Google Trades Drive GBs For Privacy Checks

Safer Internet Day is today – did you know? Google wants you to know. They want so badly for you to know that they're giving you a permanent 2GB bump in your Google Drive storage plan just so long as you go through a Security Checkup by the 17th of February. That's 2GB of additional space for your Google Drive account for free, forever, just so long as you go in and do the check. Provided you've ever done this before, doing it now should be super easy.

First in Security Check you'll be inspecting your recovery information. This might be as easy as making sure the phone number Google has for you is updated. I had an old phone number in my check, so I had to update it.

Next you'll see your Recent Activity. This isn't so much a check of what you've been doing, but of what devices have been used recently with your account.

If you see something unfamiliar here, you'll want to check into it. Don't want someone you don't know looking at your account.

"Access for less secure apps enabled" is a step most people won't have to worry about. I have this enabled because I often check in on apps that aren't yet in Google Play, testing them out and whatnot. You probably won't have to do anything in this step.

Account permissions checked – that's the big list. If you've used more than your fair share of devices and apps with Google accounts over your years of Google service, you're going to have a big list.

Above you'll see my list. I review devices and apps for a living, so I've got a relatively unusual list here. Yours might be smaller.

Once you've done those things, Google will show a message that says "Nicely done, you're all set." And poof! You'll have 2GB more in your Google Drive for all sorts of photo/video savings.