How to check which apps access your Gmail and remove them

Privacy is one of the key points that are focused on today in the tech world. The ripples of 

the offense one felt when they learned about NSA's snooping after Snowden's 

whistleblowing is still felt today.Events like the Facebook Cambridge Analytical Scandal has 

compounded the paranoia and was the perfect prey for a world that was already afraid of 

who was going through their information.

In an environment where tech giants and companies have to watch their every step and 

make sure they dot every I and cross every T, Gmail, despite making promises which 

promised utmost privacy and security to its users, have gone ahead and allowed third-party 

developers to go through the inboxes of users who have signed up for newsletters on a lot 

of websites. But Google has stated that they continue to vet developers and their apps 

before they open up general access.

Google has stated that it does automatic processing of emails only when they need to 

reduce spam and phishing attempts. They have also stated that they do not process these 

emails to serve ads. They have further said that this processing of mail content has been 

misconstrued as Google reading your emails. Google has stated that it only reads emails in 

specific cases and that too, only after receiving consent, or for security purposes.

When it comes to vetting app developers, they need to ensure that developers need to only 

ask for data that is relevant and that too, with clear and prominent disclosures. If you are 

uncomfortable with the level of access that an app has, and would like to modify, check or 

completely remove an app integration, Google recommends that users take advantage of 

the Security Checkup section, as this will allow users to have control over the data access 

that an app that is linked to your account has.

You will be provided with a platform that allows users to do things like revoke account logins 

from devices that are dormant, review sign-ins on both Web and mobile, and also to update 

your recovery methods.

You can set your permissions by visiting the permissions page in your Google account, the 

keyword that you need to look for is "have access to Gmail," which will reveal to you exactly 

what it suggests. But there is no option available that allows you to shut down the access 

Gmail has to your account. The only thing that you can do is completely bar the app from 

having any access to any data that is available from your Google Account.This includes the 

features like Google Contacts, Drive, Calendar, Hangouts, Google+, and much more.

In the light of recent controversies and the heightened focus on security, Google will 

definitely turn their attention towards improving the system that is in place that focuses on 

privacy. This will most likely focus on selective filtering, If you happen to be a Gmail user 

and you are a part of G Suite, you will have to rely on admins who will be able to whitelist 

apps that are not by Google.