In the digital age, convenience often comes with a hidden price: our privacy. With a simple click, we use our Google account to access a universe of third-party applications and services. While this practice simplifies our online lives, it also opens the doors of our personal data to external entities. In a European context, and particularly in Italy, where Mediterranean culture combines a strong sense of personal privacy with rapid adoption of technological innovations, finding a balance is fundamental. This article explores why it is crucial to manage these accesses, how to do so effectively, and what the real risks are for our digital security in an increasingly connected world.
Granting access to your Google account to an external application is like giving a copy of your house keys to someone. Initially, we do it for a valid reason: a photo editing app asks for access to Google Photos, another for organizing work connects to Google Calendar. However, over time, it is easy to lose count of the “digital keys” we have distributed. The real problem arises when these apps are no longer used, are unreliable, or, worse, are compromised, putting sensitive information at risk. Awareness and periodic management are therefore the first steps to protecting our digital world.
Why It Is Important to Check App Access
Every time we connect a third-party app to our Google account, we grant it permission to access a portion of our information. This can include seemingly harmless data like name and email address, but also much more sensitive information: our contacts, private emails, documents on Drive, calendar events, and even our location. An investigation by the company Incogni revealed that over 55% of apps analyzed on Google Play share data with third parties. The most “curious” app categories are those for shopping and social media, which collect a huge amount of data about us. This scenario highlights a reality often overlooked: our digital life is an open book for many companies.
The risk is not just a potential privacy violation, but also a concrete threat to security. A compromised or unreliable app could use our data illicitly: sending spam or phishing attempts to our contacts, altering or deleting our files, or even locking us out of our own account. In a regulatory context like the European one, governed by the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), transparency and user consent are fundamental. However, the ultimate responsibility for protecting one’s data falls on the user. It is our duty to be careful custodians of our digital assets, just as we are for our material goods.
Step-by-Step Guide to Remove App Access
Revoking access to an app that is no longer needed or is suspicious is a simple and fast operation that should be performed periodically. It takes just a few minutes to do a complete security “check-up” of our account. The procedure can be performed from both computers and mobile devices like smartphones and tablets, ensuring everyone has the ability to regain control of their data.
Procedure from Computer
To start, simply access your Google account page. Once logged in, the path is intuitive:
- Access the Security section: Visit the page myaccount.google.com and, in the menu on the left, select the “Security” tab.
- Find third-party connections: Scroll down until you find the section “Your connections to third-party apps and services.” Here you will see a preview of connected apps. Click on “See all connections” to view the full list.
- Review and remove: Analyze the list. For each app you don’t recognize, no longer use, or deem suspicious, click on its name. A detail screen will open. Select “Remove access” and confirm your choice. Authorization will be revoked immediately.
Procedure from Smartphone (Android and iOS)
Even from mobile, the process is very similar and requires just a few steps through the Google app or device settings:
- Open account settings: On your Android device, go to Settings > Google > Manage your Google Account. On iOS, you can use the Google app.
- Navigate to Security: Scroll through the top menu and select the “Security” tab.
- Manage app access: Find the section “Third-party apps with account access” and tap “Manage third-party access.”
- Revoke permissions: You will be shown the full list of connected apps. Select the app you wish to disconnect, tap “Remove access,” and confirm.
This simple digital maintenance, if performed regularly, for example every three or six months, drastically reduces security risks and ensures that only trusted and actually used applications can interact with our data. For even more robust protection, it is advisable to enable two-factor authentication (2FA), which adds an extra layer of defense to your account.
How to Recognize Risky Apps and Protect Yourself
In the vast ecosystem of applications, distinguishing safe ones from potentially harmful ones is an essential skill for every user. A first red flag is represented by the permissions requested. If a photo editing app asks for access to your contacts or microphone, it is legitimate to ask why. The principle of data minimization, also enshrined in the GDPR, states that an application should collect only the information strictly necessary to function. Carefully reading the privacy policy and reviews from other users before installing an app can provide valuable clues about its reliability.
Another aspect to consider is the origin of the application. It is always preferable to download apps from official stores like Google Play, where Google itself applies security checks. However, even in this case, vigilance is a must. Be wary of apps that promise features that are too good to be true or have suspicious reviews. Finally, for proactive security management, it is useful to use tools like Google Security Checkup, which guides the user in verifying security settings and recent activities, helping to identify and block any unauthorized access. It is also fundamental to know how to recognize phishing attempts, which often use deceptive emails to induce you to grant access or reveal your credentials.
In Brief (TL;DR)
Discover how to check and revoke authorizations granted to third-party apps and sites, a fundamental step to ensure the security of your Google account and protect your privacy.
Learn to manage and revoke granted authorizations to protect your privacy and maintain full control over your personal data.
Revoking authorizations that are no longer needed is a fundamental step to protect your sensitive data and maintain control over your privacy.
Conclusions
Managing third-party app access is not just a good digital hygiene practice, but a real necessity for protecting our privacy and security. In a world that balances tradition and innovation, where digital life is increasingly intertwined with real life, awareness is our best defense. Taking the time to periodically check and revoke authorizations granted to our Google account is a small gesture that can prevent big problems, from data theft to the abuse of personal information. By following the simple steps described in this guide, anyone can regain control of their account, ensuring that the doors to their digital world are open only to those who are truly trusted.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is fundamental for your security and privacy. Over time, you may have granted access to numerous apps you no longer use. These apps, if obsolete or compromised, can become a risk to your personal data, such as contacts, emails, or files on Google Drive. Regularly removing unnecessary access reduces the attack surface and guarantees you greater control over who can see and use your information.
When you revoke access, the third-party app will no longer be able to access new data from your Google Account. The action immediately stops any future communication and synchronization. However, revocation does not delete the data the app has already collected in the past. To request its deletion, you will need to contact the app developer directly.
No, revoking access from your Google Account does not automatically delete your account created on the third-party app or service. It simply disconnects the two accounts. You might remain logged in to the app, and to completely delete your profile and associated data, you will need to follow the specific cancellation procedure provided by that application.
It is a good digital hygiene habit to perform a security check at least every couple of months or whenever you stop using an application to which you had granted access. Google itself recommends regularly reviewing security settings. A periodic check helps you keep the list of connected apps clean and safe, limiting access only to services you actively use and trust.
Yes, if you revoke access to an app by mistake, you can easily grant it again. You just need to visit the third-party site or application and repeat the login or connection process via your Google Account. The app will ask for the necessary permissions again and, once granted, the connection will be restored.
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