Whether you’re aware of it or not, your private and personal data is readily available on the internet. However, this situation is not irreversible. You have the option to eliminate your information from the public domain, thereby preserving your privacy and fortifying yourself against possible fraudulent activities.
The reasons behind safeguarding your personal information
In the ever-evolving digital era, numerous everyday services necessitate the submission of your personal data. Regrettably, these services do not consistently handle your information conscientiously. Furthermore, if a service is offered for free, it often means that your data is being monetized through its sale. More concerning is the fact that even legitimate platforms can fall victim to hacking, thereby exposing your otherwise confidential information to potential misuse.
In various ways, information pertaining to you, your life, and your family might eventually fall into the possession of data brokers or become accessible through people search websites. There are instances where prospective employers utilize data from these brokers or search platforms to delve into your background.
Nevertheless, these very sources could also be exploited for the purpose of stalking or doxing individuals. Your personal details such as name, address, phone number, and even connections to family members can potentially be uploaded online without your awareness.
Given the substantial potential consequences, including your family’s security and the risk of identity theft or fraud, it is indeed a prudent choice to keep your sensitive information off the internet.
Locating and erasing your confidential information
Numerous no-cost tools are at your disposal to aid in locating and erasing segments of your personal data from the internet. For instance, Google extends a complimentary dark web report that outlines instances where your name, email, password, Social Security Number (SSN), or other particulars have been exposed online. Similarly, Google’s password manager notifies you if any of your existing passwords have been compromised, and the “Results about you” feature can signal occurrences of your name appearing in Google Search results.
Furthermore, it’s advisable to be cautious about the apps and websites for which you’ve established accounts. Over time, any or all of these platforms could potentially become targets of data breaches. By uninstalling unused apps and subsequently erasing associated accounts from their servers, you can minimize the risk of malicious hackers accessing your information.
The most vital measure for shielding your data involves directly reaching out to data brokers and people search websites that readily share or sell your details. These services typically provide opt-out mechanisms (though they can be intricate) that enable you to request the removal of your information.
Nonetheless, this task must be undertaken individually for every website or broker, and the likelihood is that you’ll have to repeat it in the future as new information surfaces. What’s more, there are occasions when these requests are initially declined and necessitate further dispute, consuming additional time.
To spare yourself from the exasperation and labor, contemplate the option of subscribing to safeguarding services offered by Incogni.
The way Incogni simplifies the process
Developed by the cybersecurity firm Surfshark, Incogni is tailored to streamline the safeguarding of your personal data by extracting it from the online realm. Instead of engaging in the manual verification of each potential data broker and submitting separate removal appeals, Incogni takes care of this entire procedure through comprehensive automation.
Incogni possesses the ability to swiftly identify the probable locations of your information and promptly dispatch deletion appeals. Of greater significance, the platform manages declined requests and persistently follows up with brokers to prevent any resurgence of your data. Throughout this process, you can track the ongoing efforts through the provided Incogni dashboard.
