Yahoo has made a big about-face by extending the amount of time it will keep user search records to 18 months from 90 days.

The struggling Internet giant may also keep other types of user data for longer periods, which the company says will help it provide more personal and relevant services to its users.

Yahoo in 2008 became the first big Internet search engine to “anonymize” a wide range of user data after 90 days. Yahoo now says its new data retention policy will bring it closer to the competitive norm across the industry. Shares in Yahoo fell 2.4 percent, to $16.22.