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As data becomes increasingly valuable in the business world of 2023, it is crucial to manage and control the information that is available online about yourself. If you have ever searched for yourself on Google and felt worried about the number or content of the search results, then this guide is exactly what you need.
| The Problem: | Data brokers harvesting and selling your Personally Identifiable Information for profit. Putting you at risk of scams, identity theft, higher premiums, and more. |
| The Solution: | Data Removal Services |
| Recommended Services: | DeleteMe, Incogni, Kanary, IDX |
| Pricing: |
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What is a Data Broker?
Put simply, a data broker is a business that scrapes personally identifiable information, or PII, from publicly accessible sources and sells it to anyone who may want that data. You’ve no doubt come across suspiciously well-targeted ads at some point, and this plays a factor.
Unfortunately, this practice is entirely legal, but it can be problematic. Your PII can include highly sensitive information such as your medical records or finances, and in extreme cases can increase the odds of identity theft or even drive up your insurance premiums.
What can I do About it?
If you are concerned about your personal information being shared and sold by data brokers, it is important to know that both US and EU laws require them to remove your data upon request. This means that you have the right to contact them and ask for your information to be deleted, and they are legally obligated to comply with your request.
However, the process of contacting and following up with each data broker can be overwhelming and time-consuming, especially given the large number of data brokers operating online.
Thankfully, there are now services available that automate this process for you, providing regular reports on their progress and success in removing your data. With these services, you can have peace of mind knowing that your online presence is being cleaned up and your personal information is being protected.
What are Data Removal Services?
Online privacy and data protection have become a matter of great concern in the current digital age, where personal information is constantly at risk of being exposed. Fortunately, there are data removal services available that can help individuals safeguard their online privacy.
These services are specifically designed to minimize or eliminate personal information from various online platforms, databases, and websites. By subscribing to these services, users can benefit from regular progress reports and take control of their digital privacy and security.
With annual subscription plans, these services offer a hassle-free and effective way of protecting sensitive information from unauthorized access and misuse.
"DeleteMe" safeguards your online privacy by removing your personal information from online databases and websites, giving you control over your digital footprint and protecting you from identity theft.
Removing Yourself from the Internet with DeleteMe
My personal data removal service of choice is DeleteMe from Abine. It’s one of the more premium options on the market and comes with a few extra features, such as phone and email masking, as well as a human support team who can help with bespoke requests.
That being said, at its core, DeleteMe’s key component, the automated data removal service, isn’t too dissimilar from others on the market. Making it an excellent example for this guide.
If you’re concerned about your online privacy and want to reduce your digital footprint, removing yourself from the internet can be a daunting task. However, there are services like DeleteMe that can help you minimize your online presence.
DeleteMe is an expert in assisting individuals to remove their personal information from various websites. Here’s a detailed step-by-step guide on how to use such a service:
Read more: Incogni vs DeleteMe Compared: Why Incogni Edges It For Me
Getting Started
The initial setup process for DeleteMe is extremely similar to that of other data removal services, so if you’re considering an alternative service, don’t click away from this guide just yet.
Deciding on Your Data Removal Service
If you want to protect your privacy online, several services specialize in removing your personal information from the internet. To choose the right one for you, compare the services they offer, their pricing, and user reviews. Check out their websites, FAQs, and pricing models to see if they align with your budget and requirements.
Also, make sure to look for any specific features you want and see how each service handles data removal requests. While all services are safe and secure, it’s always better to know how your data is being processed and handled for peace of mind.
In the case of DeleteMe, you can get a standard individual plan for $129 per year. However, there are savings available for 2-person, family, or 2-year plans.
Signup
Now that you have decided on the service and plan that you wish to use, you’ll need to proceed with the enrollment process and complete the initial data collection. This will enable you to fully utilize the chosen service and benefit from all the features that it has to offer.
By providing the necessary information during the data collection process, you can ensure that you receive a tailored experience and that your needs are met to the fullest extent. So, let’s get started and make the most of your chosen service!
In the case of DeleteMe, they refer to this as a Data Sheet, and you can add to this or amend it at any time. Effectively this is a form that you complete with your data so that the service can accurately and effectively identify your data on data broker sites and have it removed.
It may seem odd to voluntarily submit your data to have it removed from elsewhere on the web, but it may be reassuring to know that you can fill out as much or as little information as you wish. Of course, the more you provide, the more accurate the service will likely be, but it’s nice to know you have the option to decide for yourself.
DeleteMe will also ask for a scan of your ID, although you can opt out of supplying this. The reason for this request is simple. Some data brokers need proof of identity to approve removal requests. Other tools, such as Incogni, ask for less information but do require all fields to be completed.
"DeleteMe" safeguards your online privacy by removing your personal information from online databases and websites, giving you control over your digital footprint and protecting you from identity theft.
Your First Report
Once you’ve completed your signup form, DeleteMe will begin searching for your data on their database of data brokers and submitting removal requests on your behalf. They work with over 750 data broker sites, and you can find a full list of them here should you be curious.
Please note, however, that not all the brokers listed here are available on standard plans. Some are locked to VIP or business plans, and others may be for custom requests only.
You will receive your first report in 7 days, which will list all checked brokers and note any flagged listings containing your data. It will also outline the progress of any removal requests.
