Google users warned new picture feature could DELETE your photos and erase backups

GOOGLE has officially released a new privacy feature that could erase important photos forever and delete any online backups unless users take certain precautions.

The latest feature “Locked Folder,” was introduced by Google Photos earlier this year and has already been rolled out on its own phone brands.

‘Locked Folder’ is Google Photos newest privacy feature

“Locked Folder” is a feature that gives Google users an extra layer of security with storing sensitive photos behind a secure passcode.

The unique code set up by the account owner will make it so their content is inaccessible from the main image feed.

“You can save sensitive photos and videos to a folder protected by your device screen lock in the Google Photos app,” Google said.

“Items in Locked Folder won’t appear in the Photos grid, memories, search, or albums and won’t be available to other apps on your device that have access to your photos and videos.”

It was originally only available to Google Pixel smartphones but has now begun to branch out to more Android devices.

For iPhone users, Google has promised this feature in early 2022.

NEW FEATURE WARNING

Although it provides more protection for photos, unlike Google Photos, the new feature does not back up all of your images in the cloud.

Everything that the account owner stores in “Locked Folder” will only be located on your local device.

Once placed in the folder, all other copies are immediately erased.

Meaning, if you lose your phone or erase it, all of your Locked Folder items will be lost forever.

This also applies to switching to a new device or rolling over your content to it.

To set up the feature, open your Google Photos app and go to Photos.

Then tap on Library, Utilities, then Locked Folder.

SPYING GOOGLE APPS

Previously, Google warned millions of its users how to identify when apps are spying on them.

Through a new feature, users were alerted when the camera and/or microphone is activated on their devices.

It’s very similar to a warning that already exists on Apple’s rival iPhone.

The Google feature was added to phones in the latest Android 12 update.

So if you don’t have that, you won’t be able to see it.

The new indicator appears in the top-right corner of the screen.

You’ll see a camera or microphone icon when an app attempts to access either respectively.

It prevents apps from surreptitiously listening in – or even watching through your camera.