How To Remove Your Information from the Internet: The Ultimate Guide

Your personal information can show up online in more places than most people realize. Data brokers, people-search sites, social platforms, old forum posts, and breach databases may all contain pieces of your digital footprint, such as your name, address, phone number, email address, age, or account credentials. While you usually can't erase every trace of yourself from the internet, you can reduce what's publicly visible, request removals from many sites, and make your data harder to find going forward.

When this information is easy to find, it can raise your risk of identity theft, phishing, account takeover, harassment, and other privacy threats. Criminals and scammers often combine small bits of personal data from multiple sources, so even details that seem harmless on their own can become useful in the wrong hands. In our survey of 1,000 U.S. adults, 62% said they'd been targeted by a scam or phishing attempt that used accurate personal details found online.

In this guide, we explain where personal information commonly appears online, how to request removals yourself, when Google may remove certain search results, and when data removal services or identity theft protection tools may be worth considering.

Where is your personal information?

Personal information can spread across the internet through public records, tracking technologies, account activity, and third-party data sharing. Common sources include:

• Social media profiles and old posts
• Personal blogs, comment sections, and public forums such as Reddit
• Data broker and people-search sites
• Search engine results that surface old pages or cached information
• Breach databases and criminal marketplaces where leaked credentials circulate
• Websites and apps that collect usage, location, or purchase data
• Advertising networks and third-party tracking cookies
• Smart devices and connected home products that collect behavioral data

Sometimes you put information online yourself, such as through a public profile, a giveaway form, or an old post you forgot about. In other cases, companies collect your information from public records, commercial databases, app activity, or prior data breaches and then republish it. Removal steps depend on where the information appears, but the process usually starts with identifying the source page, requesting deletion there, and then addressing any remaining search engine listings.

How to remove yourself from data brokers and people-search sites

Data brokers and people-search sites often publish details such as your name, aliases, phone number, current and past addresses, relatives, and age range. In many cases, you can submit an opt-out request directly through the site, though the process varies by company. Not sure which sites have your information? A free data exposure scan can show you which brokers list you before you start.

Some sites also require extra verification, such as clicking a confirmation link, solving a CAPTCHA, or completing a phone verification step. For example, Whitepages may ask you to confirm your request by phone.

To make the process easier, start with the larger people-search and data broker sites that are most likely to appear in search results or republish your details across partner networks. Where we've tested a site's opt-out process ourselves, the site name links to our step-by-step guide.

