How to remove your information from the internet: A step-by-step guide

How to remove personal information from the internet

Of course, the most effective way to keep your privacy online is to share as little of your sensitive data as possible. However, even if you’ve already given away your phone number or email address to certain websites, your information is out there.

While wiping yourself completely off the internet is essentially impossible, you can take steps to minimize the amount of information about you online.

• 1. Delete unused accounts and software

• 2. Review privacy settings on social media accounts

• 3. Remove your information from Google search results

• 4. Request removal from third-party websites and data brokers

• 5. Optimize browser privacy settings and use anti-tracking tools

• 6. Monitor and protect your identity

• 7. Secure your online accounts

1. Delete unused accounts and software

Over time, you accumulate many online accounts and software you no longer use. These old accounts and applications may still store your personal information, making them a potential security risk. Here are some key steps you can take to make sure your data is safe:

• Identify and delete old email, online shopping, and social media accounts. Make a list of all the accounts you have and identify the ones you aren’t using anymore. Visit each platform and follow their instructions to delete your account permanently.
• Remove your information. If you can’t delete an account, remove your personal details from it, like your billing address or credit card information. Doing so reduces your digital footprint and minimizes the risk of your data being exposed to a data breach.
• Uninstall unnecessary apps from your devices. Unused apps not only take up storage space but may also create security risks if not regularly updated. Delete apps you no longer use from your devices to reduce the likelihood of vulnerabilities that could compromise your personal information. And a pro tip for you — before you download a new app, always check its permissions to ensure they do not access more data than necessary.

2. Review privacy settings on social media accounts

Most social media platforms store a lot of your personal information. Adjusting your privacy settings to control who can access your data and how it is used is important to keep your information safe from prying eyes. Here’s what you should do:

• Review and adjust privacy settings. Visit each social media platform and online account you use to review privacy settings. Adjust settings on who can see your posts, personal information, and photos to the level you’re most comfortable with. It’s best to limit the visibility of your profile to only those you trust and avoid publicly sharing sensitive information such as your address or phone number.
• Be mindful of what you share. Before you post anything online, take a second to think about it. Even seemingly unimportant details might be used against you. Be careful not to share data about your location, activity, or personal relationships.
• Be careful about posting photos. Photos can reveal a lot about you and your activity. Avoid posting photos that may give away sensitive information or locations you frequently visit. Adjust privacy settings on social media sites to control who can view your images and ensure they do not compromise your privacy or even personal safety.

3. Remove your information from Google search results

Google is often the first place people look when trying to find information about someone. If your personal data appears in search results, anyone can easily access it. Taking steps to remove your information from Google search engine results helps protect your privacy and reduces the risk of misuse. Here’s how you can do it:

• Delete your information from Google. Use an online form to file a request to remove your personal information from Google search results. Follow the guidelines provided by Google to delete outdated content or images from websites indexed by Google. You can also ask for the removal of specific personally identifiable information or content that could be exploited for doxing.
• Monitor search results. Regularly monitor Google search results for your name or sensitive information. If you find new instances of your personal data appearing online, repeat the process to remove that information.

4. Request removal from third-party websites and data brokers

Third-party websites and data brokers collect and sell personal information, making it available to anyone willing to pay for it. Requesting removal from these sites helps ensure your privacy and reduces the risk of identity theft. Here are some steps you can take:

• Make requests to remove your information from data brokers. Identify which websites and data brokers have your personal data listed and contact them. Some websites have request forms or dedicated procedures for this purpose. You can also reach out to them via phone or other contact details to request the removal of your information. Make sure to include as many details as possible about the information you want removed, such as screenshots and URLs.
• Use automated removal services. To make the process easier, consider using automated tools or services from privacy protection companies. These services can monitor data broker lists for your personal information, contact separate data brokers, and request that information be removed for you.
• Monitor for reappearances. Even after you have successfully removed your information, data brokers can sometimes re-upload it. Keep monitoring the internet for reappearances. Set up alerts to quickly address the situation if your data becomes public again.

5. Optimize browser privacy settings and use anti-tracking tools

Your web browser collects and stores a lot of information about your online activity, which can be used to track and profile you. Optimizing your browser settings and using anti-tracking tools can help protect your privacy and reduce the amount of data collected about you. Here’s how you can do so:

• Adjust your browser privacy settings. Disable third-party cookies, prevent websites from tracking your online behavior, and limit personalized ads. These settings help reduce the amount of personal data collected about you while browsing the internet.
• Clear your browsing history. Regularly clearing your browsing history helps to maintain your privacy by removing traces of the websites you’ve visited. Doing so can prevent websites and advertisers from tracking your online behavior over time. Make sure to clear cookies and cached data as well, which can store personal information and preferences.
• Delete unused extensions. Browser extensions can access significant amounts of your data, including browsing activity and personal information. Hackers can exploit their software vulnerabilities to access this data. Remove any extensions you no longer use or trust to minimize the risk of data breaches and improve browser performance.
• Use anti-tracking and privacy tools. You can also use tools that block internet trackers from monitoring your online activity. NordVPN has a handy tracker blocker feature that stops third-party web trackers from gathering data about you while browsing.
• Use a VPN. A VPN adds an extra layer of security by encrypting your internet connection and changing your IP address. NordVPN also comes with a Threat Protection Pro feature with selected plans that blocks malware, phishing attempts, and other threats while you browse the internet.

6. Monitor and protect your identity

Identity theft and fraud are serious concerns that can have long-lasting impacts on your financial and personal life. Monitoring and protecting your identity is crucial to ensure your private information remains secure and is not misused. Here is what you can do:

• Use identity monitoring services. Subscribe to identity monitoring services that detect unauthorized use of your personal information. These services alert you to suspicious activity, such as new accounts opened in your name or changes to your credit report.
• Make public records private. Take steps to make your publicly available records, which can include court records, property titles, and litigation archives, more private. You may need to contact government agencies or other entities that publish such records and request that your information be restricted from public access.

7. Secure your online accounts

To lower the chances of your account information appearing online, you have to protect the online accounts you continue to use. Here is what you can do to increase the safety of your accounts:

• Use strong, unique passwords. Create passwords that include a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Avoid using easily guessable phrases, common words, or other information such as birthdays or names.
• Try out a password manager. If you’re afraid you won’t be able to keep track of all your passwords, consider using a reputable password manager like NordPass that automatically generates complex passwords and stores them for you.
• Enable two-factor authentication (2FA). 2FA requires an extra step to verify your identity, like entering a code sent to your phone or email, along with your password. This action adds an additional layer of security and significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access even if your password gets compromised.
• Regularly scan the dark web for your information. If you want to take extra steps to make sure your accounts are safe, you can use various dark web monitoring alert tools. For example, NordVPN has a Dark Web Monitor feature that scans the internet for any credential leaks associated with your registered NordVPN email address. Using this feature will allow you to identify exposed credentials and take immediate action to secure your accounts.