The world is heavily dependent on the internet for daily activities. Banking, education, transportation, travel, communication and many other important functions are as much dependent on the internet as ever. The internet indeed offers excellent benefits, but it also has privacy risks that should not be taken for granted.

“The internet never forgets,” as they say. So it’s no surprise that many people try to scrub their information from the internet. A recent global survey found that 70% of people have taken steps to protect their online identity. These steps include using encrypted messaging services, deleting social media accounts, disabling third-party cookies, and changing default privacy settings on devices.

Privacy is the main reason. Having too much of your information online leaves you vulnerable to significant risks. For example, hackers often use personal information found online to break into people's online accounts. Some malicious actors steal identities for nefarious purposes, such as opening bank accounts under false pretenses.

Advertisement

Removing personal information, such as your phone number and home address, increases privacy. However, removing information from many sources on the web can be difficult. This guide will explain proven ways to help you remove as much information as possible.

How to remove your personal information from the web

1. Use data deletion services

Many platforms offer professional data removal services. These platforms employ knowledgeable staff to find and delete your personal information from websites, databases, and other online sources. However, you should be careful when choosing a data removal provider, as this sector is full of dubious services that charge significant fees for little value.

2. Use a VPN

A virtual private network (VPN) is one of the easiest ways to protect your data online. It routes your online activities through an encrypted server, hiding your information from third parties and hiding your location. A VPN adds an extra layer of encryption to prevent third parties like ISPs, government agencies, and malicious actors from snooping on your online information.

3. Change your default privacy settings

Your device's default settings are not optimized for maximum confidentiality. But you change them to minimize the chances of third parties collecting your personal information. For example, Android-smartphones pre-installed apps that can track your real-time location. By denying apps access to your location data, you can reduce this risk.

4. Delete your social media accounts

Social media is the easiest way to discover people's personal information. Deleting these profiles is a good step towards removing your personal information from the web. Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter) and Reddit are the most popular social platforms that people search for personal information on, so remove them first.

5. Turn off third-party cookies

Many websites install small blocks of data called “cookies” in your browser. These cookies track, personalize, and save information about your browsing sessions. You can completely block cookies in your browser settings to reduce this risk. Blocking cookies may affect your user experience, but it is a good trade-off for removing your data from the web.

6. Use encrypted messaging apps

Encrypted messaging apps reduce the risks of your personal information being leaked to the wider web. With end-to-end encryption Even the app administrators cannot decrypt your messages. Your message is encrypted when you send it and appears in decrypted form only to the intended recipient.

7. Uninstall unused apps

Your mobile device may have apps that you haven't opened in a while. These apps can collect user data in the background, increasing the risk of your personal information being leaked. A simple solution is to delete unused apps from your smartphone. You can also review the existing apps and close of all data collection.

Final words

You're in good company if you're trying to remove personal information from the web. Research shows that most people try to scrub or reduce the volume of their personal information available on the web. There's no silver bullet to go about it, but this guide has explained some proven ways to delete your data and maximize your privacy online.