If you’re using Google’s in-browser password manager it’s likely you’re using it on Google Chrome. We’ve written about whether Google Password Manager is safe to use and we’ve made Proton Pass available on both Google Chrome and Android if you choose to use it. But it’s important that you know how your data is being collected and what it’s being used for so you can make an informed decision about where to store your passwords and other personal data.
When autofill is switched on, Google will store the information you enter in Google Password Manager and autofill it for you next time you visit the same webpage. Autofill can be convenient because you don’t have to remember the different passwords to your many accounts.
Autofill may be convenient to use, but it isn’t always secure. For instance, you may want to turn off autofill if you’re not using your personal device or you’re browsing the internet on public WiFi. It’s up to you whether you let your password manager autofill your passwords. But if you want to stay safe online, be wary of how much you’re relying on the Google ecosystem. Here’s a look a big first step you can take.
How to change your Google autofill settings in Chrome
If you’re using Google Chrome, you can customize your Google Chrome autofill settings. To enable or disable password autofill, take the following steps:
- Select the three dots ⋮ icon.
- Select Settings.
- Select Autofill and passwords.
- Select Google password manager.
- Select Settings
- To turn autofill on or off, select Offer to save passwords and passkeys.
The steps to enabling or disabling payment method autofill (such as your credit card) and address autofill are similar:
- Follow steps 1 to 3 as seen above.
- Select Payment methods or Addresses and more.
- To turn autofill for payment methods on or off, select Save and fill payment methods.
- To turn autofill for payment methods or addresses on or off, select Save and fill payment methods or Save and fill addresses.
Is Google Chrome a good browser?
Google Chrome is one of the most popular browsers into the world. It’s estimated that more than three billion people use it. It’s easy to use and popular for a reason, but it’s also a business model that relies on keeping you in the Google ecosystem.
Google Chrome is designed to lock users into the Google ecosystem because it’s so easy to oversee your email, drive, passwords, calendar, and more from one browser. But Google doesn’t do this in the interest of its users. It locks you into its ecosystem because it assumes you won’t have the energy to extricate yourself, and also so it can profit from your data.
The data you store in your Google Password Manager doesn’t seem to be used for advertising purposes. That’s not to say that Google is protecting it though. Your data isn’t encrypted at device level, making Google Password Manager a less secure choice than others on the market.
The same can’t be said for Google Chrome however. This browser is the jewel in the Google’s data collection crown. Let’s dive deeper into how Google makes money from your data.
How does Google make money from your data?
The company claims that it doesn’t sell data but the truth is more complicated(new window). Google makes money through creating profiles of its users based on their activity, and then allows third parties to market to those users in a marketplace. It also shares data with advertisers who are then invited to bid on individual ads.
Google and its parent company Alphabet have created a model in which Google both collects your data serves you ads based on that data. Online advertising services, known as ad tech, have been swallowed by Google. The company has been accused of engaging in various anti-competitive practices, such as paying Apple $18 billion a year(new window) to ensure that Google is the default search engine on Apple’s own browser Safari. Seeing as 91.54% of all global searches(new window) go through Google, the company forces all companies to bid for ads on its bidding platforms.
However, this behavior is being challenged. The DOJ is currently attempting to remedy Google’s chokehold on the search engine market after a federal anti-trust case began in 2023. Google may be forced to sell Chrome(new window), and even potentially its operating system Android because of its monopoly in search.
How to switch from Google password manager to Proton Pass
If you’re ready to take a step towards protecting your personal data, then Proton Pass is the perfect alternative to Google Password Manager. Here’s how to switch:
That’s all it takes to stop Google from benefiting from your activity online and selling your data to advertisers without your consent.
Proton Pass also offers features beyond what Google Password Manager does. With a Proton Pass account, you can create hide-my-email aliases to protect your email address. Your email address is effectively your digital passport, so this is an excellent way to easily protect yourself from spam and scammers.
Nothing you store in Proton Pass is used for advertising purposes, and thanks to end-to-end encryption, no one else can access it. Whether you’re using Proton Pass for free or paying for a plan, our priority is giving you a powerful tool to take control of your digital privacy. You can organize your life more easily with all your sensitive data in one secure location: store passwords, notes, passkeys, and more however you want to.
