Delete Your Entire Search History in Google

Google Now Lets You Download and Delete Your Entire Search History – Here’s How To Do It

You can also save your entire search history to Google Drive, though we’re not sure why you’d want to do that.

Google has released a new tool which allows users to delete the entirety of their online search history – yes, all of it – along with downloading a copy of your data that can be stored on your desktop or laptop.

This new feature allows you to easily access all of the search data tied to your Google account, with you able to view it from the search engine’s Web & App Activity page on Google Chrome. From there, you can individually select items from your history to delete, or bulk delete every last piece of it.

You can also download a copy of your data by clicking on the cog icon on the right hand side of the screen, before selecting Download. After doing so, the belowmessage will be displayed on your screen informing you of the importance of enabling 2-step verification of your Google account in order to prevent this sensitive information from getting into the hands of someone other than yourself.

As your data will be stored in the Takeout folder of your Google Drive account, it’s incredibly important that the above information is followed given how you’re unlikely to want this data to get in the hands of anyone who manages to crack your password. Having such information freely available via your Google Drive account is very risky, so tread with caution.

It should also be noted that deleting this information will not permanently delete it from the internet for good. Google can still obtain your search information in order to pass it over to law enforcement officials if need be, so if you were planning on setting up a crime syndicate and wanted to get rid of your searches on how to get away with money laundering, this won’t prove to be very useful.

Deleting your search history won’t prove to have too much of an impact upon your web browsing, with it mostly just affecting your tailored search results and making Google Now’s virtual assistant’s job a little harder. If you want your Google footprint wiped from your Google account, then go right ahead. For more information check out Google’s Support page.

Download your past searches

You can download all of your saved search history to see a list of the terms you’ve searched for. This gives you access to your data when and where you want.

Download a copy of your past searches

1. Visit your Web & App Activity page.
2. In the top right corner of the page, click the Options icon  > Download.
3. Click Create Archive.
4. When the download is complete, you’ll get an email confirmation with a link to the data.

Note: Downloading your past searches does not delete it from your Web & App Activity page. Learn how to delete your searches and browsing activity.

Where your downloaded data goes

When you download your past searches, a copy of your history will be saved securely to the Takeout folder in Google Drive. You can download the files to your computer if you want a copy on your computer.

Depending on the amount of data you’re downloading, you may be have more than one file in your Takeout folder with your history in it.

Security tips

• Don’t download your past searches on public computers.
• Protect your account and sensitive data with 2-Step Verification, which helps keep others out of your account even if they have your password.

Tips to Maintain your Car

Tips to Maintain your Car

A car, these days, is an eclectic mix of comfort, ease, status-symbol and a "white elephant." Which of the mentioned factors is more applicable to someone will vary from person to person. All in all, a car is serious money and it is necessary to have it running for as long as possible. And to do that, without spending a mini fortune on its maintenance costs, here are a few tips:

1. Choose the correct car

Sounds obvious? But it is probably the most sensible of advices to get the best out of your car. Choose a manufacturer who is known for making time-tested and reliable cars. Choose a model which has a solid reputation behind it. Choose a car whose spare parts are easily available. Talk to your local mechanic to find out the "inside stuff" of various car companies and make an informed choice.

2. Trust the manufacturer's instructions

The manufacturers know their cars better. So it makes sense to follow their instructions on car maintenance. Make it a point to take your car for its scheduled maintenances. If you are thinking about how to go about finding out how often these maintenances are scheduled, don't fret. It's all given at the back of that little book we know as the "Owner's Manual." Oh, yes! We really hardly bother to take a look at it, don't we? But if only we would care to read this book, we wouldn't have to read articles on car maintenance tips. Irony? Sure is!

3. Changing the car's vital fluids

Your car is made up of thousands of moving parts. And what makes, and keeps, these parts moving are the various fluids; the most important being engine oil and transmission, differential, brake and power-steering fluid. It is advisable, nay imperative, to frequently check and, if required, change the fluids. Engine oil needs changing every 5000 miles, transmission fluid, every two years (or roughly 30,000 miles) and engine coolant needs to be checked at least twice a year.

Did You Know?
According to a study done by the US Department of Energy, an increase in the average speed from 50 mph to 60 mph results in a 38 percent increase in maintenance costs. If you go 10 mph higher, you are looking at an added 80 percent in repair costs.

