
How to remove your information from the internet
With each passing day, your personal information is at greater risk due to the growing cyber crimes that are expected to grow by 15% each year.
In fact, there are 40,000 Google searches a second (that’s possibly 40,000 Google searches that you’re making every second, and they could be exposing sensitive details of your life to anyone who searches for them). The most troubling part is that data brokers are actively harvesting this information and selling it out to their already lucrative industry, which is forecasted to reach $462.4 billion in 2031.
For this reason, knowing how to remove your information from the internet has become important as it protects you against identity theft and fraud. Your digital footprint can have you vulnerable to a ton of different security threats, whether you’ve left outdated social media profiles, old blog posts, or are listed on data brokers.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through practical steps to remove your personal information from the internet and help you maintain your online privacy. Let’s secure your digital presence together.
Why your personal information is at risk online
Your personal information is at more risk than ever in today’s digital world. A newer study shows that 79% of Americans believe companies and the government track their online activities. It also shows that 81% of people believe company data collection risks are greater than any benefits.
Your personal data becomes vulnerable from many sources. About 70% of adults feel their personal data security has declined over the last five years. This worry makes sense because your information can leak through several channels:
- Financial records and transactions
- Social media activities and profiles
- Medical and health information
- Government documents and records
- Shopping and purchase history
- Email communications
- Location data and travel patterns
- Professional and employment details
Common ways your data gets exposed
Your digital footprint grows with every online interaction. Consequently, 72% of Americans acknowledge having little to no understanding of current data privacy laws. Furthermore, 77% express minimal trust in social media companies to protect their personal information.
Here are the primary ways your personal information becomes vulnerable:
- Social media oversharing: Publishing specific details about your life can lead to break-ins, monetary loss, or compromise your safety.
- Data breaches: Companies storing your information often fall victim to cyber-attacks, potentially exposing your sensitive data.
- Third-party data sharing: Social networking companies harvest sensitive data about your activities, interests, and personal characteristics for advertising purposes.
- Unsecured networks: Your personal information can be intercepted when transmitted over unsecured connections.
- Phishing attacks: Cyber criminals use deceptive emails to trick you into revealing sensitive information.
The risks extend beyond immediate privacy concerns. As a result, 79% of Americans report feeling very or somewhat concerned about how companies use their collected data. Furthermore, 73% feel they have very little or no control over the data collected about them by companies.
Your vulnerability increases as data collection becomes more sophisticated. For instance, even seemingly harmless pieces of information can be assembled through the ‘Mosaic Effect’ to create a revealing picture about you. Additionally, photos shared on social platforms often contain metadata with GPS location information, potentially exposing your whereabouts.
The threat landscape continues to evolve, with up to two-thirds of cyber attacks now originating from phishing scams. Above all, the absence of sufficient security measures and low awareness leaves your data exposed to potential breaches. Particularly concerning is that even if you delete a post, a simple screen capture can preserve it indefinitely.
How to remove personal information from the internet
Taking control of your digital footprint requires a systematic approach to removing personal information from the internet. Accordingly, let’s explore practical steps to protect your privacy and secure your online presence.
Secure all your online accounts
Start by strengthening your account security. Specifically, enable two-factor authentication and use strong, unique passwords for each account. Consider using a password manager to maintain different credentials for every platform. Regularly changing your passwords can also reduce the risk of a data breach. Always regularly update your software and devices to keep them malware-free.
Remove financial and legal records
Contact your county clerk’s office to request removal or redaction of sensitive information from public records. Meanwhile, review your DMV records and request address updates using a P.O. Box instead of your physical address. Remove your credit or debit card information from all online stores you’ve used. Stay cautious while shopping online and use safety tools like a VPN or proxy.
Request a third party website to remove your information
To remove information from third-party websites, follow these essential steps, search for your name and document websites displaying your information. Contact site owners directly through their privacy forms or contact details and submit formal removal requests with proper documentation. Do follow up if no response is received within two weeks and always save all communication for future reference.
Delete government documents
First, check which government records are available online, such as your voter registration, tax records, court records, or property records. Once you identify this information, contact the relevant agencies to request sealing or redaction of sensitive details. However, keep in mind that some records are required by law to remain public.
Secure medical information
Under HIPAA regulations, you have the right to control access to your health information. Contact healthcare providers to review and update your privacy preferences.
Boost social media accounts privacy
As obvious, social media platforms store significant personal information. Update your privacy settings to control who can access your data and how it’s used. A recent survey found that 70% of adults admit using the same password for multiple services, making their accounts vulnerable. Try unique passwords, including symbols and numbers. It’s better to update your social passwords regularly.
Delete old, unused accounts and apps
Your digital footprint grows with every account you create. Remove dormant accounts that could expose your personal information to data breaches. Use services like JustDelete.me to find direct links to account deletion pages.

Use privacy protection tools
Implement these essential privacy tools:
- Virtual Private Networks (VPN)
- Password managers
- Ad blockers
- Secure messaging apps
- Disk encryption tools
A VPN allows you to browse the internet freely without exposing sensitive information, such as your geolocation, IP address, or other personal details.
Make your public accounts private
Adjust settings on platforms like Instagram, where accounts under 18 are private by default. For other platforms, manually update visibility settings to restrict access to trusted connections.
Change your email settings and clean up your accounts
Review and modify your email privacy settings to prevent tracking. For instance, Apple Mail offers options to hide your IP address and block remote content loading. Avoid clicking on links in emails from untrusted sources, as they may contain spyware designed email to steal your personal information.
Remove images from Google maps
To protect your privacy on Google Maps, search for your address, click on the Street View image, select ‘Report a Problem,’ and request to blur your home or property. If you have posted any reviews for restaurants that include pictures of yourself, consider removing those as well.
