Google will start deleting 'inactive' accounts in...

Millions of Gmail users will lose access to their inactive accounts in what Google says is a bid to deter scammers from accessing user data.

Gmail accounts that haven't been used in the last two years will disappear starting Friday, along with all content in the connected Google Drive, Docs, Calendar, Meet, and Google Photos apps.

The company said it will send users several notices that their Gmail account is scheduled to be deleted, giving them time to log in and interact with their content to avoid losing it forever.

However, it isn't enough to login to Gmail alone if you want to safeguard saved photos and other documents. To do so, users will need to access their Google Photos accounts to avoid losing their memories.

Google announced the policy shift in May, claiming it was working on ways to protect users' information from would-be scammers.

Google's policy update stated: 'If an account hasn't been used for an extended period of time, it is more likely to be compromised. This is because forgotten or unattended accounts often rely on old or re-used passwords that may have been compromised, haven't had two factor authentication set up, and receive fewer security checks by the user.'

As a result, these accounts could be hijacked and used for spam or other malicious content, as well as identity theft. 

Ruth Kricheli, vice president for Google's product management, told DailyMail.com earlier this month the change is necessary to 'protect our users from security threats, like spam, phishing scams and account hijacking.'

She added: 'These accounts are often vulnerable, and once an account is compromised, it can be used for anything from identity theft to a vector for unwanted or even malicious content, like spam.'

A Google spokesperson told AP users with accounts on YouTube, which is owned by Google, won't have to worry about the company deleting their videos at this time. 

YouTube requires users to use their Gmail account to sign in to the app. The connection means typically, if a user deleted their Gmail account, it would delete their YouTube account along with all data associated with the account including all videos, comments, and subscriptions. 

The spokesperson added those with Google accounts through a school, organization or company also won't be affected. 

If users want to protect themselves from losing access to old accounts, they can take steps to fulfil Google's requirements including sending or clicking into emails, using the Google search tool, or watching YouTube videos from their linked account.

The purge will start with accounts that were created but never subsequently used, Google said in its initial press release, meaning longtime users that have only recently been inactive may have more time to save their accounts or the files connected to them.

In the interim, users should download Google Takeout to export their account data if they want to save their files but not their account. Google Takeout provides a quick and easy way to download all data and transfer it outside of Google at any time.

Similarly, users can access Google's Inactive Account Manager to select what happens to their account and data if it becomes inactive, including sending select files to trusted contacts, setting up an automatic reply or deleting the account entirely.

The easiest way to keep your Google account active - and prevent it from being deleted - is to sign in at least once every two years.