Google is taking action this week to cleanse inactive accounts that haven't been used in over two years. This is part of their ongoing efforts to mitigate security risks. The company first announced this new policy in May as a means to address potential vulnerabilities with older accounts that tend to have reused passwords and outdated security measures. Such accounts are at a higher risk of being hacked, subjected to phishing attacks, and becoming a breeding ground for spam.
Since August, Google has been sending out warnings to users who will be affected by this new policy. Multiple alerts have been sent to these inactive accounts as well as user-provided backup emails. Google emphasizes the need to protect private information and prevent unauthorized access to accounts, even if users are no longer actively using their services.
A phased approach is being implemented to begin deleting accounts. Initially, the accounts that will be removed are those that were created but have never been revisited by the users. It is crucial to note that this new policy applies to the entirety of a user's Google suite, including Gmail, Docs, Drive, and Photos. Therefore, all content stored in these inactive accounts is also at risk of being permanently deleted.
Nevertheless, there are a few exceptions to this deletion process. Accounts with associated YouTube channels, remaining balances on gift cards, those used for purchasing digital items, such as books or movies, and accounts with active apps published on platforms like the Google Play store will be spared from deletion.
This recent move takes an additional step compared to Google's previous policy. In 2020, Google had stated that it would erase the content from the services of inactive accounts but would not delete the accounts themselves.
To prevent the deletion of your account, all you need to do is log in to your Google account or any Google service at least once every two years. This activity could be as simple as reading an email, watching a video, or performing a single search. By doing so, you can ensure that your account remains active and your data is preserved.
It is essential for users to be aware of this change and take the necessary steps to prevent the deletion of their accounts and loss of data. Regularly logging in and actively using Google services can help maintain account security and guarantee access to valuable information stored within a Google suite.