How to remove personal information from the internet — and why you should

Every aspect of our lives now exists on the internet, from social media accounts and online shopping to online banking and everything in between. Taking control of how the various outlets use and distribute the personal information found in your digital footprint is more crucial than ever.

Why you should manage or delete your personal info from the internet

Like traveling around the real world, everywhere you go online leaves traces you were there, known as your digital footprint. Understanding the significance of your active digital footprint means you can take back control from third-party sites looking to make a quick buck off your sensitive information.

Your digital footprint can stay on the internet forever, leading to lasting damage to your reputation, financial data, or even your internet-connected devices. Taking control of your personal data and online presence — as well as your online accounts — can keep you safe from the malicious intent other internet users might have, such as identity theft.

While strategic deployment of your online presence can ensure you have a spotless digital footprint, everyday use can still create unwanted consequences. Luckily, you can clean up your digital position in search results and more with some awareness, behavior shifts, and electronic tools.

How to protect your sensitive data and online privacy

The first step in reining in your sensitive data is to note everywhere you appear online by viewing your Google search engine results. Be an advocate for yourself and request (professionally) that they remove anything you no longer wish to display.

Also, use search engines to look for inactive social media accounts, activity on other websites on the dark web, instances of using the same password, and outdated email accounts. Old accounts and poor account settings when shopping online are prime for data breaches of your sensitive information and online activities.

The opt-out process

Requesting your removal from each website that contains and displays information about you can be tedious and time-consuming, but it is possible. Most websites must follow privacy policies and procedures to facilitate the process.

The next step is to face the daunting world of data brokers. Data broker sites collect all manner of details about you, including your date of birth, address, phone numbers, IP addresses and even browsing history (the latter being part of your passive digital footprint). This data then gets sold to the highest bidders, leading to targeted advertising that seems to pop up when you think about things.

Stop data broker sites from using your personal information

Unfortunately, these data brokers leak your information to more unsavory institutions, like those committing identity theft, leading to an uptick in spam calls and phishing scams. These nasty side effects can impact loan eligibility, health insurance prices, and even employment decisions.

Those annoying cookie opt-in notices on every webpage are an essential place to start controlling which websites can track your activities. Opting out of every site you cross will help slow down some of the tracking, but data brokers are relentless, making it feel like a full-time job to protect your digital footprint.

An easier way to protect your personal data and guard against identity theft

Personal management of your online data is possible, but it can be time-consuming and obscured by those with a vested interest in keeping that info available. Instead, bring out the big guns with Incogni's data-erasing service created by the cybersecurity experts at Surfshark (the virtual private network folks).

Incogni isn't deterred by the complex removal procedures, putting the pressure back on the data companies rather than you. Plus, Incogni does this for each channel, taking on the tedious and frustrating work, so you don't have to.

Take charge of your personally identifiable information from the internet

Incogni's data removal service sends opt-out and removal requests at breakneck speeds, giving data miners no chance to react and keeping you protected. Likewise, Incogni ensures that your personal data is deleted and not available in reference sites, such as Whitepages, FastPeopleSearch, and USPhoneBook.

When facing data brokers, use Incogni to handle extra interactions like rejection appeals. Enjoy ongoing protection as Incogni restarts the process every few months to ensure your private information remains private.

Take back control of your digital footprint with Incogni

If you're like us here at AppleInsider, you don't have the time to constantly monitor social media sites and react to how websites and online platforms use your personal details. Instead, partner with Incogni to let them do the heavy work, from dealing with data brokers to scanning social media platforms, protecting you from identity theft or worse.

Find your personal information online and remove it

Incogni hunts down your digital footprints, requests opt-outs, advocates for the removal of personal information, and helps request removal from pseudo-online services. Finally, there is a solution for simplified digital footprint management, streamlining your privacy online.

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