I. Introduction
In today’s digitally connected world, personal information is easily accessible on the internet. With an increasing number of cases of identity theft and cyberbullying, it has become important to remove personal information from the internet. This article will provide you with an extensive guide for removing personal information for free through multiple options.
II. Use Opt-Out Tools and Requests Provided by Websites
Opt-out tools are provided by websites to allow users to control their personal information and privacy settings. It is essential to know how these tools work, and how to use them, to manage privacy settings and protect your identity.
A simple way of using opt-out tools are found in the footer of various websites where you can find options for “Privacy” or ‘Terms and Conditions’. In addition, most businesses provide ‘unsubscribe’ links in email marketing communications. You can control your email subscription preferences according to your needs.
A few popular websites with their opt-out tools are :
- Facebook: Allow users to control their timeline posts, public view, and other privacy settings
- Google: Allows users to control the advertisements you see
- Whitepages: Removes personal information from search results
- Intelius: Provides an opt-out request form to remove personal information from their database.
III. Manually Search for and Delete Personal Information from Social Media Accounts
Social media companies collect information through user activity. Social media companies have information about location, personality, age, gender, preferences and acquaintances.
Manual searching and deleting personal information from social media accounts is essential. Check your social media privacy settings as an initial step. If you cannot identify the data you desire to remove, look for online directories or third-party applications that collect user information. Encourage your friends to remove any embarrassing content of you.
Tips to safeguard your social media account:
- Protect your profile with a password and keep changing it periodically
- Turn on two-factor authentication for an extra layer of security
- Be aware of fake friend requests and scam messages and report accordingly
- Be extra cautious before sharing any personal information on your social media account
IV. Use Search Engines Like Google to Search Personal Information
Search engines like Google maintain a backlog of data available online. We can utilize this data to search for your personal information online.
To search for personal information, use Google’s search box to search for your name. By adding prefixes such as “address” or “phone number”, or the site to a Google search, Google may remove any unwanted information from the search results.
If the search results are displaying private personal information, you can contact the site and request to remove it. Major sites like Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter, have a tool for removing personal information; submit a removal request form to remove your personal details from public databases.
V. Hire a Reputation Management Company to Handle Personal Information Online
Reputation management companies provide professional help to manage and remove personal information from the internet.
When hiring a reputation management company, it is imperative to search for companies who primarily provide privacy service or data protection to ensure your sensitive information is kept confidential.
Important aspects to be considered while hiring a reputation management company are
- Cost considerations
- Their expertise and experience
- Review from previous customers
VI. Use Browser Extensions to Block Tracking
Tracking scripts are created by companies to collect information about user online behaviour, personal data and other sensitive information. A browser extension blocks these types of scripts from collecting user data.
Popular browser extensions to block tracking are :
- AdBlock Plus
- Ghostery
- Privacy Badger
- uBlock Origin
After installing and using a browser extension, you may find that fewer ads are being displayed, which can be perceived as beneficial.
VII. Use Services like DeleteMe for Automated Removals
DeleteMe is a privacy service that helps in removing personal information from various websites and directories. It’s during routine sweep services locate and remove information otherwise hard to find and remove for individuals.
To use DeleteMe:
- Create an account:
- Find and select databases with personal information
- Submit a request to remove personal information from these databases.
Other services similar to DeleteMe are:
- Intelius, which provides a “Remove from Directory” tool
- Whitepages, which allows you to create a privacy hub to manage your personal information online.
VIII. Protect Online Privacy Proactively
It’s essential to take steps to protect your personal information online proactively. You can use a firewall or a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to protect against online threats. Networks with open passwords or an unverified connection should be avoided. Use passphrases instead of passwords as they are less straightforward for hackers to guess. Additionally, change your passwords periodically and ensure that they are not recycled from old accounts.
Other methods for safeguarding your online activity:
- Be aware of the sites requesting personal information, and ensure they have an SSL certification
- Clear cookie data periodically, which retains information like login credentials, browsing behaviour and search history
- Update devices with the latest security patches
- Be vigilant of suspicious emails and report them
IX. Conclusion
In conclusion, removing personal information from the internet is vital to safeguard personal identities, privacy, and avoid online threats. Using opt-out tools, deleting personal information from social media accounts, and using Google searches are some methods to manually remove personal information for free. An alternate option is hiring a reputation management company or utilizing automated removal services like DeleteMe. Protecting online privacy proactively must be implemented to overcome cybersecurity challenges. Internet safety begins with every individual; let’s all step up to protect ourselves.
Final tips for readers to safeguard their online privacy:
- Regularly review privacy policies and settings on the internet.
- Acknowledge the longevity of data online.
