We live in a hyper-connected world, so it’s understandable to wonder if background checks show your internet search history. In today’s post, we address this question and offer some insights about the intersection of background screening and internet behavior.
Do Background Checks Show Search History?
Even though buzzwords like “big data” and “the internet of things” may make you feel like all your actions online are traceable, the truth is that background checks do NOT show your search history on search engines such as Google, Bing, or Yahoo.
In general, a person would need to have your Google, Bing, or Yahoo password to see your search history. So, unless someone hacks into your account, they cannot see your history of internet searches.
But even if your search information won’t show up on a background check, experts recommend deleting the data that search engines gather about you as a way to protect your privacy in a more general sense.
For example, to manage your search data on Google (by far the world’s most-used search engine), just visit google.com/history. From there you can delete your history and change the settings on what Google tracks and how often.
Remember that, in addition to Google’s servers, your search history is also stored on your computer, so make sure to delete your browser history if privacy is a concern.
Background Checks and Online Behavior: Some Tips
Potential employers cannot see your search history, but that doesn’t mean no one can. If you use a public WiFi network, the administrator is able to see your browsing information.
Also, your internet provider can at least in theory access data such as your location, the pages you visit, and the content you download.
As for social media, you should be very careful with the content you post online. Social media screening is gaining traction as a pre-employment screening tool, and a bad post could harm your chances of landing a good job.
Whether it’s using search engines or updating your social media profiles, there is a simple rule for how to behave online: Don’t do or ask anything online that you wouldn’t do or ask in a real-life situation.
Plexus Global: Dependable Background Screening Services
Plexus Global is a background screening company located in Riverside, California, serving organizations all over the U.S. and abroad.
Contact us today by telephone (844-516-1008), email (sales@plexusglobalinc.com), or through our social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