Brake fluid is hygroscopic. In simple terms, it absorbs moisture and moisture makes a killer combo with oxygen and metal. It is called rust. It is advisable to flush brake fluid every two years, regardless of how many miles you've driven.

4. Driving gently

Unless you have a land speed record to break or you are an F1 driver practicing on your Kia in your neighborhood, go slow. This will drastically reduce the wear and tear on your car and you will do a favor to your car it will never forget. Accelerate slowly and brake gently. When the weather is cold, don't rev your engine when the car is still in the driveway. Warm your car on idle. Let the oil heat up slowly and start circulating and lubricating the vitals before moving off.

5. And oh! Tires

Always keep tires inflated to the specified pressure. Keep a lookout for tread wear. When the tread indicators are visible between treads, consider it the right time to change the tires. Well maintained tires go a long way in keeping stress off your car's engine. Gentle driving habits also help in maintaining good tire health and consequently, good engine health.

And finally, owning a car does not mean driving it every time you have to go out of the house. A car less driven will cost less in maintenance. Simple? Yet an efficient advice. Walk or cycle short distances. It's good for your health. And your car's too! Use public transportation often and join a car pool. The environment will be happier too.

Back

https://www.icicilombard.com/car-insurance-info/7-golden-rules-of-driving.html

10 THINGS YOU CAN LEARN FROM RICHARD BRANSON

Sir Richard Branson, more popular as the Virgin Group founder, today, owns 400-plus companies, including a mobile phone and an airline! He is one of the persons who believes that “successful people do things differently” and his success is the proof of his principles that he follows ardently, till date. One of the most respected icon of entrepreneurship, he is an example of how to live the life of your dreams. And, he has so many things to teach each one of us, on a personal as well as professional level.

Here are 10 things every person should learn from Branson!

1. Follow your dreams

Your dreams are facsimiles of your passions. So, follow them. According to Branson, your business should be built on your passion. It is not just the money that matters; if you really enjoy what you do, success is all yours.

2. Make other people’s life better

If your desires to be an entrepreneur ensure that you are going to change the lives of people in a better way. Anything your business gives should do well for the mankind. A slight change in your thinking process can bring in this difference. And, this happens if and only if you are building a business that is your dream.

3. Trust your ideas

Believing in oneself and his ideas lays the foundation for a successful business. According to Branson, if you do not feel good about what you are doing, if you do not believe in your views and yourself, there is no point in doing that. When you have the passion that burns deep within you, you will be powerful enough to bring in the change, inspire the people, and kindle their passions.

4. Do not ever do anything if you are not interested whole heartedly

Business is not a child’s play. It takes loads and loads of stress, sweat, pains, and of course, the countless cups of coffee, and patience to build it up. It is like your baby. You ought to give it your complete attention, which in turn means, you should be passionate. According to Richard, “When I started Virgin from a basement in west London, there was no great plan or strategy. I didn’t set out to build a business empire … For me, building a business is all about doing something to be proud of, bringing talented people together and creating something that’s going to make a real difference to other people’s lives.” It says it all… isn’t it?

5. Try, try, and try, but never give up

Building up a business and guiding it through success comes with countless hurdles and adventures. There will be a time when you will really feel exhausted and lost. There may be days where you just sit in the office, day and night, but without any results. You will feel defeated; you will feel like a loser. But, never lose your mind and give up! Just dust off the previous day and come up the next day with 100% hope and belief. You will definitely be able to garner and witness results.

6. No business is risk free!

Business and risks share a closer relationship. “The brave may not live forever—but the cautious do not live at all!” says Branson. You will never be able to succeed by playing a safe game. There may be failures that would look as if you are knocked out completely, but if you look at this master entrepreneur, he would say, “there’s no such thing as a total failure.” It is absolutely true!

7. Every impression you make matters; so stay committed

We all have heard “first impression is the best impression”, but when it comes to business, every impression you make matters. The first one because you have to acquire the customer and the subsequent ones because you have to retain the current customers and attract more prospects. The image you create for yourself and your brand, at every step, will define you success level.

