How to Prevent Third-Party Apps From Reading Your Email
Each time you click that simple “Sign in with Google” button on a company website, you are giving the app or service access to some of your information. In some cases, it might just be access to your name and email address, in others, you give this company the ability to read your email as well.
Of course, the login was very easy, but you are giving up something in return.
A few months ago, the Wall Street Journal published a great deal of material on this subject that surprised many. It now alerts users again that third-party apps are still reading your email. This is a good reminder, and if you haven’t already, now is the time to check which apps and services you provide access to your email.
I know that there are several apps that I have deliberately provided access to my email in the past, in particular those that inform me about price cuts or help me get some money from airlines if my flights are unsuccessful. For example, App in the Air has access to my Gmail, just like Streak, the service I use to track my email.
To find out what’s associated with your account, click here on your desktop computer .
From there, navigate to Account Access Applications under Login & Security. It’s the third option on the left sidebar if you can’t find it.
The next page will show you all the apps that have access to your Google account, as well as all the sites where you’ve saved passwords to use Google Smart Lock.
If you click on the apps section, Google will display all the apps that have access to your account, as well as what they have access to. For example, I gave Pdffiller the ability to see my basic account and profile information, as well as my email address. If you see the one you want to close access to, click on it and a blue button will appear allowing you to remove it.
Unfortunately, if you want to use an application that needs information from your email, you will need to conveniently grant that application access to everything, or decide not to give it anything or use it at all.
However, it’s always a good idea to set a reminder to regularly check which apps you’ve given access to your account to remind yourself who can read and revoke access to apps you don’t need. use more.