Going incognito: Hide footsteps on Google Maps, auto-delete YouTube history, erase audio from Assistant interactions

Google on Tuesday announced a slew of new features in keeping with the theme of this year’s National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM). Every October, stakeholders from the public and private sectors collaborate to raise awareness on the importance of cybersecurity, and this year, Google has ramped up its efforts at undoing the impression that it is lax on privacy by expanding its Incognito Mode to apps across its suite.

Users will now be able to search incognito on Google Maps, auto-delete their YouTube history, and delete audio recordings from their oral interactions with Google Assistant. Google’s thrust toward privacy is part of a larger effort to protect users’ data, and it comes at a time when rivals like Apple have pivoted to privacy,