8. There is always scope for improvement

If you feel you have perfected everything, then you got it wrong. There is always scope for improvement. However brilliant you conceive a project, there will be some subtle thing that quite often goes unnoticed. According to Richard, “When they believe they’ve ‘nailed it’, most people tend to sit back and rests on their laurels while countless others will be laboring furiously to better their work”! And this attitude is dangerous!

9. Prove the “leech” people are wrong

People might misuse your success. There will be people who hang on to you like a leech, sucking in your benefits. But they are in fact waiting for a miniature chance such as you making a fuss of the whole incident to gain popularity. Ignore them and prove that they got it wrong!

10. Explore the unexplored

There are countless things in this planet waiting to be uncovered, discovered, and invented. Try travelling into those virgin zones that will give you a novel opportunity to discover, but… Yes it comes with a but! Just ensure your passion rests on those unfathomed waters that are waiting to be unraveled…

Richard Branson executed his ideas; at the same time he inspires others, allowing them to connect with their passion. Incorporate these tips and lessons from this master entrepreneur for better success!

iDiya: Solar-powered alternative to electric lighting, kerosene lamps

By Malavika Murali, ET Bureau | 30 Mar, 2015, 02.59PM IST

Post a Comment

The portable product that was launched in February this year, is the size of a human palm, provides triple the amount of illumination and has attracted the likes of investor networks such as Indian Angel Network. 

BENGALURU: A student from IIT Bombay has developed the smallest self-sufficient solar device that can be used as lamp, a usb port and a charging device for mobile phones.

Called iDiya, the device has an inbuilt micro solar panel and does not require a plug point.

"The idea for i-Diya was to throw light on the lethal effects of using kerosene lamps especially in the rural parts of India," said Sachin Kumar, CEO, Illumind Solartek, who is in his final year of engineering. bootstrapped with Rs 65 lakh.

The portable product that was launched in February this year, is the size of a human palm, provides triple the amount of illumination and has attracted the likes of investor networks such as Indian Angel Network.

The product comes in three versions, starting at Rs 699.

" I think it's huge. Look at all the three things. Put it in any village today and it will work for all three aspects. Electricity is still such a problem in most areas in the country," said Padmaja Ruparel, President at Indian Angel Network, that is closely eyeing such innovations in the cleantech space.

The Illumind team members were all brought up in rural areas in India and therefore experienced the negative effects and difficulties of kerosene lamps that are used extensively, due to electricity problems. i-Diya does not require a power socket, and that's a huge plus aside from the cost said Kumar, who bootstrapped with Rs 65 lakh. 

Tax deduction under Section 80C

How to make the most of the extra Rs 50K tax deduction under Section 80C

By Sanket Dhanorkar, ET Bureau | 28 Jul, 2014, 09.23AM IST

Post a Comment

RELATED VIDEO

Arun Jaitley raises PPF ceiling to Rs 1.5 lakh

ET SPECIAL:Love visual aspect of news? Enjoy this exclusive slideshows treat!

Imagine you have won a gift voucher worth Rs 50,000 at the local hypermarket. When you go to the store, there is a vast array of items you can purchase with it. Salespersons try to draw your attention to their counters, pitching their merchandise aggressively. Will you buy whatever new gizmo they are trying to sell? Or will you utilise the money to purchase something you actually need for the household?

The additional Rs 50,000 deduction given to taxpayers under Section 80C in this year's budget is like a gift voucher from the government. It has come as a relief to millions of taxpayers.

However, with mis-sellers moving in for the kill, there is reason to be cautious. Instead of investing at random, a taxpayer should assess his needs and invest to fill the gaps in hisfinancial planning. Here's how you can make the most of the Rs 1.5 lakh deduction under Section 80C.

Do you need to invest more?

Before you start planning your investments, find out if you actually need to invest more. Section 80C is an overcrowded deduction, which includes more than a dozen instruments. Besides, it has the principal repayment of home loans and tuition fees of up to two children. Many taxpayers may find that their Section 80C investments already exceed the enhanced deduction of Rs 1.5 lakh.

In the lower income segments, taxpayers may not need to save too much. Keep in mind that the basic exemption limit has also been raised by Rs 50,000 to Rs 2.5 lakh for ordinary citizens and to Rs 3 lakh for senior citizens. So, if a person has a taxable income of Rs 3.5 lakh, he needs to invest only Rs 1 lakh to reduce his tax liability to zero. Even otherwise, a person earning less than Rs 4 lakh a year might find it difficult to invest an additional Rs 50,000 under Section 80C just to save tax. Unfortunately, many people are either not aware of their actual tax liability or are fooled into investing more.

