How to find and delete personal data on the Internet
In the digital age, your personal data can be collected and spread across the internet without your knowledge. Knowing how to find and delete this information is an important step in protecting your privacy and safety online.
In the digital age, keeping your personal information safe has become an increasingly difficult challenge. With just a few clicks, a stranger can find out your home address, phone number, and even your work history.
The most obvious threat is identity theft, which can cause significant financial and reputational damage. But in reality, data miners often don’t have to do much to steal your personal data, as every time you surf the web, shop online, or post on social media, you add to your digital profile.
This digital profile becomes increasingly detailed, reflecting everything from shopping habits, hobbies, geographic locations to work relationships. While the data may seem harmless at first, as it accumulates, it becomes a valuable resource for advertisers, marketing companies, and, more dangerously, hackers. This means you are vulnerable to scams, fraud, or privacy violations.
However, with persistence, the right tools, and the right strategy, such as regularly checking and adjusting your Google privacy settings, you can completely regain control of your personal data.
Why is your personal data stored online?
One of the most common ways your personal data ends up on the internet is through the activities of data brokers. These companies collect and aggregate information from a variety of sources, including home addresses, current jobs, phone numbers, and even financial histories, and then sell it to marketers or advertisers. Much of the data is taken from public records, social media, online directories, and easily accessible databases.
In addition, you also contribute to building a “digital footprint” through social media platforms. Every post, comment or profile update on Facebook, Instagram or Zalo becomes a piece of your online profile. Even if you delete your account, the information may still exist in the form of backups or be retained by data brokers.
There is also the legal aspect. In many areas, certain public records, such as voter registration, property titles, census data, and court records, are made public to ensure transparency and accountability. However, this transparency also creates opportunities for brokers and search engines to exploit, making it easy for your personal data to spread online.
How to find your data online
The first step to regaining control of your digital identity is knowing exactly where your personal data is on the internet. The easiest way to do this is to start with a Google search for your full name, phone number, or email address.
For more accurate results, enclose the name in quotation marks (e.g., “John Ian”). Google also offers a “Results About You” tool that helps you quickly identify personal information that is being displayed and even submit a removal request right from the interface.
Next, check out popular data broker sites, which often store personal information for sale to third parties. Many offer free searches, making it easy to determine if your data has been listed. However, removing your information can be more complicated, as some companies require you to submit a formal opt-out request, while others require you to register for an account before doing so.
If you want to save time, consider automated services like Incogni, DeleteMe, or OneRep. These tools scan the internet for personal data and help you delete it from a variety of platforms. While they offer convenience, most require users to pay a recurring fee to maintain the service.
How can I delete my personal information online?
Once you’ve identified where your personal data is, the next important step is to take action to remove it from the internet. If your information is on a data broker site, you’ll need to go directly to their website and look for an “opt-out” or “privacy” section, then follow the instructions provided. This can be a time-consuming process, as each site has its own procedures, sometimes requiring you to verify your identity multiple times before completing.
Also, don’t overlook any online accounts you no longer use. While these may seem harmless, they can contain old photos, posts, or personal information that can be a gold mine for data collectors. If you can’t remember all of your accounts, use a tool like Deseat.me to scan your Google or Outlook logins and delete the ones you find.
It’s not just your old accounts that need to be managed, but also your existing social media accounts. Regularly check your privacy settings to ensure that only people you trust can see your content. Also, enabling two-factor or multi-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security, reducing the risk of hackers breaking in.
What can you do to protect your data from future exposure?
Removing personal data from the internet is just the beginning, as maintaining online privacy is the key to long-term protection. One of the most important principles is to always think carefully before sharing information.
Avoid posting sensitive information like your home address, phone number, or place of work on public platforms. Even seemingly innocuous sharing of information about a vacation or a real estate purchase can make you a target for scammers or hackers.
Besides, your online accounts are the “door” to your personal data warehouse, so keeping them secure should be a top priority. Using strong, unique passwords for each account and changing them periodically is a basic but extremely effective precaution.
More importantly, protecting your personal data doesn’t stop after a cleanup. You should get into the habit of regularly looking up names, phone numbers, or emails on Google to detect leaks. Periodically checking data broker sites is also essential. If you want to save effort, take advantage of automated tools like Google Alerts to receive notifications as soon as your data reappears, thereby handling it more promptly and proactively./.