Reclaim Your Privacy: How to Scrub Your Personal Information from the Internet

Whether it’s embarrassing photos or personal details that got leaked, your online presence can put you at risk of things like identity theft, harassment, or even hurting your job chances. In this easy guide, we’ll walk you through the main steps to take back your privacy, lower your online risks, and get your personal info off the web.

Why You Need to Remove Personal Data from the Internet

Every time you create a social media account, shop online, or even just browse the web, you leave behind bits of your personal info. While it might not seem like a big deal, this information can easily be used by hackers, data sellers, or people with bad intentions.

Identity theft has only been rising in recent years. The Federal Trade Commission says millions of people report identity theft every year, and leaking personal data is a big reason why. On top of that, data breaches at both small and big companies mean that info such as your address, bank details, and even social security number can end up in the hands of criminals on the dark web.

In regions such as the European Union, laws like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) provide a framework for people to demand the deletion of their personal data. This is also called the "right to be forgotten." It allows you to request platforms to remove your info from their databases. The UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is a great resource for understanding how GDPR regulations work to protect your data. However, regardless of these laws, the burden of action still falls on individuals. Deleting your personal data from the internet is something that takes initiative, and this guide will show you exactly how to do it.

How to Scrub Your Personal Information from the Internet

Deleting your personal information from the internet may seem like a big job, some methods and tools may help make it easier. Here is a tutorial on how to get you going:

Step 1: Identify Your Digital Footprint

Your digital footprint is all the information you leave behind anytime you use the internet - like your social media posts, online shopping, or simply viewing websites. To start protecting your privacy, first figure out what information about you is out there. A smart way to begin is by Googling your name on Google. This may show you information like your address, phone number, social network accounts, or other personal facts that can be public without you realizing it.

Don’t forget to look for earlier accounts you may have stopped using, such as prior social media sites or accounts on old boards. These forgotten accounts might be weak places for your privacy, so it’s crucial to spot them and decide what action to take. Comparitech’s guide on how to remove yourself from the internet can offer some additional insights into identifying your digital footprint.

Step 2: Remove Your Data from Social Media Platforms

One of the primary ways that your personal information might be compromised is via social media. If your accounts aren't set up properly, platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn make it simple to discover your data. Check or restrict your privacy settings on all of your social medias to make sure your info isn't too public before beginning to clear up your data.

What you can do on popular platforms is as follows:

• Facebook: Adjust your privacy settings on who can see your posts, profile, and personal info. You can also use Facebook’s Data Removal Tool to request deletion of old posts and account details.
• Instagram: Set your profile to private and delete old photos or posts that you no longer want visible.
• Twitter: Delete old tweets that might hold personal information and consider making your account private.
• LinkedIn: Set who can view your profile and contact information, or remove old job records and links that are no longer useful to you.

If you value your privacy, you should probably deactivate any accounts you don’t use anymore. Remember that certain social media firms may retain your data even after you delete your account, so if at all feasible, attempt to completely erase your identity and information.

Step 3: Opt-Out of Data Brokers

Data broker companies like Spokeo, Whitepages, and PeopleFinder collect and sell your personal information, often without you knowing about it. They gather details from public records and other sources, making it easy for others to find things like your home address, phone number, and sometimes even financial information.

The good news is that most data brokers let you opt out and remove your information, but each one usually has its own process, which can take a lot of time. To make it easier, you can use services like Incogni or DeleteMe. These services handle the opt-out requests for you and keep an eye on your data, which can save you a lot of effort if you’re serious about protecting your privacy. PCMag’s guide on removing your data covers additional opt-out options.

Step 4: Submit Data Removal Requests to Search Engines

Google, Bing, and Yahoo, as well as other search engines, collect your info like search history, location, where you click on the page, and so on. That kind of information can appear online, and people can sometimes find their own name by typing it into a search engine. If you don’t want your private details to show up, you can ask the search engines to take them down.

For instance, you can ask Google to take your address and other private information out of its search results, and Bing provides comparable choices. Consumer Reports offers advice on deleting your data.

Step 5: Scrub Your Data from Websites

In addition to search engines and social media, your personal information may also be leaked or appear in forums, blogs, public databases, and other places. In most cases, you can request that the website remove any personal information you find there. They typically have to respond to you and delete your data within 30 days due to privacy regulations like the GDPR.

If a website doesn’t want to remove your information, you can take it further by filing a complaint with your local Data Protection Authority (DPA). After the info is finally removed, keep an eye on the site to make sure it doesn’t pop up again. The Verge’s article on protecting personal data is a great resource for understanding your rights online.

Tools to Remove Personal Data

There are some pretty good tools that can help make cleaning up your personal information online much easier. If you want to opt out of data brokers and remove personal info, these particular services can help make the process very simple:

• Mine: This app allows you to track your digital footprint and delete personal data across platforms.
• Incogni: A subscription-based service that automates the opt-out process for multiple data brokers, saving time and effort.
• DeleteMe: One of the most popular services for removing personal data from the web, including data broker sites and social media.
• Google’s Data Removal Tool: Google has an official tool for requesting the removal of personal info from its search results.
• UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO): If you’re in the UK, the ICO can provide guidance on your rights under GDPR and assist with data removal requests.

Future Data Protection Tips

You still have work to do after removing your personal data from the internet. You must always take precautions to keep your data private and safe. The following are important recommendations to help you protect your data going forward:

• Use Privacy-Focused Browsers and Search Engines: Consider using browsers like Brave or search engines like DuckDuckGo, which focus on privacy.
• Regularly Review Your Privacy Settings: Periodically check and update your privacy settings on social media to ensure your info stays private.
• Monitor Your Digital Footprint: Tools like Mine allow you to keep track of where your info shows online and take action if necessary.

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