The 2024 DIY Data Removal Guide
How to Remove Your Information from the Internet for Free
By Michael Ibekie July 22, 2024
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- In this article
- Steps to Remove Your Data
- Opt Out Process Overview
- Additional Steps
- Top 20 Data Brokers
- Complete Data Broker List
Paying someone to remove your data isn't for everyone. If you prefer the DIY approach and don't mind putting in the work, here's a great place to start.
Steps to Remove Your Data
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Visit Data Broker and People Search Websites: You need to visit each site and request the removal of your data. There are a lot of these websites, so this process is time-consuming. We provide a list of these sites at the end of this article to help you get started.
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Track Your Progress: Use a spreadsheet to keep track of your progress across different sites. This process can take around 30 hours the first time, depending on how much of your data is out there. It's recommended to repeat this process every six months as some websites may re-add your data.
Opt Out Process Overview
The removal process is usually found in the footer, privacy policy, or terms and conditions page of the website. There are generally four types of opt-out processes:
Search and Remove: Search for yourself on the main page, click a removal link on your record, and follow the additional steps.
Submit URL: Search for yourself, get the URL of your record, submit it on the removal page, and follow the additional steps.
Direct Removal Page Search: Search for yourself on the removal page, click a link on your record, and follow the additional steps.
Blind Submission: Submit your information on the removal page without seeing the record, and follow the additional steps.
Additional Steps
Most websites require you to take additional steps to complete your opt out. They vary by site, but some websites make it a hassle to remove your data. Here are some things you are going to come across in the process:
Email Verification
Click a link sent to your email. Some sites require a unique email for each record.
Fake delays
Some sites pretend to search their databases for up to 2 minutes.
Email Requests
Send an email to request data removal.
Fees
Some sites require payment for data removal.
Guides for the top 20 Data Broker and People Search websites:
The entire list down below is intimidating. This is a great place to start. Doing just these top 20 sites is significantly better than nothing.
| FastPeopleSearch |
Open Removal guide 
|
|---|---|
| FullContact |
Open Removal guide
|
| Intelius |
Open Removal guide
|
| LexisNexis |
Open Removal guide
|
| TowerData |
Open Removal guide
|
| Acxiom |
Open Removal guide
|
| BeenVerified |
Open Removal guide
|
| CheckSecrets |
Open Removal guide
|
| IDTrue |
Open Removal guide
|
| InfoTracer |
Open Removal guide
|
| MyLife |
Open Removal guide
|
| Nuwber |
Open Removal guide
|
| Oracle |
Open Removal guide
|
| PeopleFinders |
Open Removal guide
|
| PeopleWhiz |
Open Removal guide
|
| Radaris |
Open Removal guide
|
| Spokeo |
Open Removal guide
|
| SyncMe |
Open Removal guide
|
| TruePeopleSearch |
Open Removal guide
|
| WhitePages |
Open Removal guide
|
This guide should help you navigate the complex process of removing your personal information from the internet. Good luck with your DIY data removal!
Our list of 393 data brokers and people search websites
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