How much more you need to save under Section 80 C

For many home loan customers, the loan repayment alone can take care of the investments under Section 80C. Pune-based IT professional Vilas Pacharne (see picture) will reap three benefits from the budget proposals but won't have to invest even a rupee more to avail of them. He gains from the increase in the basic exemption, the raising of the Section 80C limit and the increase in the home loan deduction under Section 24(b) to Rs 2 lakh.

Though he does not contribute a very large amount to his EPF and PPF, his home loan repayment adds up to around Rs 92,000 a year. "My Section 80C investments are already more than Rs 1.5 lakh and the home loan interest is close to Rs 2 lakh," he says.

On the other hand, there are taxpayers with higher incomes who may want to invest more to save tax. Salaried employees who contribute to theProvident Fund often find they have to invest very little under Section 80C. Delhi-based finance professional Puneet Narang (see picture) contributes nearly Rs 92,000 to his Provident Fund.

"I have never had to do any tax planning because my PF and an insurance policy take care of it," he says. But now that the limit has been enhanced by Rs 50,000, Narang is contemplating investing in ELSS funds to gain the equity exposure that's missing in his portfolio. "If you do not have any equity exposure, an ELSS fund can be the first step towards this asset class," says Nisreen Mamaji, founder of Moneyworks Financial Advisors.
Choose instruments carefully

The enhanced deduction limit is certainly an opportunity for taxpayers to reduce their tax liability, but how much you benefit from it will depend on how you deploy the money. With a wider window now available, there is a danger that taxpayers may direct the additional money towards unwanted and unnecessary investments. Financial experts say that tax planning is no different from financial planning and the same principles should apply here. "Insurance companies and agents will now become more aggressive and push bundled products under the pretext of helping you save tax," cautions Neeraj Chauhan, CEO of Delhi-based Financial Mall.

Investment-linked insurance policies, also known as Ulips, may be offered to you for their 'triple benefit' of meeting your tax-saving goal as well as to help you 'accumulate wealth', while providing life cover. Even those with adequate insurance will be coaxed into buying more. Insurance-cum-investment products neither offer you adequate cover nor give good returns. The worst part is that you are forced to continue with the product over the full term. Nisreen Mamaji, founder, Moneyworks Financial Advisors, insists taxpayers must be careful while choosing their Section 80C basket of products. "Buying a highcost product with a long lock-in period many not be the best idea," she adds.

Option for investment
PPF	EPF and VPF	ELSS funds
Returns: Linked to government bond yield, so will vary every year. 8.7% for 2014-15.	Returns: 8.5% for 2014-15.	Returns: Market linked (14.2% in past 3 years)
Safety: Very safe as it is backed by government	Safety: Very safe.	Safety: Carry market risk associated with stocks
Liquidity: Low. Locked in for 15 years but partial withdrawals allowed after the fifth year.	Liquidity: Low. Withdrawals allowed after five years for specific purposes.	Liquidity: Locked in for three years, after which full withdrawal permitted.
Taxation: Interest and maturity amount completely tax-free.	Taxation: Interest and corpus tax-free, if withdrawn after five years.	Taxation: No tax on withdrawals because long-term capital gains are tax-free.
Best for: Conservative investors looking for assured returns and tax-free corpus.	Best for: Salaried individuals saving for retirement.	Best for: Investors with a higher risk appetite hoping to generate inflation-beating returns.
SMART TIP: Invest before the 5th of the month so that the investment gets interest for that month as well.	SMART TIP: Transfer your EPF account when you change jobs. Dormant accounts stop earning interest after three years.	SMART TIP: Invest small amounts at monthly intervals in ELSS funds. SIPs reduce the risk of investing in equities.

The good part is that Section 80C offers enough choices to fulfill all your financial needs. You can invest in long-term retirement products such as PPF or the Voluntary Provident Fund. You can buy insurance policies for life cover and ELSS funds for equity exposure. There are medium term instruments such as bank fixed deposits and NSCs as well. The key is to choose an option that fills a gap in your financial planning. "Align your Section 80C investments to your goals and objectives," suggests Chauhan.

