GetKim.com, no promo code required.

Learn about all the latest technology on theKim Komando Show, the nation's largest weekend radio talk show. Kim takes calls and dispenses advice on today's digital lifestyle, from smartphones and tablets to online privacy and data hacks. For her daily tips, free newsletters and more, visit her website atKomando.com.

Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/columnist/2020/09/24/5-tips-help-keep-control-private-data-google-platforms/3485556001/

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Blur your home on Maps and erase your data to remove your life from Googles grip - USA TODAY

Multi-year agreement names Verizon the Official Wireless Services Partner of the NHL in the U.S.

Verizon will bring 5G & MEC innovation to U.S. NHL arenas and NHL fans

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. and NEW YORK, Sept. 25, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Verizon and the National Hockey League (NHL) are bringing the power of 5G to center ice with an exclusive, multi-year deal that will make Verizon the Leagues Official 5G Partner, Official Wireless Services Partner and Official Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) Partner in the U.S. Verizon also becomes an Official Technology Partner for the League. Additionally, as a Season-Long Fantasy Partner of the NHL, Yahoo Sports will have the opportunity to offer game highlights and other official NHL-produced content to its fantasy players. Yahoo Sports will also receive an Official Sports Betting Partner designation and associated promotional rights for use in connection with its strategic partnership with BetMGM.

With the focus of the partnership on 5G, Verizon will have opportunities to work with arena operators to install Verizon 5G in select U.S. NHL arenas and to offer consumer demonstrations of this cutting-edge technology at NHL events. Verizon will also pilot the development of a MEC use case for in-venue applications which could include real-time access to video highlights enabled by Verizon 5G technology.

5G Ultra Wideband opens up new opportunities for sports fans and now especially NHL fans to interact with their favorite teams and players, giving them the ability to watch the game from multiple angles, as well as get stats and fantasy scores on players through immersive fan experiences, said John Nitti, Chief Media Officer, Verizon. Through our partnership with the NHL, were looking forward to highlighting solutions that enhance the fan experience and working together to build the next generation of hockey fandom no matter where you are.

The NHL is excited to partner with Verizon to build the future of the NHL fan experience on a Verizon 5G infrastructure in NHL arenas, at NHL events and at home throughout the United States, said Dave Lehanski, NHL Executive Vice President, Business Development and Innovation. Together, the NHL and Verizon will leverage the capabilities of Verizon 5G and Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) to provide fans with access to entirely new experiences and ways to consume live game content, including leveraging the output of our puck and player tracking system, all in true real time. Being on the forefront of innovation is great for our game and especially our fans and these types of advancements are only possible with best-in-class partners like Verizon.

This partnership with the NHL, a recognized leader in technology innovation throughout all of sports, is the latest proof point in Verizons use of 5G to help shape the future of sports and entertainment.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) was formed on June 30, 2000 and is celebrating its 20th year as one of the worlds leading providers of technology, communications, information and entertainment products and services. Headquartered in New York City and with a presence around the world, Verizon generated revenues of $131.9 billion in 2019. The company offers data, video and voice services and solutions on its award-winning networks and platforms, delivering on customers demand for mobility, reliable network connectivity, security and control.

The National Hockey League (NHL), founded in 1917, consists of 31 Member Clubs and proudly welcomes its 32nd franchise, the Seattle Kraken, for the 20212022 season. Each team roster reflects the Leagues international makeup with players from more than 20 countries represented, all vying for the most cherished and historic trophy in professional sportsthe Stanley Cup. Gary Bettman has served the NHL as Commissioner since February 1, 1993 and has guided the worlds top professional hockey league to more than $5 billion in annual revenues and partnerships with more than 40 blue chip corporate sponsors. Every year, the NHL entertains more than 670 million fans in-arena and through its partners on national television and radio; more than 151 million followersleague, team, and player accounts combinedacross Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube; and more than 100 million fans online at NHL.com. The League broadcasts games in more than 160 countries and territories through its rightsholders including NBC/NBCSN and the NHL Network in the United States, Sportsnet and TVA in Canada, Viasat in the Nordic Region, Yandex in Russia, and CCTV and Tencent in China. The NHL reaches fans worldwide with games available online in every country, including via its live and on-demand streaming service NHL.TV. Having entered the eSports world in 2018, the League hosts the NHL Gaming World Championship annually, and drew record digital streaming audiences during the 2019 campaign. Fans are engaged across the Leagues digital assets on mobile devices via the free NHL App, across nine social media platforms, on SiriusXM NHL Network Radio, and on NHL.com, available in eight languages and featuring unprecedented access to player and team statistics as well as every regular-season and playoff game box score dating back to the Leagues inception, powered by SAP. The NHL is committed to building healthy and vibrant communities through the sport of hockey by increasing youth participation and engagement; fostering positive family experiences; promoting inclusion, positive culture, and leadership; and supporting sustainable community impact.