Website	Opt-out page	Tips
BeenVerified	https://www.beenverified.com/app/optout/search	You'll be sent a confirmation email to verify your request. It will also delete your information on PeopleSmart.
FastBackgroundCheck	https://www.fastbackgroundcheck.com/ (select Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information in the footer)	Enter your name and email, then use the link sent to your email to search for and remove your record. FastBackgroundCheck says it generally removes records within three days.
FastPeopleSearch	https://www.fastpeoplesearch.com/removal	Search for your record from the removal page, select Remove My Record, and confirm by email. The confirmation link expires after 24 hours.
InstantCheckmate	https://www.instantcheckmate.com/opt-out/	Search for your profile to request deletion.
Intelius	https://www.intelius.com/privacy-center	Search for and select your profile to start the deletion process.
LexisNexis	Separate requests for each option (see our guide)	You can't fully delete your LexisNexis file. You can freeze your consumer report, opt out of marketing and prescreen lists, or request suppression if you qualify. Each is a separate process.
MyLife	https://www.mylife.com/privacyrequest	MyLife now uses a free online opt-out form. Older instructions that require emailing MyLife or creating a profile are out of date.
Nuwber	Site closed	Nuwber's people-search service appears to have shut down, though its support pages are still live. Our guide covers the opt-out process as it worked before the closure.
PeekYou	https://www.peekyou.com/about/contact/optout/	You'll need the unique ID (a series of numbers at the end of the URL) of your profile to submit a request.
PeopleFinders	https://www.peoplefinders.com/opt-out	You'll need your profile link to submit a deletion request.
PeopleSmart	https://www.beenverified.com/app/optout/search	BeenVerified manages PeopleSmart's opt-out process.
Pipl	https://pipl.com/personal-information-removal-request	Pipl no longer offers a public search, so you can't look yourself up first. Its removal form is still live, and you can request a copy of the data it holds at the same time.
PublicRecordsNow	https://www.publicrecordsnow.com/ (find the opt-out link in the footer)	PublicRecordsNow draws its data from PeopleFinders, so opting out of PeopleFinders may also clear your listing here. Its own opt-out link has moved over time.
Spokeo	https://www.spokeo.com/optout	You'll need the profile URL to submit your deletion request.
TruePeopleSearch	https://www.truepeoplesearch.com/removal	Submit your email, then follow the confirmation link to complete your removal. Check back after 72 hours to make sure your record is gone.
TruthFinder	https://www.truthfinder.com/opt-out/v2/	You'll be asked if you were ever a TruthFinder customer. If you select Yes, you'll be redirected to log in before proceeding to the opt-out form.
US Search	https://www.ussearch.com/privacy-center	Search for your profile and then select Remove profile to start the process.
USPhoneBook	https://www.usphonebook.com/opt-out	Whether USPhoneBook processes your request may depend on your state's privacy laws. In our test, it refused a request from a North Carolina address.
VoterRecords	https://voterrecords.com/voters/	Search for your record and select Record Opt-Out at the bottom of the page. The opt-out covers only your house number, and in our September 2026 test, it didn't even remove that.
Whitepages	https://www.whitepages.com/suppression-requests	Whitepages uses an automated phone call to have you verify your request. You'll need to dial the code provided on the website.
ZabaSearch	https://www.intelius.com/opt-out/	Intelius manages the opt-out process for ZabaSearch.
ZoomInfo	https://www.zoominfo.com/privacy-center/update/remove	You'll need to verify your identity by email before requesting the deletion of your data.

This list is a starting point, not a complete map of every broker that may hold your data. New brokers appear regularly, and some smaller sites pull from the same public-record sources as larger ones. For a broader reference list, you can review the broker directory at PrivacyRights.org.

If you live in California, you can skip much of the manual work. The state's free Delete Request and Opt-out Platform (DROP) lets residents send a single deletion request to every registered data broker. Californians can submit requests starting January 1, 2026, and brokers must begin processing them on August 1, 2026.

Is a data removal service worth it?

Manual opt-outs can take time, especially because many brokers republish records or require periodic resubmission. For a full walkthrough of your manual and automated options, see our guide to data broker removal. If you want ongoing monitoring, a privacy service may handle removals for you and check whether your information reappears later.

Our survey also found that 32% of people have tried removing their data on their own, and 67% of them reported at least some success. Only 9% have used a data removal service, but three-quarters of those users said it was at least somewhat successful.

If you'd rather outsource the repetitive parts of the process, here are some data removal services we recommend reviewing. For our full rankings, see the best data removal services.

How to remove your personal information from Google

If a page that contains your personal information appears in Google Search, you may be able to request removal of the search result in certain situations. Google may consider requests involving doxxing, nonconsensual explicit content, some financial or government ID details, and other sensitive personal information. The request process depends on the type of content, so use Google's data removal request forms to choose the right path. For step-by-step instructions, see our guide to removing your personal information from Google.

Google discontinued its free dark web report in January 2026. Its Results about you tool is still available and can flag search results that show your home address, phone number, or email address, but it doesn't cover the broader data that brokers collect.

It's also worth reviewing your Google account settings. You can change your Google privacy settings and adjust Google's activity controls for web and app activity, ad personalization, location history, and YouTube history. Keep in mind that removing a result from Google Search does not always remove the original page from the web, so you may still need to contact the site owner directly.

How to opt out of marketing lists

Marketing and advertising groups may also use your personal data for targeted mail, calls, email promotions, and interest-based ads. Opting out won't erase your information everywhere, but it can reduce some of the most common forms of unwanted outreach. Here are a few places to start:

• To opt out of telemarketing, direct mail, or email marketing, request it through the Data and Marketing Association (DMA). It costs $4 for 10 years.
• To stop prescreened credit card offers and insurance, visit OptOutPreScreen.
• Register online to put yourself on the National Do Not Call Registry.
• Opt out of interest-based advertising with members of the Network Advertising Initiative by filling out online forms.

