Google what do you know about me

Google knows a lot more about you than you probably think it does. If you use its products, such as Gmail, Google Search or even an Android phone, the company is collecting your data to make its services better for end users. CNBC recently showed you how to discover what Facebook knows about you , so now we're back with data on what Google knows, too. It's not hiding that it knows this -- a quick peek at its privacy policy makes it crystal clear that Google knows this information -- but it might be surprising just how much it knows.

As a quick sampler, while I worked on this guide, I discovered Google knows the following about me:. Tap the links in each topic below to get a direct link to the proper spot to learn about what Google knows about you. Also follow the links I've provided to help you limit what Google is tracking, in case you don't want it storing that information.

First, make sure you're logged into your Google Account and then tap this link to Manage Ads Settings , which shows exactly what topics Google thinks you like. You'll see a picture similar to the one above. And Google uses your personal profile to sell ads, not only on their search engine, but also on over three million other websites and apps. Every time you visit one of these sites or apps, Google is following you around with hyper-targeted ads.

By allowing Google to collect all this info, you are allowing hundreds of thousands of advertisers to bid on serving you ads based on your sensitive personal data. Everyone involved is profiting from your information, except you. You are the product. It is entirely possible for a web-based business to be profitable without making you the product — since , we've been profitable without storing or sharing any personal information on people at all.

You can read more about the DuckDuckGo business model here. Everyone has information they want to keep private: Do you close the door when you go to the bathroom? Privacy is about control over your personal information. I had okayed this label, tickled that Now was finding patterns. Because tutoring—and the Kim kids are terrific, really—is not my work.

But now, with Now, I had this tool, this digital fifth column, heckling that narrative. We all have stories we tell ourselves, stories about who we really are. All Google Now does is reveal whether these stories check out. This matters. Small, self-deceptive fictions are a big part of how we operate.

And even with Now, most revelations feel small. I asked friends about similar experiences. So, what? What will we gain, or lose, in being stripped of our pretenses? Turns out to be a thorny question. Google guesses users' age, gender, marital status, income bracket, and personal interests. Using the tool shows that many of Google's predictions can be off-base, but the majority of them are scarily accurate.

It's also possible to stop Google from tracking your information or predicting your profile going forward. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. First, navigate to your Google account homepage by clicking the widget in the top right corner of any Google site. The profile Google has predicted based on your history is found under "Ad personalization. You'll be greeted with a message describing ad personalization.

If you don't want Google to track any personal information for ad purposes, you can switch ad personalization to "OFF" on this screen. When you scroll down, you'll see a list of attributes that Google has predicted about you, including your age, gender, and interests. Clicking on any of the items in the list will pull up a menu that allows you to update the information to correct Google's assumption.

For most of the settings, you can also "Turn off" the tracking, which will stop Google from using its predictions to serve you ads in that category.

Some of Google's predictions are scarily accurate.