VERIZONS ONLINE MEDIA CENTER: News releases, stories, media contacts and other resources are available at https://www.verizon.com/about/media-center. News releases are also available through an RSS feed. To subscribe, visit http://www.verizon.com/about/rss-feeds/.

Media contact: Emily VickerVerizonemily.vicker@verizon.com

Brad KleinNHL Communicationsbklein@nhl.com

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Verizon Named Official 5G Partner of the National Hockey League - GlobeNewswire

Many New Zealanders will on Monday night taste freedom from all Covid-19 restrictions for a second time during the pandemic, after Jacinda Ardern removed all domestic rules for much of the country.

Some restrictions will remain on the largest city, Auckland, for a further two weeks, although the rules will be eased somewhat as health officials said a cluster of cases in the city did not appear to have generated any fresh instances of the virus in the past week.

Our actions collectively have managed to get the virus under control, the prime minister told a news conference on Monday. We are in a strong position to make our next move down the alert settings.

Celebrations began on social media as New Zealanders heard the news.

At 11.59pm on Monday, all Covid-19 restrictions on the country outside Auckland will be jettisoned among them, a requirement to wear masks on public transport and planes, and a 100-person limit on social gatherings. The move to so-called level 1 rules means a return largely to normal life.

At the same time on Wednesday, Aucklands rules will ease further, allowing gatherings of up to 100 instead of 10. Businesses will be required to maintain physical distancing and masks will still be mandatory on planes and public transport.

New Zealands government had jettisoned all domestic Covid-19 restrictions in early June after the country appeared to have eliminated the virus. It followed a strict lockdown of the entire country in March and April.

Later that month, cases began to be diagnosed in managed isolation facilities at New Zealands borders for returning travellers, who must spend two weeks in government-run quarantine. In August, an outbreak in the community in Auckland the origin of which is still unknown plunged the city back into one of the strictest levels of lockdown, and raised Covid-19 alert levels for the rest of New Zealand.

But the virus does not appear to have spread outside Auckland, and cases in the city are easing. There are 62 active cases in New Zealand, 33 of them in the Auckland cluster, and 29 imported cases in quarantine facilities.

New Zealand has recorded fewer than 1,500 confirmed coronavirus cases during the pandemic, and 25 deaths.

There is no costless response to Covid, no matter what your strategy is, Ardern, who faces an election in October, told reporters on Monday. She added that following the countrys lockdowns, New Zealands economy was more open than that of nearly any other country in the world.

But the prime minister who had urged against complacency after the country first eliminated the virus exhorted New Zealanders to continue using the governments contact tracing app, employ good hygiene, and stay at home if they were unwell.

The easing of restrictions means that politicians will have more freedom to hold campaign events. The rules on gatherings had curbed the ability of parties to campaign in traditional ways ahead of the 17 October election.

Ardern said her centre-left Labour party was likely to continue to eschew larger rallies, even as gathering limits eased.

Aucklands Covid-19 restrictions will next be reviewed by the cabinet on 7 October.

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Relief as much of New Zealand eases out of coronavirus restrictions - The Guardian

KELOWNA, British Columbia, Sept. 25, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vitalis Extraction Technology, Inc. (Vitalis) is pleased to announce it has placed No. 3 on the Globe and Mails 2020 Report on Business ranking of Canadas Top Growing Companies.

Canadas Top Growing Companies ranks Canadian companies on three-year revenue growth. Vitalis earned its spot with a three-year growth of 8,090 per cent.

Vitalis is a world-class manufacturer of industrial-scale supercritical CO2 extraction systems for a broad range of industries, turning their organic materials into pure extracts. Vitalis builds for the future and continues to raise the bar for safety, service and performance to serve its diverse customer base that includes producers of cannabis, hemp, pharmaceuticals, F&B and essential oils.

"What an honour it is to be recognized on this list of great Canadian companies. It is truly a testament to our team and technological innovations, coupled with the trust of our industry-leading clients that has fueled our global growth from our proudly Canadian roots," said Joel Sherlock, co-founder and chairman of Vitalis. "Vitalis was born on the premise of partnership we believe that combining a customer-first approach with industry-leading innovation helps drive our clients' success, which in turn propels our own business. This belief drove our decision to build components in-house, from the initial fabrication of raw steel and customized control systems to live on-site installation and training. We stand firmly behind the quality of every system. We're proud to reach this milestone as we approach our 5th birthday, and excited to maintain this momentum of growth moving forward with our sights set on new products and new markets."

Launched in 2019, the Canadas Top Growing Companies editorial ranking aims to celebrate entrepreneurial achievement in Canada by identifying and amplifying the success of growth-minded, independent businesses in Canada. It is a voluntary program; companies had to complete an in-depth application process in order to qualify. In total, 400 companies earned a spot on this years ranking.

The full list of 2020 winners, and accompanying editorial coverage, is published in the October issue of Report on Business magazineout nowand online at tgam.ca/TopGrowing.

The stories of Canadas Top Growing Companies are worth telling at any time but are especially relevant in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic, says James Cowan, Editor of Report on Business magazine. As businesses work to rebuild the economy, their resilience and innovation make for essential reading.

Any business leader seeking inspiration should look no further than the 400 businesses on this years Report on Business ranking of Canadas Top Growing Companies, says Phillip Crawley, Publisher and CEO of The Globe and Mail. Their growth helps to make Canada a better place, and we are proud to bring their stories to our readers.

About The Globe and Mail The Globe and Mail is Canadas foremost news media company, leading the national discussion and causing policy change through brave and independent journalism since 1844. With award-winning coverage of business, politics and national affairs, The Globe and Mail newspaper reaches 5.9 million readers every week in print or digital formats, and Report on Business magazine reaches 2.1 million readers in print and digital every issue. The Globe and Mails investment in innovative data science means that as the world continues to change, so does The Globe. The Globe and Mail is owned by Woodbridge, the investment arm of the Thomson family.

About VitalisVitalis Extraction Technology Inc. (Vitalis) is a privately-owned, Kelowna BC -based engineering and manufacturing company, producing industrial supercritical CO2 extraction systems for the cannabis, hemp, pharmaceuticals, F&B and essential oil industries. The companys core focus on innovation and design has vaulted it to the forefront of the market. Renowned for their reliability, scalability, and continuous operation, Vitalis systems are euGMP-compliant and carry the latest certifications, including the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), National Board (NB), Canadian Standard Association (CSA/CRN), and European Conformity (CE/PED). Vitalis is one of only a few Original Equipment Manufacturers in the space, with operations in Canada, Australia, USA, Columbia, Denmark, United Kingdom, and Serbia as well as in-country support centers spread across the globe. Visit https://vitaliset.com for more information.

Facebook: @VitalisETInstagram: @vitalisextractiontech Twitter: @vitalisetLinkedIn: Vitalis Extraction Technology Inc. YouTube: Vitalis Extraction Technology

For media inquiries, please contact: Shauna MacDonald Brookline Public Relations, Inc.smacdonald@brooklinepr.com403-585-4570

Originally posted here:
Vitalis places No. 3 on The Globe and Mail's second-annual ranking of Canada's Top Growing Companies - GlobeNewswire

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The private chats of Bollywood actors discussing light drugs are on news TV. They satisfy the voyeuristic impulses of people. Who wouldnt like a peep into the private lives of Bollywood celebrities?

Yet,these alleged chats leaking into our living rooms have also horrified people. Is there no such thing as privacy? Are my WhatsApp chats also being accessed by every Tom, Arnab and Navika?

Also read: We dont share GPay customer data with third parties Google dismisses media reports

If you are worried about that, there are a few steps you can taketo safeguardyour privacy. The first step would be to start taking the issue of privacy seriously enoughdemand a privacy law in India.

A data privacy law has been pending before Parliament,but it isa poor draft. And soeven if it is passed,it wontactuallydomuch to safeguard the privacy of citizens. It is oriented towards enabling the government to access your data without much trouble.

