Unraveling the Leaks: Google’s New Tool to Protect Personal Data from Cybercriminals

Cybercriminals are constantly evolving their tactics to obtain sensitive information from their victims, and social engineering attacks have become increasingly sophisticated. However, what if personal data that was intended to be confidential could be found with a simple web browser search? This is the reality of leaks, or “filtrations” in the cybersecurity world.

Recently, Argentina has experienced significant leaks, with cybercriminals sharing photos of Argentines extracted from a system associated with Renaper on an underground forum and Telegram. Additionally, a database of users from The nose, a popular site providing citizen information, was uploaded, including addresses, documents, phone numbers, employment details, and financial records. Another leak from Renaper was also reported last Wednesday.

Google has responded to these breaches by launching a new tool aimed at enhancing user privacy. This feature allows users to locate personal data like full names, phone numbers, or IDs that are circulating on the internet without protection. The function is intended to help users prevent their sensitive information from being easily accessible to malicious actors.

Although the tool may not be available in all regions yet, users can follow certain steps to activate it on their Google accounts. Google will alert users if any specified information appears in its search engine, although it cannot entirely remove personal data from the internet. The tool can make this data less visible on Google Search, making it harder for others to access and exploit.

By following the steps to activate this feature