Google Launches New Tool to Enhance User Privacy and Prevent Sensitive Information Leaks: A Response to Argentina’s Recent Cyberattacks

Cybersecurity threats are constantly evolving, and cybercriminals use various channels to obtain sensitive information from their victims. Social engineering attacks have become increasingly sophisticated, making it easier for individuals to fall prey to them. However, what if sensitive information that is supposed to be confidential can be found simply by conducting a search in a web browser? This is where leaks come in.

Leaks, or “filtrations” as they are known in the cybersecurity world, involve the disclosure of internal information from a State, company, or entity that was not meant to be made public. There are different types of leaks ranging from minor to more severe breaches. Recently, Argentina has experienced significant leaks. Cybercriminals have shared 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.

In response to these breaches, Google has launched 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. While 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 these steps and taking proactive measures against potential breaches and cyber threats