©2013 Absolute Software Corporation. All rights reserved.

Google Updates its TOS - What To Note Google is updating its Terms of Service, going live on November 11, 2013, making 3 major changes:

1. Clarifying how your profile name and photo might appear in Google products (including reviews and ads)

2. A caution on mobile device safety 3. A caution on password security

Given how much of your life you probably spend on Google properties, it is important that you know how these changes could affect your privacy and that you take heed of their privacy warnings. First up, in regards to shared endorsements in ads, you can opt out (which is key, as some people are finding themselves opt in by default - check your settings here). In legal terms, the latter two points are Google trying to make sure you know that you are liable for issues arising from unsafe use of mobile devices while using Google products (like looking at Google maps while driving) and issues arising from insecure passwords. For example, if you share your password with someone (or if, by chance, another service using the same password was breached), you are putting yourself at risk if someone accesses information in your Google Account. Google points out the importance of application-specific passwords (and we concur, suggesting a password manager to make your life easier) and adding security using 2-step verification. So, the takeaways from these changes for protecting yourself are:

1. Opt out of endorsements here 2. Don't use your mobile phone in the car. Kind of leads to other basic mobile safety

guidelines. 3. Set up unique passwords - strong ones - and keep them organized (see this

handy password manager comparison). To make life simple, password managers can also auto-generate secure passwords! So simple!

About the Author

Arieanna Schweber has been a part of the Absolute Software writing team since 2007. Arieanna was Canada's first female professional blogger and has been professionally blogging since 2006, speaking at leading blogging conferences including BlogHer and Northern Voice. Arieanna has a joint degree in Business and Communications from Simon Fraser University and continues to build communities for Vancouver-based clients.

©2013 Absolute Software Corporation. All rights reserved.

About the Company Absolute Software(@Absolutecorp) helps businesses and consumers track, manage, secure and recover mobile computers and devices using our patented persistence technology. We license the name "LoJack" from the LoJack Corporation to highlight the similarities between our consumer product, LoJack for Laptops (@LoJackforLaptop), and their stolen vehicle recovery service. Currently Absolute Software has recovered over 30,000 devices in over 100 countries around the world.