Remember that we have been told in the past that privacy is theconcern of a few elites. Technology companies often wonder ifprivacyis justsomethinga bunch of activists make a lot of noise about orwhetherthe average consumer actually caresforit. Many say, Why should I be afraid when I have done no wrong? Well, then, why dont you have that nasty fight with your spouse publicly on Facebook. If you dont care about your privacy,then someone can putupthat fightyou hadwith your spouse on Facebook by accessing your private phone chats.

When you live in a country whose government told the Supreme Court that privacy is not afundamental right, and that people dont even have an absolute right over their own bodies it is time to start taking phone privacy seriously.

Also read: Only recipient can see your texts, WhatsApp says as leaked chats flood media in Sushant case

The good news is that over the years, Android andiPhone have been strengthening privacy controls. You are getting ever more control over what personal dataanapp can take from you.

The bad news is that you still have to understand the issues for yourself, invest time and effort in figuring out where you are vulnerable. There is no such thing as 100 per cent data privacy. But the difference between 50 per cent privacy and 99 per cent privacy lies in your effort.

Update your apps: From across the world,there are malware and spyware that keep coming up and hitting the digital ecosystem,like asteroids in the universe. By the time a patch comes upand thevulnerability is found and fixed, your data may already have been compromised. This is why it is important to keep your phone and computer operating systems, as well as all apps therein, updated all the time. Switching on automatic updates is a good idea. Updating as soon as you see a pending update is good hygiene.

Dont allow everything: All kinds of apps will ask you for all kinds of permissions,often for no good reason. Dont give them permission unless it makes sense.For instance, why should the NaMo app have permission to see all your private photos in your photo gallery? Disallow.

Set app-specific passwords:Many apps,including WhatsApp, Telegram and Signal,let you set app-specific passwords (or require fingerprint or face ID). Even if someone gets access to your phone physically or through hacking, this adds a layer of security.

Dont trust iCloud or Google Drive: Whats on iCloud or Google Drive can be easily hacked into and is not protected by end-to-end encryption. Upload on the cloud onlyifyoure fine with strangers seeingyour content. Are you okwithNavika Kumar seeingthat photo of you? Fine, upload on cloud.

Also read: Suspect all, fix all? Is that the motto of our new National Suspicion State?

The problem is that many of us just give permissions without understanding what we are permitting. WhatsApp itself will trouble you from time to time to backup your chats and you think thats not a bad idea. WhatsApp wont tell you that this backup is NOT protected by end-to-end encryption. This backup is stored on your iCloud or Google Drive. This is how, it seems, that private chats of Bollywood actors are coming out in public domain.

Use Signal for disappearing messages: There is a fundamental problem with chatting. People chat in the moment. They say and do things in that moment, just like oral speech. The private conversation you had with a friend in a bar, you dont archive it somewhere. But chats are being archived and could come back to haunt you. A good privacy practice is to not archive them at all. The Signal app is considered the safest and the most trustworthy. Itsdisappearing messagesfeature makes the message disappearinsome time,after it isread by the recipient. You can choose how long the message stays, betweenfiveseconds to a week.

WhatsApp does not have this feature, and needs it desperately. Telegram has it.

Deleted messages? In the Bollywood cases, it seems that deleted messages have also been recovered. Even if you delete a message from your WhatsApp, or delete WhatsApp itself, the messages could be recovered through a forensic investigation into your phone.

With disappearing messages onSignal, perhaps this may not be as easy. But even this has been known to be not 100 per cent safe in the past. There is no such thing as 100 per cent safety, but Signals disappearing messages are much safer than, say, letting years of random chatting stay on your phone and/or cloud service.

Switch off media auto-download: Youve heard of viruses getting installed on your computer from shady email attachments. You dont download shady email attachments. Something similar happens on your phone, especially on WhatsApp. This is called media auto-download. A random stranger sends you a photo or video, it gets automatically downloaded to your photo gallery, and installs malware on your phone. To prevent this, switch off the media auto-download option. Anyone, even trusted contacts, will send you a photo or video and you will have the option of downloading it at will. You can,thus,decide what you want to download and what you dont want to download, just like email attachments. This will also help save memory space on your phone.

Security and privacy upgrades in recent years have made it tougher to install such malware, but it doesnt hurt to be cautious.

The author is contributing editor, ThePrint. Views are personal.

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How to prevent Navika Kumar from reading your private WhatsApp chats - ThePrint