Privacy, Security
Why Use a Data Removal Service?
Nov. 6, 2023 / My Data Removal Staff
What is a Data Removal Service?
Picture this: You receive an email, from your bank account asking you to click an included link so that you can update your account details. You clink on the link and start responding until you noitice something isn’t quite right. You realize you have been targeted by a cybercriminal and, thank goodness, you didn’t go through with it. How did they get your information? How did they know where you have accounts? Welcome to the world of data brokers and people search websites, where your information is bought and sold with frightening frequency.
What are Data Brokers and People Search Websites? Information Collectors
Data brokers and people search websites are the digital detectives you never hired. They collect, share, and sometimes sell your personal information. We're talking about your name, age, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, and even your relatives' names.
How Do They Get Your Data?
Purchased Data: These brokers often buy your information from other data brokers or services you actively use. Think about your utility company, your grocery rewards program, or even your gym membership. These organizations often sell customer data as an additional revenue stream, and data brokers are their eager customers. The right data on the right people can be very valuable to marketers and/or identity thieves and other other scammers.
Public Records: Believe it or not, a lot of your information is public record. Data brokers scrape this information from websites that host county property records, court records, and even marriage licenses. It's like they're doing a background check on you, but without your consent.
Web Scraping: Data brokers employ sophisticated web scraping techniques to gather information from various websites where you might have an account or profile. This could be anything from social media platforms to online forums. They compile this data to create a more comprehensive profile of you.
Data Breaches: The unfortunate reality is that data breaches have become commonplace. When a company's database is hacked, your information can end up in the hands of data brokers. These breaches are like gold mines for data collectors, providing a treasure trove of information they didn't even have to dig for.
What Can You Do About It?
Option 1: The Ostrich Approach
You could bury your head in the sand and pretend the issue doesn't exist. But, unfortunately, ignoring the problem doesn't make it go away. Your data remains out there, a treasure trove for anyone looking to exploit it. You're essentially rolling the dice with your own privacy.
Option 2: The DIY Method
If you're the hands-on type, you could embark on the arduous journey of removing the data yourself. But be warned, it's a time-consuming process. With over 100 sites to sift through, you'll be dedicating hours, if not days, to this digital cleanse. Ask yourself, what's the opportunity cost of that time?
Option 3: Hire the Pros
If you value efficiency, this is the route for you. Data removal services use advanced algorithms to do the heavy lifting, often at a reasonable price. They're like the housekeepers of your digital world, tidying up while you focus on more important things. It's a small investment for reclaiming your online identity.
Data Removal Services: The Nitty-Gritty of the Process
Signing up for a data removal service is fairly straight forward. Once you create an account, you need to tell the data removal service what to remove. This means you share your information: what they should look for. You will need to share your name(s), address(es), date of birth, phone number(s), and email address(es). If the data removal service doesn’t know it, they can’t remove it? If you are concerned about specific sites, you can reach out and even send screenshots of the data you would like removed. Once you've given them what to look for, the service gets to work. Using a combination of advanced algorithms and manual oversight, they scour the internet to find where your information resides. Then, they proceed to remove or de-index it from these platforms, ensuring that your digital life gets the privacy makeover it deserves.
Why Would You Want Your Data Removed in the First Place?
The Privacy Advocate
If you're someone who values privacy, removing your data is akin to putting a lock on your diary. Your personal information is your own, and you should be the one to decide who gets access to it. Data removal services act as that lock, giving you control over your digital life.
The Scam Dodger
Let's face it, the internet is a playground for scammers, con artists, and hackers. By removing your data, you're essentially taking yourself off their radar. You become a harder target, making it more likely that these digital ne'er-do-wells will move on to easier prey. You will no longer be low hanging fruit.
The Spam Hater
Are you tired of your inbox being flooded with emails you never signed up for? Or perhaps you're sick of telemarketers disrupting your dinner? Data removal can significantly reduce these annoyances, giving you back a piece of your peace.
Pest Control Proponent
Data brokers and people search websites are pests and a reality of the 21st century. If you leave them unattended they will infest your digital and physical life. Periodic spraying or removal will help to keep them at bay and from causing large scale issues later down the line. You can buy the equipment, spray, and safety gear yourself or you can just hire someone, like My Data Removal, to take care of it for you.
Preventative Maintenance Believer
Do you get your car serviced before it has big issues or only afterward? Spam and scams are annoying, but being hit with identity fraud can ruin your year, adding stress and complications you do not want to have to deal with. Having your data removed from the internet is like getting preventative maintenance done on your digital footprint. Maybe your car would have done fine without any maintenance for a long while, but you’d rather be safe than sorry.
Tech-Wary Individual
Not everyone is an early adopter or technology enthusiast. Doing things online can be a hassle and uncomfortable. It can be hard to know who you can trust. Knowing when and with whom you can share your information is not as black and white as it used to be. Having someone take care of your digital footprint can provide peace of mind, ensuring that you are not exposed, which can be quite a relief.
The Productivity Hacker
Do you like to be efficient with your time? Do you understand opportunity cost? Do you value your time? Does having someone do the tedious things you dislike for a reasonable price appeal to you? Then have a data removal company monitor your online footprint.
The DIY Lifer
Do you love DIY projects? Do you enjoy understanding how things work? Do you follow through on projects you start? Then maybe a data removal service isn’t best for you. You can always try removing your data on your own, and if it’s not a good fit, sign up for a data removal service later on. It will likely take dozens of hours and a system to track your work.
Is a Data Removal Service Right for You?
If you value your time, can afford the service, and prioritize your privacy, then a data removal service is a perfect fit for you. On the other hand, if you're okay with leaving your data out there for the world to see, then you're playing a risky game, my friend.
So, what's your next move? Are you ready to take the reins and reclaim your digital identity, or will you let it float aimlessly in the vast ocean of the internet? The choice is squarely in your hands, but weigh your options carefully. The future of your digital life, your privacy, and even your assets could hinge on this pivotal decision.
My Data Removal is a competitive and cost-effective data removal service. Take a look at our plans to learn more about our data removal plans.
Here is our DIY guide if that is a better fit for you.