The internet knows a lot about you. Your name, address, phone number, and even your shopping habits can be found online. Companies collect and sell this data, making it harder to stay private. If you want to protect your information, you need to take action. Here’s how.
Start by looking up your name on Google. Try different variations, including your full name, nickname, and any usernames you’ve used. This will help you see where your information is public.
Check people-search sites like:
Spokeo
MyLife
Intelius
These websites gather personal data from public records and social media. You’ll need to remove yourself from each one.
Your email inbox is a goldmine of personal information. Every time you sign up for a website, shop online, or subscribe to a newsletter, your email gets stored and sometimes shared. Over time, this can lead to spam, unwanted marketing messages, and even a higher risk of a data breach search exposing your details. Cleaning up your email account is essential for privacy and organization.
Start by unsubscribing from newsletters and marketing lists you no longer read. Most emails include an email opt-out link at the bottom, making it easy to stop receiving them. If you want to keep promotional emails but don’t want them cluttering your inbox, use email filters to sort them into a separate folder automatically.
Using email management tools can help streamline your inbox. Services like Clean Email or Unroll.Me allows you to bulk unsubscribe from unwanted emails and organize your inbox. Another great way to protect your privacy is by using an email alias. Instead of giving out your primary email address, create alternative emails for sign-ups and online shopping. This makes deleting or blocking unwanted messages easier without affecting your main account.
For even better privacy, consider using separate email accounts for different purposes. One email for work, another for personal use, and a third for online shopping and subscriptions can help limit the spread of your information. If you want to reduce junk mail even further, registering with a do-not-mail service can stop some companies from sending you marketing emails.
Keeping your inbox clean is an ongoing task, but good privacy practices make it easier. Regularly review your email folders, delete old messages, and organize important ones into labeled folders. With the right approach, your inbox can stay clutter-free, private, and easy to manage.
Old accounts hold more personal information than you think. Every social media account, shopping profile, and phone app you’ve signed up for could still store your data. Many of these accounts track your activity, store your browsing history, and even share data with third parties. If you’re not using them, it’s best to delete them.
Start by reviewing your account settings on each platform. Some websites offer an auto-delete option for inactive users, but most require a manual data removal request. Social media platforms, like Facebook, keep records of your activity even after you stop using them. You can check and manage this through the Off-Facebook Activity settings.
Online shopping accounts are another major source of stored data. Old purchases, payment details, and addresses remain on these platforms unless you delete them. The same goes for unused extensions in your browser, which may still have access to your personal data.
For phone apps, uninstalling them isn’t enough. Many apps continue storing your data even after deletion. Visit their websites to formally close your account. Deleting these unused accounts and adjusting privacy settings reduces the risk of data breaches and gives you more control over your digital footprint.
Data brokers collect and sell your personal information, often without your knowledge. Your name, address, phone number, and even location tracking history can be found on people search sites and sold to advertisers, telemarketers, or worse. These sites scrape data from public sources and search engines, making it difficult to control where your personally identifiable information (PII) appears.
You can remove yourself from these databases by submitting opt-out requests to each broker individually. This process can be time-consuming, as different sites have different removal steps. Some require identity verification, while others make it hard to find their opt-out pages. If you don’t want to do it manually, a data removal service like Reputation Privacy can automate the process for you.
Even after opting out, some sites may add your information back over time. This happens because new data is constantly being collected through activity tracking, online purchases, and advertising networks like AdChoices. To reduce your exposure, limit what you share online and adjust privacy settings. Removing your data from brokers won’t make you invisible, but it will significantly reduce your digital footprint and keep your personal details out of unwanted hands.
Your social media profiles reveal more about you than you might realize. Every post, like, and interaction adds to your digital footprint, making it easier for companies and even strangers to track you. To take control, start by adjusting your privacy settings. Most platforms have a privacy center where you can limit who sees your posts, remove old data, and review past activity.
Check your app privacy report to see which apps have accessed your information. Many social media apps share data with third-party apps, often without you noticing. Use the permission manager to restrict what these apps can access, like your contacts or camera.
Another key step is turning off location sharing. Platforms often track where you go and use that data for targeted ads. You can disable this in your website privacy preferences or through your phone’s settings. If you want even more control, submit a privacy request to platforms asking them to delete stored data you no longer need.
