21 Google+ Privacy Tips: The Ultimate Guide

So you're on Google+. You've familiarized yourself with our Google+ guide, the social network's features, and what it has that Facebook doesn't. But what about privacy?

It's something for everyone to think about. Whether you're a newbie or power user, being familiar with Google+'s privacy settings (and the tips below) can help make you feel safer and more comfortable using it.

Google has shown it's serious about privacy with Google+, after previous social networking efforts like Buzz raised privacy concerns. G+ is loaded with privacy settings, centered around a "circles" approach, allowing you to selectively share with whom you please. A privacy flaw raised by The Financial Times was quickly remedied by Google. In addition, TechCrunch reports that Google has acquired a privacy-centric social network.

It seems users are taking advantage of the privacy options too: more than two-thirds of Google+ activity is private.

Some of Google+'s privacy settings are obvious, but others are not so apparent. The tips below are a wide array of both basic and more advanced tips to feel secure on Google+. (Many thanks to those who shared tips on this G+ post.)

For more on Google's views on privacy, for Google+ and beyond, see its Privacy Center.

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Choose Who Sees Your Posts

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When you start a post, you can share to your circles, extended circles, individuals or the public. Make sure "public" is NOT selected if you want to share to a limited audience. Simply select here the circle(s) or individual(s) you want to share with. You can even limit something to *just* yourself if you create a circle with no one in it. This can be used to bookmark posts or save them to read later. It's also worth keeping in mind that since "Extended Circles" means sharing to those circled by those you circle, if you're following any users who tend to circle everyone, that can mean essentially sharing publicly.

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When you start a post, you can share to your circles, extended circles, individuals or the public. Make sure "public" is NOT selected if you want to share to a limited audience. Simply select here the circle(s) or individual(s) you want to share with.

You can even limit something to *just* yourself if you create a circle with no one in it. This can be used to bookmark posts or save them to read later.

It's also worth keeping in mind that since "Extended Circles" means sharing to those circled by those you circle, if you're following any users who tend to circle everyone, that can mean essentially sharing publicly.

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sunbeltvoter said on 22 Friday 2011 am31 9:39 am: Every new site has to create a new lingo to try and be cool and different. MyCircle. YourCircle. For example, on Google+ trolls are now known as "circle jerks."

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Comments

[Purple Eater]

10:10 AM on 08/03/2011

Is anyone else having this problem with Google+?

Go to privacy settings

Click the rectangle "Edit network visiblity"

On the right side of the screen, click the words "Where are you on the web?"

Select "Only you" and click SAVE

Now go back in, and you'll see that the setting has reverted back to what it was originally. i.e. the changes were not saved.

[Elizabeth Guerra]

11:12 AM on 07/25/2011

Yes, but when you remove a person from a circle are they notified? If you change them to a different circle are they notified that you are sharing with them all over again?

[Samer Serhan]

04:52 PM on 07/22/2011

Its not ultimate because you forgot 2 main things

1) DIsable Comments
2) Mute post

Add those

[prettyfnliberal]

03:06 PM on 07/22/2011

seems very complicated here but it's easier to use irl.

but srsly, i wish i hadn't signed up to g+ or fb

[Maks Erlikh]

01:11 PM on 07/22/2011

Approximately month ago a hacker from Indonesia penetrated my Google e-mail , stole my addresses and started sending ads from my name. What privacy???

[erik nyc]

08:31 PM on 07/23/2011

Hey-- sorry to hear that. Google does offer ways to recover your account, though, in cases such as these. To regain access to your Google Account, you can add a secondary email that Google will use to send you a password-reset link, or you can enter a phone number which Google will use to give you a password-reset code, or there is the standard use of a security questions. I think the last one you set up when you create your account, so try that if you didn't set any of the other recovery option.

Also, be sure to create a sufficiently difficult password to hack--stay away from known words and use something with letter, numbers and special characters. You may have already done that and just gotten a particularly industrious hacker.

Good luck!

[CLHatch]

09:53 AM on 07/24/2011

That doesn't mean Google wasn't secure, it means you weren't secure. Sounds like you lost control of your account through either a trojan, or a successful phishing attempt... Google has no control over what you do.

[KIVPossum]

01:02 PM on 07/22/2011

Good tips, thanks

[Farmers Market]

11:36 AM on 07/22/2011

the best tip is not to use google+. google+ is invasion of privacy on steroids.

[KIVPossum]

01:03 PM on 07/22/2011

Although I have a FB account, it is never used. I believe I will use my google+ account

[Farmers Market]

03:21 PM on 07/22/2011

Are you an employee of google? Caveat emptor. Still its good for the rest of us that others are the guinea pigs.

[Amanda Piedimonte]

11:09 AM on 07/22/2011

Comment 123

[J0E1]

10:40 AM on 07/22/2011

A majority of your readers can't even sign up yet, why not wait until it's public?  By the time it is, this article will be buried in the abyss.

[emphatico]

09:51 AM on 07/22/2011

I guess Facebook is gradually going the way of MySpace.

[tortillaj]

09:30 AM on 07/22/2011

Tip #1 : Don't sign up for Google+

Computer security doesn't really exist!

[heymack]

08:46 AM on 07/22/2011

I see the staff at FaceBook is posting here today.  LOL.  I didn't use Facebook for a lot of reasons dealing with content control and security....talk about complicated.  Google Plus is a lot easier to setup what you want for who you want to see it.  I really like it so far.

[Pats got this to share]

04:15 AM on 07/27/2011

Agreed, FB made it ridiculously hard to learn how to control your privacy, and to know how your content appeared to others. Totally untrustworthy bunch. Google is off to a much better start ... just hope we don't get any nasty surprises.

[24ores]

03:15 AM on 07/22/2011

Until now, facebook has the lead in social networks, I am not sure that google + will succeed what did the facebook

[LightShadow62]

02:45 AM on 07/22/2011

I was going to post something snide but its all pretty much been said. Thanks.

[ElBruce]

01:07 AM on 07/22/2011

Good tips, but most of this was intuitively and obviously placed in my face.

Internet privacy is back, baby!