Progress Monitoring
Once you’ve initiated the removal process, you can regularly check the progress through the service’s dashboard or communication channels. The process may take some time, and you may need to follow up with the service if there are any issues.
You’ll also get access to the Privacy Dashboard. A slick dashboard for visualizing how DeleteMe is working for you. It details the number of brokers checked, the number of listings checked, brokers with your info, and more.
Presenting all in a clean and easy-to-understand visual format. It’s a lot easier to digest than your full report and it will update in real-time between quarterly reports.
The Waiting Game
One of the advantages of using these services is that they can be set up to work in the background without requiring your constant attention. However, the downside is that this process is not instantaneous, and it may take several weeks or even months for the service to successfully remove your information from various websites.
Therefore, it is important to be patient and allow the service to work on your behalf. Just make sure to check in once in a while to see how things are going and to address any problems that may have arisen.
Quarterly Reports
You will receive a Privacy Report from DeleteMe every three months. These PDF reports provide more detailed information than your Privacy Dashboard. They list every broker checked and any data that has been found.
However, sometimes the report can be disappointing. If there are no hits, the report will contain rows of brokers with no relevance as they do not hold any data on you. While it is good to know that your data is secure, it can be disappointing to receive a blank report.
Keeping Your Information Up To Date
Keeping the service updated with any changes to your personal information is incredibly important, as new data may appear online over time. Things such as changes of address should be flagged, so that the service knows to check for listing of your new info and keep an accurate record for you.
Services like DeleteMe often offer ongoing protection, allowing you to maintain your online privacy and will allow you to make adjustments to your personal information in order to maintain accuracy.
Additional Optional Steps & Tools
Some services may have additional steps or tools you can benefit from outside of the basic automated service. In the case of DeleteMe, subscribers can benefit from the ability to make custom removal requests if they find their data online. Perhaps with a broker not covered by the service, or a removal request that seems to be struggling to be completed automatically.
Manual Removal
As you continue to navigate the digital world, you might come across instances where your personal information is listed on data broker sites that are not covered by the privacy service you have subscribed to. This can be a cause for concern, as your information could be used for various purposes, including targeted advertising or even identity theft.
Thankfully, if you are a DeleteMe subscriber, you have access to their customer removal request feature, which enables you to remove your information from hundreds of data broker sites. This premium feature is a simple and effective way to protect your privacy.
For those who are not DeleteMe subscribers, there are still options available. Many privacy services offer free DIY guides on how to request removal directly from data brokers.
Both DeleteMe and Incogni provide these guides for free, regardless of subscription status. These guides walk you through the steps of identifying the data broker sites where your information is listed and submitting a removal request.
By taking advantage of these resources, you can take control of your online privacy and ensure that your personal information is not being misused.
Read our complete honest review and guide about DeleteMe here: DeleteMe Review & Guide: Is DeleteMe Legit?
Success with Data Removal Tools
Staying completely anonymous online is pretty tough, and in most cases, it’s not possible at all. So, it’s best to find a balance between protecting your privacy and being practical by keeping an eye on your online presence.
You need to be careful about what you share on the internet, keep track of your online activity, and take steps to protect your personal information from any potential threats.
By doing this, you can be sure that your privacy is safe without having to cut yourself off from the online world. Additionally, it’s important to be aware of the privacy settings of the websites and applications you use. This can help you control who sees your personal information and what information you share.
It’s important to know that you can effectively remove your personal information from the internet by using data removal tools like DeleteMe. Within just a few weeks, you’ll start seeing a significant reduction in the number of search results that appear for your name on Google, and they’ll be less accurate too.
This can be a huge relief, especially if you’ve been concerned about your home address being easily accessible online. Additionally, you’ll notice a steady decrease in the amount of spam emails you receive in the months following your sign-up. I’ve been using DeleteMe for about a month now, and I’m already seeing the benefits, particularly when it comes to junk email.
"DeleteMe" safeguards your online privacy by removing your personal information from online databases and websites, giving you control over your digital footprint and protecting you from identity theft.
FAQs
Question: Is it Possible to Completely Remove Yourself from the Internet?
Answer: Achieving complete removal of your personal information from the internet is an incredibly challenging task. In most cases, it is nearly impossible, as the internet is vast, and your information may be scattered across multiple websites, databases, and archives.
Even if you manage to get your information removed from some sites, there’s no guarantee that it won’t be re-added or that it doesn’t exist elsewhere. Instead of trying to remove all of your information from the internet, it’s best to focus on identifying and tackling your Personally Identifiable Information (PII).
PII held by data brokers can be a real problem, especially if you’re frequently targeted by scams.
Question: Are data Brokers even Legal?
Answer: Data brokers are legal entities that operate within the boundaries of privacy laws and regulations. However, the legality of their activities is dependent on their compliance with these laws, which can vary significantly depending on the jurisdiction.
If you are concerned or would like to know more, we recommend examining the specific laws in your area.
Question: Are Data Removal Tools like DeleteMe Safe to Use?
Answer: Using services like DeleteMe can be a secure way to protect your data. However, it is important to be aware of their limitations, potential risks, and the specific terms of service of each provider.
To understand more about how your data is being handled and secured, check the services FAQ or About section – this information is usually prominently displayed. If the information is not easily accessible, it may be a red flag and an indication to consider alternative services.
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