Simple Steps to Protect Your Personal Information Online

Keeping your personal information safe online is easier than many realize. For a long time, search engines like Google and websites such as Whitepages and Spokeo made it simple to find details about people, including their addresses and phone numbers. While this is convenient, it also raises privacy concerns. Fortunately, you can take simple, free steps to remove your personal details from these online sources.

Many people don’t know that they can remove their personal information from Google searches for free. Consumer Reports and privacy experts say that with just an hour of your time, you can significantly boost your privacy. Jared Newman, a tech expert, explains how easy it is to use Google’s tool for removing search results.

Here’s how you can do it: Search for your name along with specific details like your city or phone number. If you find a result showing your info, click the ⋮ button, select “Remove Result,” and follow the instructions. Google often replies quickly, usually in about an hour, to confirm your request.

However, while removing information from Google’s search results helps, the data might still exist on the websites themselves. Experts suggest using an app called Permission Slip by Consumer Reports, which helps you automatically request data removal from brokers. This app is available for both iPhone and Android devices and works alongside your manual efforts to contact individual sites.

If you have some extra time, you can visit sites like Spokeo and Whitepages to request data removal directly. Using a throwaway email address, you can fill out their opt-out forms to further protect your privacy.

While there are paid services like DeleteMe and Optery that offer to remove your data, Consumer Reports and privacy experts warn that these services often overstate the difficulty of the process. Jared Newman shares that doing it yourself is usually more effective and cheaper.

If you still prefer using a service, EasyOptOuts is an affordable choice at $20 per year and works just as well as more expensive options. This service is recommended by Privacy Guides, a trusted source for privacy advice.

Completely removing all traces of your personal data from the internet is challenging because of frequent data breaches. However, by making it harder for others to find your information, you can deter casual snoopers. Even small efforts to protect your data can greatly improve your online privacy, according to cybersecurity expert Dr. Hany Tawfik.

In conclusion, while achieving total privacy is difficult, taking these simple steps can provide a valuable layer of security.