Google is going to start getting rid of inactive accounts, beginning this Friday, as part of its inactive account policy. The company plans to do this gradually, starting with accounts that were created but never used. To prevent deletion, a simple action like signing into the account or sending an email is sufficient.
Google explains that this change is driven by security concerns, emphasizing that forgotten and unused accounts are more susceptible to compromise.
A Google account provides access to various Google products, including Gmail and YouTube, using the same login credentials.
The company, in a blog post from May, outlined that older accounts are more vulnerable due to reliance on outdated or reused passwords and often lacking two-factor authentication.
When abused, these accounts can be exploited for activities ranging from identity theft to spreading malicious content and spam.
To keep an account active for another two years, logging in, reading or sending an email via Google Drive, or watching a YouTube video should suffice.
Google recommends having an accessible recovery email address associated with the account, facilitating password resets if needed.
Both affected accounts and their recovery email addresses have been notified of the impending deletion.
Additionally, users are advised to sign in to Google Photos every two years to maintain activity and ensure the preservation of photos and other content.
Accounts created by work or school, those with ongoing subscriptions, and those managing a child’s account with Google’s Family Link feature are exempt from the deletion policy.
Users need not worry if they’ve recently signed into their accounts, as this indicates activity and prevents deletion.
The main point to remember is that consistently participating and using your Google account can help protect it from being included in the step-by-step removal process implemented by the large technology company.
By regularly interacting with your account, you ensure its continued existence and prevent it from being subject to the gradual deletion initiated by the tech giant.