How to delete old online accounts

Old accounts are another common source of personal data exposure. Forgotten profiles, abandoned shopping accounts, unused email addresses, and dormant forum logins can all hold information you no longer want online.

If you no longer use an account, consider deleting it instead of just leaving it inactive. Start by checking your password manager, email inbox, and old welcome emails to identify services you signed up for in the past. If you need help finding the right deletion page, Just Delete Me's account deletion links can point you to the relevant deactivation or account removal instructions for many popular sites.

You may also want to review companies that have access to your email and credit card information. Some online stores keep this information after you shop with them to make your experience smoother, but you may prefer to protect your privacy.

How to clean up your social media

Social media can make it easy to stay connected, but it also increases how much personal information others can collect about you.

One issue is data collection for targeted advertising and recommendation systems. Even if you keep your accounts, review each platform's privacy settings to limit who can see your posts, how your profile appears in search, and how much off-platform tracking you allow.

Public profiles can also reveal more than you expect. Birthdays, pet names, schools, family relationships, location tags, and travel updates may seem harmless, but they can help scammers answer security questions, craft convincing phishing messages, or impersonate you.

It's also smart to review older posts, photos, comments, and usernames across social media, blogs, and forums such as Reddit. Removing outdated or overly personal content can shrink your digital footprint and limit what strangers, marketers, or data scrapers can find.

Learn more about deleting your social media accounts.

Keeping your personal info off the internet

Keeping your information off the internet is an ongoing process, not a one-time fix. The goal is to limit what gets collected, reduce what stays public, and strengthen your accounts so exposed data is less useful to anyone who finds it.

• Use a VPN. A virtual private network (VPN) can hide your IP address from the sites and networks you connect to and reduce some forms of tracking, especially on public Wi-Fi. It won't remove your data from broker sites, but it can limit future data collection.
• Update privacy settings on browsers and search engines. Review your browser's tracking protections, cookie controls, and saved autofill settings. Many browsers let you block third-party cookies, limit cross-site tracking, and regularly clear cookies and other stored data.
• Check broker sites periodically. Opting out once may not be permanent. Records can reappear after a move, a name change, or a database refresh, so revisit major broker sites from time to time or use a service such as DeleteMe or Incogni if you want ongoing help.
• Audit the apps and services you use. Delete apps you no longer need, revoke permissions you don't want to share, and close unused accounts. If an app has collected personal information, you may need to delete the account from within the service or contact the provider directly.
• Be careful what you share. Even in private groups or follower-only posts, screenshots and resharing happen. Exercise caution on social media and avoid posting information that could reveal your address, routines, financial details, or answers to common security questions.
• Install ad and tracker blockers. Ad blockers can reduce targeted advertising and limit some third-party tracking scripts that collect browsing data across sites.
• Use a password manager. Since data breaches are common, use a strong, unique password for every account. Password managers make it easier to create and store unique logins so one leaked password doesn't put multiple accounts at risk.
• Enable two-factor authentication. A second login step adds protection if your password is exposed. When possible, use an authenticator app or hardware security key rather than relying only on text-message codes.
• Check whether your information has appeared in a breach. Breach alerts can help you change passwords and secure accounts faster. You can use a site like Have I Been Pwned to check whether an email address has been exposed.
• Consider identity theft protection. Removing your data reduces future exposure, but it can't recall information that has already leaked. Identity theft protection services can monitor for signs your information is being misused and help you recover if it is.

Bottom line

Removing your personal information from the internet usually reduces exposure, but it doesn't make you disappear completely. Some records are public by law, some information is copied across multiple databases, and some pages may stay online even after search engines stop surfacing them prominently.

Your privacy goals may also look different from someone else's. Some people want to stop people-search listings, while others care more about targeted ads, old social posts, or breach monitoring. The key is understanding your digital footprint and taking practical steps to limit unnecessary exposure.

A realistic plan often includes a mix of manual opt-outs, better account hygiene, stronger security settings, and tools like identity theft protection, data removal software, and VPNs. Even small changes can make your information harder to find and less useful if it falls into the wrong hands.

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