Option for investment
Ulips	NPS, pension plans	Life insurance
Returns: Market-linked.	Returns: Market-linked.	Returns: Vary according to tenure but don't exceed 6-7%.
Safety: Carry market risk associated with stocks and bonds.	Safety: Carry same market risks associated with stocks and bonds.	Safety: Returns are guaranteed.
Liquidity: Early withdrawals attract surrender charges. No surrender charges after five years.	Liquidity: Low. Currently withdrawals allowed only at vesting age. At least 40-60% to be used to buy annuity.	Liquidity: Low. Premiums must be paid for the entire term or policy will lapse.
Taxation: Gains are tax-free.	Taxation: Unlike pension plans, commuted amount is taxable. Annuity income also not tax-free.	Taxation: Maturity amount and periodic payments are tax free.
Best for: Someone with a high risk appetite who does not wish to buy separate insurance cover and is hoping to build wealth over long term.	Best for: Savvy investors saving for retirement.	Best for: Investors content with low returns as long as maturity is tax-free.
SMART TIP: Use switching facility to move from debt to equity, or vice versa, as per market moods	SMART TIP: Opt for the Lifestage fund that automatically changes asset allocation with age	SMART TIP: Take a policy for at least 20-25 years. Short-term plans of 10-15 years don't yield more than 5-6%.

Is your insurance in place?

Before taxpayers like Narang allocate money to ELSS, they should assess their insurance needs. Most experts say that adequate life insurance cover is the first step in a financial plan. A pure protection term plan can be useful here. It offers a large insurance cover at a low price. Narang is grossly underinsured and should buy a term plan of Rs 1 crore for himself. That will cost him around Rs 18,000 a year. The balance amount of the additional limit can be put in ELSS funds. If he needs more equity exposure, he can go for diversified equity funds instead of ELSS plans.

If you already have adequate life insurance, move to other tax-saving avenues. Do consider the tenure of the instrument you invest in. The lock-in ranges from three years for ELSS funds to 15 years for the PPF. Choose a tenure that coincides with the financial goal. For long-term goals such as retirement, you may choose to invest in the 15-year PPF or the NPS. The Budget has also raised the ceiling for investments in the PPF to Rs 1.5 lakh, which may entice some to invest more in this vehicle. "Enhanced contribution to the PPF is needed in the absence of a retirement system in the country," says Vivek Rege, managing director, VR Wealth Advisors. The PPF is currently offering 8.7% (see graphic).

Saving for retirement

Before deciding to invest more in the PPF, consider adding more to your EPF. The 12% of your basic salary that you contribute every month will help in building your retirement kitty. You also have the option of contributing a higher amount through the VPF. Both the PPF and EPF enjoy exempt-exempt-exempt tax status, which means that the initial contribution, interest earned and the maturity proceeds are all tax-free. However, if you encash your EPF before five years, the interest component is added to your total income and taxed at the rate corresponding to your tax slab. The 80C benefit you claimed in earlier years is also reversed.

Pension plans offered by insurers are back in the market. However, the charges of these policies are significantly higher than those of the government-promoted NPS. Also, given that annuity income is still fully taxable, these pension plans are not attractive.

Harness the power of equities

Experts advise against depending purely on the EPF and PPF for retirement needs. They are debtbased instruments and their returns will not be able to beat inflation. "People have been depending on the PPF for too long," says Mamaji. "It is time investors realised that these are not sufficient for their retirement needs." Those hoping to build a decent corpus for retirement may have to step out of their comfort zone and invest in equities. As mentioned earlier, ELSS funds can be an investor's first step in the equity market.

Experts insist that young investors should especially use the additional investment limit to enhance their exposure to equities through ELSS funds. Says Hemant Rustagi, CEO, Wiseinvest Advisors: "Besides your compulsory savings towards PF and insurance, investors should make use of this enhanced limit to take exposure to a different asset class like equity."

Ideally, you should start an SIP in an ELSS from the beginning of the financial year, spreading investments over 12 months. Narang plans to invest Rs 5,000 a month in ELSS funds till March 2015 to use up the Rs 50,000 additional limit.

The best thing about ELSS funds is the flexibility they offer. The minimum investment is very low at Rs 500 and the investor can put in money on any trading day of the year. Unlike a Ulip or a pension plan, there is no compulsion to invest every year. Turn to page 15 to know more about the advantages of ELSS funds.

You can take equity exposure through other instruments, such as Ulips, unit-linked pension plans and the NPS, as well. However, the high charges of Ulips and pension plans make them poor choices. On the other hand, the NPS is a low-cost product that can be effectively used for retirement planning. You can decide the allocation to equity, corporate bonds and government securities, as per your risk profile and asset allocation.

Saving for short-term goals

Not all financial goals are 15-20 years away. For taxpayers who need the money sooner, NSCs and five-year tax-saving bank fixed deposits can be useful options. NSCs can be purchased from designated post office branches. The tax-saving FD is offered by most nationalised banks and the rate currently on offer is 9-9.5%. However, the interest earned through NSCs and tax-saving bank FDs is fully taxable as income at the applicable rate. So, for an individual in the highest 30% tax slab, the post-tax returns from a five-year NSC will be only 5.95%. This makes them tax-inefficient compared to the PPF and EPF.

Option for investment
NSCs	Tax-saving FDs	Senior Citizens' Savings Scheme
Returns: Linked to government bond yield. 8.5% for 5-year NSC; 8.8% for 10-year NSC.	Returns: 9-9.5%. Senior citizens get 0.5% higher rates.	Returns: Linked to government bond yield and paid out quarterly. 9.2% for 2014-15.
Safety: Very safe as they are backed by government.	Safety: Fairly safe. Principal amount up to `1 lakh per bank insured.	Safety: Very safe, backed by government
Liquidity: Moderate. Premature encashment permissible. Can be used as collateral for loans. Taxation: Interest fully taxable as income at applicable rate.	Liquidity: Moderate. No premature exits allowed, unlike regular bank FD. Taxation: Interest fully taxable as income at applicable tax rate.	Liquidity: Moderate. Minimum holding period is five years. Premature closure allowed but invites penalty. Taxation: Interest is fully taxable as income at applicable tax rate.
Best for: Conservative investors in lowest tax bracket looking for guaranteed returns.	Best for: Conservative investors in the lowest tax bracket.	Best for: Retirees looking for regular income stream.
SMART TIP: Create a ladder by timing the investments and maturities of your NSCs	SMART TIP: Opt for the interest payout option if you need regular income.	SMART TIP: Remain invested for five years to ensure that the tax benefits claimed in earlier years are not reversed.

Tax-saving options for senior citizens

Senior citizens looking to save tax should consider their cash flows carefully. Many, like Mumbai-based Shripad Narvekar (see picture) may not find it easy to spare for tax-saving investment. They should also steer clear of long-term invetsments. "It would not make sense for retirees to keep their money locked for long tenures," says Chauhan. The Senior Citizens' Savings Scheme is a perfect option. There is a five-year lock-in period but interest is paid out every quarter to generate an income stream for the individual. Though premature withdrawals from the scheme are allowed, there is a penalty if the amount is withdrawn before five years.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/wealth/tax-savers/tax-news/how-to-make-the-most-of-the-extra-rs-50k-tax-deduction-under-section-80c/articleshow/39040645.cms?intenttarget=no

Tax deduction on House Rent Allowance (HRA)

Five smart things to know about tax deduction on House Rent Allowance (HRA)

23 Mar, 2015, 09.47AM IST

1) A tax exemption on house rent allowance (HRA) received is available under Section 10 (13A) of the Income Tax Act to individuals.

2) It is a deduction available to a salaried person who has an HRA component as part of his salary package and is staying in a rented accommodation.

3) The exemption for HRA deduction is the minimum of i) Actual HRA received, ii) 50% of salary if living in metro else 40% and iii) Excess of rent paid over 10% of salary.

4) HRA exemptions are only available on submission of rent receipts or the rent agreement with the house owner by the tenant.

5) The rented premises must not be owned by the person claiming the tax exemption. If you stay with your parents and pay rent to them then you can claim that for tax deductions.

The content is courtesy Centre for Investment Education and Learning (CIEL). Contributions by Girija Gadre, Arti Bhargava and Labdhi Mehta

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/wealth/tax-savers/tax-news/five-smart-things-to-know-about-tax-deduction-on-house-rent-allowance-hra/articleshow/46644310.cms?intenttarget=no
.