My Digital Footprint – What I Learned About My Online Identity
As I prepared to write this article, I googled myself multiple times. Each search turned up something different. Several months ago, I had requested removal from the Zoom.info database and hadn’t thought much about it since. My initial search showed mostly expected results – my website, my LinkedIn profile, and social media links from a local organization I volunteer for. But then I dug deeper.
Launching My Investigation
I googled my name and hometown, then tried my maiden name and my husband’s name. I also experimented with Bing.com and DuckDuckGo.com to see if different search engines produced different results.
The Bing.com search, unlike Google, revealed data broker sites. However, clicking these links led only to error pages or generic landing pages, not to my personal information.
Despite those dead links, I did find one unexpected result: when I searched for my husband’s name, Homes.com came up and listed both our names, our address, and a large, full-color photo of our house. Interestingly, my own name search didn’t turn up this listing.
Although I realize that fully erasing your digital footprint is unrealistic, I do think it is wise to regularly review the information available about yourself and decide which actions to take. But be forewarned –this is an ongoing process and not a simple-three-steps-and-you’re-done fix.
Digging Deeper
Curious, I decided to investigate Spokeo.com’s data about me. I paid for a 7-day trial with a virtual credit card and noted when I needed to cancel it to avoid recurring charges. The findings were underwhelming: old addresses (some accurate), an outdated phone number, and a list of relatives – including a grandparent who passed away nearly 50 years ago. Most intriguing was the ‘personal interests’ section, reflecting topics I’d selected in old online forms, from wine to luxury travel.
What surprised me most wasn’t that the information existed somewhere. It was how disconnected and messy the entire system felt.
That’s when I started reaching out to sites, asking them to delete my information. Some complied quickly; others rejected my requests due to state privacy laws. On some sites, my information still surfaced indirectly, or the process stalled without resolution.
With each step, I saw more clearly why old addresses and records linger online: the internet is designed to copy, archive, and redistribute data much faster than most people realize.
Where to Start with Managing Your Digital Footprint
Fair warning: this isn’t a simple checklist you can knock out in an afternoon. It’s more of an ongoing process, so staying organized from the start will save you headaches later.
Begin by searching your name on Google. Try variations: your maiden name, hometown, and your name plus your spouse’s name.
Use at least one alternative search engine, like Bing.com or DuckDuckGo.com, to spot varied results.
Investigate one data broker site at a time to stay organized. For each, open your profile, copy the URL, and use the links below to find opt-out instructions. Keep a log of requests and their status.
Expect mixed responses to your opt-out requests: some sites respond quickly, others require follow-up, and some may not comply at all.
Understand this is a recurring task and schedule regular reviews of your digital footprint.
Broker Sites Info
Below are the broker sites I investigated, along with their opt-out links. The opt-out process varies by site and state. Generally, the process was straightforward, and having the links handy will save you significant time. Knowing where to start can make tackling your own footprint less overwhelming.
Opt out of Spokeo:
Opt out of Homes.com
https://privacy.costar.com/DSAR-submission
Opt out of whitepages.com:
Use the form here: https://www.whitepages.com/privacy/consumer-rights
OR
Submit your request via email by contacting privacyrequest@whitepages.com. Ensure you include all relevant profile URLs and personal details when making your request.
Opt out of FastPeopleSearch.com:
https://www.fastpeoplesearch.com/optout
Or via phone at (866) 679-8725
Opt out of Fastbackgroundcheck.com:
This site sent an email in response to my opt-out request, stating that, since I live in Illinois, which does not have a ‘comprehensive consumer privacy law’ that applies to their data, they would not be able to process my request.
Opt out of Nationalpublicdata.com
https://nationalpublicdata.com/optout.html
Paid Services to the Rescue
As you work through these sites, keep in mind that data brokers re-scrape and republish information every three to six months, so a one-time opt-out doesn’t hold. If this sounds more than you want to tackle on your own, there are paid services that will do it for you. These services continue to monitor your digital footprint and update your opt-outs as needed.
The downside to using a paid service, besides the ongoing monthly cost, is that they can’t remove everything either. Also, ironically, you are trusting another company with your personal data in order to remove it from other companies’ databases.
The main services worth looking into include DeleteMe, Incogni, and Optery.
More About DeleteMe
DeleteMe is a subscription data-removal service that targets data brokers and people-search sites, provides quarterly privacy reports, and offers a standard plan that removes information from 50+ broker sites; its annual pricing is commonly listed at $10.75/month for one person, with family coverage available at higher tiers.
More About Incogni
Incogni is a fully automated data-removal service that contacts 420+ data brokers on your behalf, keeps sending removal requests over time, and offers family plans in addition to individual plans.
More About Optery
Optery combines self-service and automation, with free and paid tiers that scan for exposed data and submit removal requests, while higher plans add broader coverage and proof of removal; current reviews list pricing from a free tier up to $24.99/month, with the Core paid plan starting around $3.25/month on annual billing.
Using Alternative Information
One thing I’ve started doing that helps: I give alternative or outdated information in some situations to protect my true personal contact information. Reward cards at stores are a perfect example – they want my data for marketing, I want the discount. I usually give my old landline phone number in these cases. I also keep a separate email address just for that kind of signup.
Of course, you should always provide accurate information on medical forms, financial accounts, government forms, or anything involving a purchase that requires order confirmation or return information.
I’ve accepted I can’t erase my digital footprint, but I can monitor and limit what’s current by considering whether a site truly needs my information or just wants it for marketing.
Let’s Have a Conversation:
Have you ever googled yourself? What did you find? Were you surprised at the information that turned up about you?
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