Google will delete inactive accounts within days. Here's how to save your data.

[brooklynite]

CBS News

Google account holders, beware: If you have an old Google account, you have only days to use it or lose it.

Beginning December 1, Google will delete inactive accounts and all their contents, such as photos, calendar entries, e-mails, contacts and Drive documents, according to the company's updated account policy. The system-wide purge is intended to protect users from security threats, such as spam, phishing scams and account hijacking, Google has said.

Here's everything you need to know about how to keep your account active and save your data before the tech giant begins deleting inactive accounts on Friday.

Google is purging inactive accounts from its system because it says they are "more likely to be compromised." Unattended accounts often rely on old or re-used passwords, receive fewer security checks by users and are 10 times more likely not to have two-factor authentication set up, Google's internal data shows.