Opt out of public data broker sites and services
Data brokers collect and sell your personal information. Services like Privacy Bee, Optery, and DeleteMe can help remove your data from hundreds of broker sites. These services monitor databases and automatically submit removal requests on your behalf.
Delete unused shopping accounts
Close old shopping accounts that may contain your payment information and shipping address. This reduces the risk of your data being exposed in potential breaches.
Remove old personal blog and website
For outdated blogs or websites, either delete them entirely or update privacy settings to restrict access. On platforms like Blogger, you can permanently remove content through the account settings.
Change your privacy setting
Finally, regularly review and update privacy settings across all your active accounts. Remember that privacy policies often change, so periodic checks are essential.
How to keep your information off of the internet
Protecting your digital privacy requires a proactive approach rather than just removing information after it’s already online. Essentially, the best defense is to minimize your digital footprint from the start.
Your first line of defense is controlling what you share online. Studies show that 56% of Americans often click “agree” immediately without reading privacy policies. Hence, it’s crucial to be more mindful of your digital habits.

Here are the fundamental steps to maintain your online privacy:
- Evaluate Privacy Policies
- Control Social Media Sharing
- Monitor App Permissions
- Secure Network Connections
- Update Security Settings
- Implement Protection Tools
Primarily, you should think twice before installing new apps, as they can access various types of data through your devices. Similarly, be cautious about linking accounts unless absolutely necessary, as this creates a single point of failure in your security system.
When it comes to network security, public Wi-Fi poses significant risks. Generally, these networks have minimal security measures, making your data vulnerable to interception. Using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) becomes essential when connecting to public Wi-Fi.
Your browser settings play a crucial role in privacy protection. Consider these essential cybersecurity measures:
- Turn off tracking features when possible
- Use secure browsers like Google Chrome, Safari, or Microsoft Edge
- Enable pop-up blockers
- Delete cookies regularly
- Update all software and systems
Data flowing between your device and websites using plain HTTP protocol can be monitored or intercepted by malicious actors. To protect against this, always verify that websites display https://
or a padlock icon in the URL bar before entering personal information.
Cloud storage requires special attention. Both you and your cloud provider share responsibility for security. Before storing sensitive data in the cloud, verify:
- Provider’s security controls
- Data encryption methods
- Access management protocols
- Backup procedures
Moreover, cookies can track your activities and capture purchasing habits, potentially sharing this information with unwanted third parties. To combat this, set your browser to either delete cookies after each session or use ‘opt-out’ cookies to block tracking completely.
State and federal laws offer limited protection for your online privacy. Unlike the European Union’s GDPR, U.S. privacy laws vary by state, industry, and data type. Currently, only California, Colorado, Connecticut, Utah, and Virginia have passed modern data protection legislation.
Remember that Incognito mode doesn’t provide complete privacy protection. This feature only prevents other people from seeing your browsing history on your device. For comprehensive protection, combine it with other security measures like VPNs and secure browsers.
Regarding messaging apps, even privacy-oriented platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram have security limitations. Avoid sharing sensitive information through these channels, as account compromises or device breaches could expose your data.
Where can my personal information be used?
In this digital era, your personal information has become a valuable commodity that can be used in many ways, both legitimate and malicious. Indeed, studies show that cyber criminals can sell stolen bank login credentials for up to $500 on the dark web.
Essentially, your personal data faces threats from multiple sources. A recent study revealed that 79% of adults express serious concerns about how companies use their collected data. Let’s examine the primary ways your information can be exploited:
Identity theft and financial fraud:
- Opening credit cards in your name
- Taking out unauthorized loans
- Filing fraudulent tax returns
- Applying for identification documents
- Renting apartments under your identity
Legal and criminal activities:
- Using your identity during arrests
- Committing tax evasion
- Money laundering schemes
- Traffic violations under your name
- Phishing scams
- Blackmail attempts
- Social engineering attacks
Notably, your personal information is collected and stored by various entities like Government agencies, financial institutions, healthcare providers and commercial companies.
Conclusion
Personal data protection has become essential as cyber crime continues to rise and data brokers actively trade your information. Therefore, taking control of your digital footprint requires both removing existing information and preventing future exposure.
Your personal information faces threats from multiple sources, social media platforms, data brokers, government records, and commercial databases. Above all, protecting this data demands a proactive approach through regular privacy audits and security updates.
Certainly, removing your information completely from the internet presents challenges. However, following the steps outlined in this guide will significantly reduce your digital footprint and protect your sensitive data from potential misuse.
Note: Remember to regularly review your privacy settings, delete unused accounts, and monitor your digital presence. Your online privacy requires constant attention, but the security benefits make it worth the effort.
FAQs
What are some practical steps to protect my privacy online?
Protect your online privacy by using strong, unique passwords for each account and enabling two-factor authentication. Regularly review and update privacy settings across all platforms, be cautious about what you share on social media, and use secure browsers with tracking features turned off. Additionally, implement privacy tools such as VPNs, ad blockers, and secure messaging apps.
How can I remove my information from people’s search websites?
To remove your information from people’s search websites, first search for your name using search engines to identify sites displaying your data. Visit each site’s opt-out page and submit removal requests following their specific procedures. Be prepared to provide the necessary documentation to verify your identity. Follow up if you don’t receive a response within two weeks and document all communication.
Are there professional services that can help remove personal information from the internet?
Yes, there are professional services available that specialize in removing personal information from the internet. Companies like Privacy Bee, Optery, and DeleteMe offer services to remove your data from hundreds of broker sites and monitor databases to submit removal requests on your behalf automatically. While these services come at a cost, they can save time and provide ongoing protection for your online privacy.