Even smart devices like Alexa collect social media data. Reviewing your Alexa privacy settings ensures your information isn’t being shared unnecessarily. A few simple changes can make a big difference in protecting your online privacy.
Your personal information can appear in Google search results, on Google Maps, and even in public records without your consent. If your name, address, or images are online, it’s important to take action. Google doesn’t own this data—it pulls it from third-party websites and data broker lists. To remove it, you need to target both Google’s index and the original sources.
Start by using Google’s Results About You tool to request removal of sensitive personal details. For anything tied to tracking and location history, adjust your Google Activity Controls to limit what Google stores about you. If a personal image or outdated information appears on a website, contact the webmaster to request removal. Once deleted from the original site, Google will eventually stop showing it in search.
For Google services like Google Maps or Google Home, review your Privacy & Security settings. You can remove location history and adjust permissions to prevent data collection. Using an identity monitoring tool can help track where your information appears online so you can request removals more effectively. Taking these steps will help keep your data out of public view and protect your privacy.
If a website shares your personal information, ask them to take it down.
Send a polite email that includes:
The URL of the page
A request to remove your information
A reason (such as privacy concerns or outdated info)
Many site owners will cooperate. If they refuse, you may need legal action or Google’s removal tools.
Your smartphone and other smart devices are constantly collecting and sharing your data. Apps, websites, and even hidden data-harvesters track your activity to build profiles on you. If you don’t take control, your personally identifiable information (PII) can end up in the wrong hands, leading to privacy issues or even a data leak.
Start by adjusting your privacy settings. Limit which apps have access to your location, contacts, and camera. Be cautious with permissions—many apps request data they don’t need. Disable unnecessary tracking features, like Bluetooth beacons, which can secretly collect data when you pass by stores or public spaces.
Use parental controls to protect children’s information from being collected. Avoid data-harvesting apps that request excessive access to your personal details. Reducing your attack surface—the number of ways your data can be exposed—makes it harder for companies and hackers to track you.
Smart devices like speakers, TVs, and wearables also collect personal data. Regularly review their settings and turn off any unnecessary tracking. Taking these steps helps you regain control over your personal data collection and keeps your information safe.
Websites, advertisers, and even hackers constantly track your online activity. Using digital security tools can help protect your information and reduce unwanted tracking. The first step is adjusting your browser privacy settings. Many browsers, like Firefox, offer built-in tracking protection and allow you to manage Firefox data collection and use settings to limit data sharing. Enabling do not track requests adds another layer of security, though some websites may still ignore them.
For mobile users, choosing the right browser makes a difference. There are several private browsers for iOS and Android browsers for privacy that block trackers and prevent companies from gathering your data. Look for ones that include anti-tracking software and encrypted connections to keep your browsing secure.
Beyond browsers, specialized tools can enhance your privacy. A dark web monitoring tool can alert you if your personal information is leaked online, helping you take quick action. Using privacy, search, and services settings in your preferred search engine can also limit the amount of data stored about you.
By taking these steps and using the right tools, you can browse the internet with more confidence and security.
Your online accounts hold a lot of personal information, from financial details to private messages. If hackers get access, they can steal your identity, drain your bank account, or sell your data on the dark web. To stay safe, you need to secure your accounts with strong passwords and privacy settings.
Start by using a password manager to generate and store unique passwords for every account. Avoid using the same password twice. Enable 2FA (two-factor authentication) for extra security. An authenticator app is more secure than text message codes, which can be intercepted.
Be careful of phishing scams that trick you into entering login details on fake websites. Always verify links before clicking. Regularly check if your accounts have been exposed in data breaches. If they have, change your passwords immediately.
Use safe browsing tools to block trackers and protect your data. Adjust privacy settings on social media to limit who can see your posts and personal details. Keep sensitive data, like your financial information, off public platforms. Even your name and email in public records can be used by hackers.
Staying secure online takes effort, but it’s worth it. A few small changes can prevent identity theft and protect your personal information from falling into the wrong hands.
Removing your data is time-consuming. Professional services can do it for you.
At Reputation Privacy, we:
Locate your personal information online.
Contact data brokers and people-search sites on your behalf.
Monitor the web to keep your data private.
We make sure your information stays offline.
Your personal information shouldn’t be available for anyone to see. By following these steps, you can reduce your online footprint and protect your privacy.
If you need help, Reputation Privacy can handle it for you. Contact us today to start removing your information from the internet.