Delete yourself from the internet
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Google updated its “Results About You” tool, and using it has been an eye-opening experience.
It uncovered my home address, phone number and email on so-called people-search websites, along with my birth date and grandma’s name—even though I requested removal from some databases years ago. It regularly sends emails alerting me to more exposed data.
And yes, your info is out there, too. Plug your data into Google’s free tool—the company promises not to use it for any other purposes—and wait a few hours for the alerts to roll in.
Why care? Easily available personal data can expose you to junk mail, identity theft or impersonation scams. For executives, government officials and public figures, the stakes are even higher. Attackers use people-search databases to increasingly target them for harassment or violence, according to a 2024 report by cybersecurity firm Recorded Future. Even private individuals have become victims of doxxing, the malicious sharing of personal info.
I'm taking a leap of faith and trusting Google....I'm trying this out and will report back results...
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Google updated its “Results About You” tool, and using it has been an eye-opening experience.
It uncovered my home address, phone number and email on so-called people-search websites, along with my birth date and grandma’s name—even though I requested removal from some databases years ago. It regularly sends emails alerting me to more exposed data.
And yes, your info is out there, too. Plug your data into Google’s free tool—the company promises not to use it for any other purposes—and wait a few hours for the alerts to roll in.
Why care? Easily available personal data can expose you to junk mail, identity theft or impersonation scams. For executives, government officials and public figures, the stakes are even higher. Attackers use people-search databases to increasingly target them for harassment or violence, according to a 2024 report by cybersecurity firm Recorded Future. Even private individuals have become victims of doxxing, the malicious sharing of personal info.
I'm taking a leap of faith and trusting Google....I'm trying this out and will report back results...
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The Google search came back with nothing. Odd, as I also tried the free version of the highly-rated Optery came back with 60 hits and instructions on how to remove entries myself. Or I can subscribe and they'll do it for me.
Here's the PCMag review of data removal services:
