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Comments on Removing and Protecting Your Information on the Internet

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From the lens How to Remove Your Personal Information from Google and Internet.

  • WNJ631 May 22, 2012 @ 7:16 pm | delete
    I never knew that there were services out there that cost upwards of $40k to clear your (or a companies) personal data O.O!?!
  • wcjohnston May 20, 2012 @ 7:23 pm | delete
    great info, thanks
  • internetexpertinfo May 20, 2012 @ 10:45 am | delete
    Great info, thank you very much.
  • ketulpatel2385 May 17, 2012 @ 6:07 am | delete
    great details. and this is very important which one would realize only after falling victim to some online mishap or identity theft. great lense
  • Jeff Baker May 9, 2012 @ 2:55 pm | delete
    Thank you for this information. It could prove to be life saving. Not just in terms of stalkers and criminals, but many people are not psychologically equipped to deal with the fall-out that a digitally ruined reputation can do.
  • Bonnie Furgal May 8, 2012 @ 1:04 pm | delete
    My husband has been deceased for 3 years and still shows up on people
    finder how do I get his name erased from all records on the internet.
  • allenwebstarme May 2, 2012 @ 4:37 am | delete
    Very useful lens for online business owners. Excellent information.
  • WebdesignErfurt Apr 29, 2012 @ 5:35 am | delete
    that s great for many people.
  • tebo Apr 24, 2012 @ 12:35 am | delete
    Complaining about Google and AVG..everytime I am on the computer doing something of IMPORTANCE ...like HOMEWORk or a socialsite..they cannot find anything..I think someoe needs to be FIRED.,,,
  • John3carr Apr 23, 2012 @ 3:22 am | delete
    First of all you would like to know how your personal information gets on the web. If your phone number and address are listed in your local phone book, it will also show up in Online white page results. Your public social networking profiles also rank in the search engines, making the content available to sites like 123People and Spokeo. Your real estate records can be found on most background check websites, and are also available for free on many real estate websites. Marketing surveys provide data about your name, age, and demographic that is widely, usually publicly, available. Online maps are used by hundreds of thousands of websites, including mobile applications available on most smart phones. Well, in reality there are hundreds of ways through which your Personal information gets on the web. If you are concerned about your Privacy and don’t want your personal information to be available on the Internet for the world to see then By opting out of these invasive background check and information database sites, you can take the appropriate steps towards protecting your privacy.

    Prep Station
  • Londal Apr 23, 2012 @ 12:42 am | delete
    Thank you so much for making this info an easy read. This was very informative.
  • online4income Apr 20, 2012 @ 11:45 am | delete
    Very practical and useful lens.
  • Deb Mar 29, 2012 @ 11:51 am | delete
    I followed directions that I found ON Google about removing something. I did everything that I was directed to do. The "disastrous post from the past" was moved up to the second entry on Google! Before, it had been buried and you'd have to go through many pages to get to it! I'm angry!
  • Sebastian Mar 30, 2012 @ 4:26 pm | delete
    would you be so kind to give me some links, that i can do that as well, cause i could not find proper way to delete some information, i dont want to be present there..thanks
  • Deb Apr 1, 2012 @ 11:41 am | delete
    Links? Well, all I did was search Google for "how to remove information from Google." One entry was detailed with how to request this. You had to create a user name and password for Google. Then you had to provide keywords, which I did. A few months later, I saw this particular post, which was 15 years old and previously buried under pages of entries, right at the second or third spot on Google. I don't know what to tell you!
  • Tally Ennen May 15, 2012 @ 1:25 pm | delete
    I have done what you have done to no avail. Also it costs thousands of dollars
    to get a professional to remove or to create positive posts around the negative entry. I am not certain if it is worth $3000.00 last quoted, because who know what the future holds, it could come back again and again.
  • Carl Mar 28, 2012 @ 5:12 pm | delete
    Thank you so much for this post. Great information and insight into the not so shady world of data mining etc. I should have known better, as this problem has always been a fear of mine.

    Now, I see my personal info all over the web. Nothing drastic, but would anyone walk around their local communities with a billboard advertising their age and past addresses for complete strangers to see.?

    Okay, a real law, with teeth, needs to be passed to protect the public from such potential intrusions of privacy.

    Again, thanks for the article.
  • Mrs...O Mar 26, 2012 @ 4:00 pm | delete
    if i want to remove my name of the google site.... why is it such a hassle, i did'nt ask for it to be put there
  • Tally Ennen May 15, 2012 @ 1:31 pm | delete
    It is almost impossible. You can paid say to Reputation.com thousands of
    dollars and they say they cannot remove it but will built positive posts around it and push it out the" negative post" but, I believe the investment is useless
    as we do not know what the future holds. I had something removed three years ago and it is now back on Google and much more items not true and
    twenty years old showing up today..
  • Enough? Mar 24, 2012 @ 11:16 pm | delete
    Please!! I have a psycho posting information that is NOT!!!! correct all because she can't take rejection well, this is the case maria .L. finalet or lula keeps posting information about me and there mothers? FYI!she writes letters on behalf of others too.she even sends herself emails claiming some one send to her?what she writes to herself is how people makes her feel..LOSER.
  • Visitor Inquiry Mar 24, 2012 @ 8:14 pm | delete
    Hi Jessica, Today I learned that a one of my professional membership organizations posted my personal address (from their confidential files in error) onto their website directory open to the general public instead of my publicly available office address. The site information is corrected. Now the problem is when I google my name, google search page two shows the former directory listing, showing my personal address on the google search page, though it does click through to the current updated link. How do I delete this google search page information/entry to re-secure this important private personal information swiftly? Your article is highly informative, I will follow through with some of your other recommendations for securing online information. Thank you for your help, I look forward to your reply and suggested actions to remedy this situation as swiftly as possible.
  • JessicaM Mar 25, 2012 @ 12:10 am | delete
    Google's search engine robot scan websites often, for example, it scans this website every day, but it may take a while, can be a few weeks to search your professional membership website depends how often it changes the contents. I suggest you to inform Google to remove your nformation through this link: http://support.google.com/webmasters/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=1663688
  • Visitor Inquiry Mar 25, 2012 @ 3:27 am | delete
    Hi Jessica, I went to your recommended link and followed the instructions. Goggle instructions did not indicate how long cache removal may take or if they send any type of confirmation of removal, so I will check in on google search daily. Thank you for your responsiveness in assisting me with invaluable empowering immediate action steps to protect private confidential information.
  • Visitor Inquiry Mar 29, 2012 @ 1:44 am | delete
    Hi Jessica, the google search cache is now removed, my confidential information re-secured. Thank you!

    Goggle webmaster had still not removed the cache as of Tuesday although I had requested removal 4 times, so I contacted the professional association's IT department as I had no other options. I requested they re-secure my confidential information by contacting google's webmaster. They had the security-sensitive cache information removed by the end of business today/Wednesday.

    The information and google webmaster tools link you provided to me led me to a bounty of information so that when I contacted the association I was informed, prepared and confident that there is a process they could access for the cache removal and resolve this issue on google search.
    Many many thanks!
  • JessicaM Mar 29, 2012 @ 10:48 am | delete
    I am so glad to hear your personal information has re-secured, good job!
  • Trish May 15, 2012 @ 4:03 pm | delete
    Hello, I am having the same issue. I have requested my personal address to be removed, and yet it still appears. When you say you contacted the professional association's IT dept, who exactly is that? I have a home office and cannot have my home address listed. Please help. Thank you.
  • Horrified Apr 10, 2012 @ 11:15 am | delete
    Hi Jessica, I requested to remove my personal information through this link
    http://support.google.com/webmasters/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=1663688 but they denied. I sent 4 times and still denied. It is about mugshots information. It was done 12 years ago, I forgotten to pay 1 time was on my basket and was charged by shoplifting. How can I remove my name from google/mugshots?
  • VISITOR 123 Mar 23, 2012 @ 6:54 pm | delete
    I wrote articles and provided live sessons for a website. Now people are googling my name and discovering what i wrote and did way back when. How can I suppress this..keep my association and all that I wrote and did with that website supressed so that people do not associate me with that website?
  • JessicaM Mar 23, 2012 @ 11:44 pm | delete
    It doesn't hurt to contact the websites and ask them to remove your old articles.
  • Dorothy Mar 24, 2012 @ 12:14 am | delete
    That is a tough one. I wrote letters to the editor of my local paper years ago when I was in college. The environmental viewpoints which I expressed back then, although all still true, are not helpful to me in certain circumstances today. Yet they remain on the internet. In my case, I found the website through which these letters were being put out there (cannot remember the exact name -- I think it was something like articles.com or close to that). I sent them a request for removal, and they honored it. I no longer found my name linked to those letters to the editor a short time after making the request. It is far easier, however, to keep your name off the internet than try to clean up that sort of thing after the fact. It is as if we do not own our own names anymore.
  • Visitor 123 Mar 25, 2012 @ 4:20 am | delete
    Hummmm.... well, the website owns my articles... I will talk to the editors about this though... i agree... I learned allot...but once you are blasted all over the place... it may be to late to do anything about it...
  • Visitor 123 Mar 23, 2012 @ 6:52 pm | delete
    I wrote articles and provide live online services for a website. Now, anyone can google and find me and my association with this website. I dont want this to be public anymore...is it possible to suppress this?
  • what happen to our America? Mar 22, 2012 @ 7:59 pm | delete
    I am sickened about how real estate sites provideyour address and pictures of your property on a map. For us this is asecurity issue. I think the FBI should start investigating the internet and peope who chooseto spread your privacy around for everyone to see it. No wonder we have crime! In todays world with crime and terrorist. This has to end when the person ask to have their privat information removed. This includes any home information.
  • aliyaah Mar 21, 2012 @ 4:40 am | delete
    How do i remove personal information from bebo, on search engines
  • JessicaM Mar 21, 2012 @ 2:50 pm | delete
    Read the article on TOOLS section, it shall help you. There is a Private section at Bebo.
  • anonymous Mar 20, 2012 @ 4:25 pm | delete
    I'm having a problem with someone I know when peple don't do what he wants or he's upset or angry with others, he uses the internet to find out or try to find out things about other people without their consent. I have told several I don't want him looking up anything about me or trying to set me up with anyone. If I want to meet people of the opposite sex, I'll do it myself. If I ask someone to look up something for me then they can do it , I didn't ask.
  • amy Mar 15, 2012 @ 4:59 pm | delete
    how to get rid.of.search results
  • JessicaM Mar 21, 2012 @ 2:51 pm | delete
    Read the tools section, right in the middle of this article.
  • JessicaM Mar 21, 2012 @ 4:17 pm | delete
    If you have read the article, you shall learn some removal tools you can use.
  • jocelyne Mar 13, 2012 @ 5:57 am | delete
    i ask them to remove my age they make me look older than i am in order to make money
  • muffin_man Mar 9, 2012 @ 4:43 pm | delete
    WoW! what an awesome lens! Thank you for sharing this information. Identity theft and fraud is a very real problem, especially with the recent advent of social media, its amazing how much personal information about you is out there for the fraudsters to take advantage of. That's why its very important to try and prevent identity theft, for example you can place a fraud alert credit report with the three major bureaus and ensure your credit is protected.
  • rpicar59@gmail.com Mar 9, 2012 @ 9:33 am | delete
    I was falsly arrested for a misdemeaner in Key Largo ,Fla,which was dismissed by the D.A. . However,when my name is googled,the arrest is displayed. this is being used to discriminate against me in many ways,for example, I can"t get a job or housing,etc. I have been trying to deal with this problem for over a year. I'm demanding that google remove this false information about me,richard picariello,from Google. If the said false ifno about me is not removed, I will file a civil action or enter into a class action with other victoms of Google
  • Renee Mar 21, 2012 @ 11:05 pm | delete
    Richard, I don't know if the article will help, but give it a read. (site listed) http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2011/08/mugshots/
    I have a similar problem to yours which I'm currently working on but have found it's not only google but others such as bing, yahoo, and comcast that includes a couple of other sites posting my mugshoot and arrest information. Thanks to that article on wired.com I was successful in getting my information off one of the sites on google for a price of $19.95 to the site.
  • Reddy Apr 10, 2012 @ 11:04 am | delete
    Can you please give me the website where you can remove for $19.95?
  • HELP Apr 10, 2012 @ 9:42 pm | delete
    Can you please give me the site where I can remove my information from Mugshots.com, google, etc?
  • yes Mar 4, 2012 @ 6:22 pm | delete
    The scam-industry premise is: “on-going-torture-by-extortion” & is reprehensibly disgusting. Abysmal police/justice management of sensitive information. If pigs/justice are not taking kick-backs by allowing extortionists access to mug-shot information, they should be fired for their information mismanagement & being accessory to allowing criminal extortion. Innocence after arrest, paying a lawyer to “clear your name” now has no meaning. The idea of “innocent until proven guilty” has long been a joke of the US justice system. People awaiting trial can spend years in prison; Now allow those free on bail or declared innocent to suffer at the hands of public for being unfortunate enough to be introduced to a broken police arrest, booking process, and its information management. Now extortionists can make money by tormenting all involved in a police arrest information management process.

    Extortionists (inclusive of *.arrests.org, *.mugshot.* & those in supposedly privileged positions to remove info at a cost are extortionist leaches and need to be imprisoned.

    Getting arrest information off the internet is not a legal effort or a costly one. It REQUIRES the author to remove the information and ideally be prevented from getting it in the first place. It requires police/justice to take accountability for ensuring such information is restricted to “only those that need to know” within the justice & police systems. Any money made in allowing a ‘transparent legal process’ needs to be weighed against the cost of tormenting victims = EXTORTION.

    Contact Robert Wiggen at Flagler Beach, FL, owner/author of *.arrests.org to teach him some respect.
  • W. McCants Feb 27, 2012 @ 11:55 pm | delete
    It is horrifying when you have little control over what happens to information made available to the public in this world any longer. When online unscrupulous companies can acquire information about a so-called private citizen, package that information, put a price on it, then sell it to anyone who will pay to know something or everything about you. This includes psychopaths, rapists, murders, serial killers, stalkers, those seeking revenge, etc. The internet is no place for such recklessness and disregard for an individual's safety. These companies should be better regulated as to what information they are permitted, legislatively, to have access to. This is a job for the U.S. Congress as well as governments throughout the world. U.S. legislation at the state level of government, at least in Ohio, have no sound regulatory police on this issue. This certainly opens up a wider door to terrorism and other possible threats for the global citizenry.
  • Give us our privacy now Mar 22, 2012 @ 8:08 pm | delete
    I so agree. This is a different world today. It has to end...and end now!
  • Ted Grech Feb 24, 2012 @ 5:37 pm | delete
    Great lens on a topic that's becoming more important everyday. Advice to anyone who doesn't want to use google's prying and spying search engine: use DuckDuckGo to search. They also don't fill the screen with annoying ads!
  • TenPoundTenor Feb 21, 2012 @ 1:21 pm | delete
    Great lens. Very useful.
  • webdesigndublin Feb 17, 2012 @ 3:34 pm | delete
    Hugely informative and well researched lens-privacy is set to become a huge issue in my opinion in the years ahead on the internet..
  • Tony Matos Feb 17, 2012 @ 1:25 am | delete
    i gonna sew goggle if they dont take my information off!
  • America Feb 11, 2012 @ 1:20 pm | delete
    Blame your politicians that you voted for they are the ones who deregulated privacy both the democrats and the republicans. go ahead and see if any of their personal information is on here... It's how they keep tabs on the sheeple of America. Write your congressmen and get them to put a bill out to stop this madness. We are all sitting ducts waiting to be slautered or robbed or both. There are no laws or regulations about privacy any more. Anybody who joins a social site, like Facebook or twitter are foolish if they use their personal names. Facebook and others are in partnership with governments around the world to expose your information. Get your info off the internet now before it's too late.
  • Scared Feb 10, 2012 @ 12:23 pm | delete
    How do I remove my name/address from the internet. I have a private number as I have had problems with a stalker. He now knows my address, moved away and now I figured he find me.
  • JessicaM Feb 10, 2012 @ 10:18 pm | delete
    Your name and address can appear on many different websites. You could do something to protect you. Just read the most sections, you shall an idea on what to do. Good luck!
  • scared too! Mar 22, 2012 @ 8:03 pm | delete
    I understand. I have had someone next to me expose himself. I alsocame out of a abusive relationship many years ago. I have been happly married feo some time now. I still am afraid that the person who abused me will find me. He said he would some day and I will not say on here what he said he would do to me.
  • mines Feb 9, 2012 @ 1:39 pm | delete
    I'm pissed off that al my personal information appears on google. this is how women have got killed it should be illegal to be able to put someones address, phone number, and family on a site like that. someone needs to be held responsible for this and if something was to happen to me or my children god forbid, but im not resting until i sue the hell out of all companies thats allowing this....
  • Legal Training Online Feb 8, 2012 @ 3:24 am | delete
    Thanks for sharing such a good knowledge
  • jimmyworldstar Feb 4, 2012 @ 11:22 pm | delete
    Great information, it's scary when your personal information and address is public for everyone to see.
  • Dali_Lama Jan 15, 2012 @ 9:36 pm | delete
    It is true that you cannot remove everything about yourself that was put on the internet once it is there. That does not mean you should do nothing within your power to insure those with ill intent do not get their hands on personal data.
  • jeremykim2011 Jan 10, 2012 @ 12:09 am | delete
    Thank you so much for the tips and resources. Great lens!
  • pajnhiaj Jan 9, 2012 @ 1:29 am | delete
    great lens, thanks!
  • floridainvestigator Jan 8, 2012 @ 6:49 pm | delete
    As a private investigator I can assure you that no one will ever get rid of all of the information that is available to other businesses and consumer once it's out there. Privacy is all but dead.
  • Jeimuzu-san Jan 2, 2012 @ 9:39 pm | delete
    Excellent lens and very detailed.
    I would think everyone has atleast one thing the could do with having removed from the net.
  • jadehorseshoe Dec 24, 2011 @ 9:38 pm | delete
    USEFUL Lens.
  • GGGMarketing Dec 22, 2011 @ 3:55 pm | delete
    Great lens Jessica you have lots of good information here. I wish I would have found this squidoo lens earlier. Oh well better late then never. I have saved this in my favorites and will return when I need to remove some information from the net. Thanks for providing such great value to the squidoo community.

    Cheers!
    Gary @ Naples SEO
  • Cheeky Dec 14, 2011 @ 12:13 pm | delete
    Google won't remove a link that lists my work and cell phone number. I have used their REMOVAL LINK and was denied twice. I reported them to the FTC, but I don't think that will do any good. What is my next step? I am a single woman who lives alone. I do not want this type of info on the internet.
  • JessicaM Dec 17, 2011 @ 8:35 pm | delete
    Have you tried to your local court and ask the judge to issue an injunction to block display such information?
  • Cheeky Dec 17, 2011 @ 11:03 pm | delete
    No, not yet. I dread the thought of having to go to court over something like this. SHAME ON GOOGLE...I can't believe how arrogant they are but not honoring someone's request to remove a link!!!!
  • c green Dec 9, 2011 @ 9:38 pm | delete
    remove phone number
  • privacygirl Dec 8, 2011 @ 1:02 am | delete
    Very nice article. Did you ever finish the state removal paper you were working on? I would like to read it if you did. Thank you sharing your knowledge.
  • aivsiur Dec 4, 2011 @ 7:12 pm | delete
    Low protection of privacy is really a big problem nowadays. Very usefull information.
  • Paula7928 Dec 1, 2011 @ 1:00 am | delete
    great article!
  • seo_optimisation Nov 21, 2011 @ 5:41 pm | delete
    Beware of Facebook - anything and everything you put in there stays forever. They own the information and will not remove it, even if you delete your account.
  • jojobear Jan 15, 2012 @ 12:25 pm | delete
    What if someone puts our info on facebook, which I have found out has happened to me?
  • bwilcutt Feb 16, 2012 @ 2:20 pm | delete
    You are still SOL.

    Basically, any information on the internet is fair game as far as people on the internet AND THE LAW are concerned. The only exception is your social security number or credit card number... that's it.

    So here's what you do jojobear...

    1.Look on LINKEDIN, search for people who work for Google
    2. Take their person information and post it like crazy. Do the same to their friends.
    3. Find politician's family members, post that information like crazy.

    What goes around comes around and until the people "With power" suffer the same consequence as the rest of us, nothing will be done.
  • Ted Grech Feb 24, 2012 @ 5:47 pm | delete
    I like your idea! All this social media stuff is just designed so the 'powers that be' can monitor the peons. People in the know don't use it!
    http://www.achanak.org/if-google%E2%80%99s-management-doesn%E2%80%99t-use-google-then-why-should-you/
  • Megaroli Nov 18, 2011 @ 7:12 pm | delete
    This is great information but I just want to let everyone know that RD from Myreputation.com does not remove your information from Intelius so you will have to do the process yourself. They say they block or remove data from whitepages and skopeo.
  • Cleanair Dec 8, 2011 @ 4:23 pm | delete
    Megaroli:

    Thank you for the important information that RD dose not remove information from Intelius. Do you have any tip how to the process yourself?
  • techgirl318 Nov 17, 2011 @ 7:40 pm | delete
    The best way to get your comments or websites "removed" from Google or the internet is to suppress it. You will need to sign up for lots of high ranking websites, such as Twitter, LinkedIn, Spokeo and Scribd, while adding valuable content and backlinks. There is a very cheap program out there called Search Manipulator Gold that takes your information once and then submits it to 50 or so websites, effectively pushing your information to page 3 or 4 of Google.
  • Paula7928 Nov 11, 2011 @ 8:34 am | delete
    Great lens Jessica.
  • desa999 Nov 4, 2011 @ 5:03 am | delete
    Very interesting lens on a topic I hadn't considered before. But now I can see the sense of it.
  • madinvestment Nov 1, 2011 @ 2:08 am | delete
    Great lens! I will speak for all new squids by saying thanks for taking the time to publish this lens.

    One big thumbs up vote left for this lens!
  • Rero Oct 27, 2011 @ 2:33 pm | delete
    Is there any service, which can remove all my data from Facebook servers and databases? Even those which i have already deleted. I'm sure that Facebook still has it on its servers.
  • M Oct 26, 2011 @ 11:06 pm | delete
    Doers anyone know how to get their personal information off of MyLife.com?
  • JessicaM Dec 17, 2011 @ 8:39 pm | delete
    Have you read the Privacy Policy at Mylife.com? It provides some guidance:

    http://www.mylife.com/PrivacyPolicy.pub :

    If you have any questions about privacy or security on our website, you can email us at privacy@mylife.com or contact our Customer Care team at 1-888-704-1900.
  • lisa Oct 9, 2011 @ 6:13 am | delete
    This isn't enough. I would like to see laws changed so that our information isn't legally public knowledge. The only good thing that I have going is that most people can not spell my last name :). I don't have anything to hide. Some people just don't want to be found. The people that I want in my life are in my life already.
  • my2cents Sep 29, 2011 @ 8:14 pm | delete
    many of the sites get the basic information from whitepages.com. search yourself on whitepages.com and click your name then scroll to the almost bottom and it lets you click remove listing. spokeo.com allows you to request your listing to be removed. i just had to fill out the short form and enter my email. they sent a confirmation email. on both sites my info was gone within 24hrs. i do not find myself on many other sites because i'm not much an internet person.
  • gracesdaughter Sep 22, 2011 @ 7:56 pm | delete
    Hi Jessica, thanks for such a thorough job on this lens. Really great info to take to heart.
  • NICHOLAS SSEMBATYA Sep 15, 2011 @ 8:00 pm | delete
    Removing a catched linkedin account from search engines
  • sushilkin Sep 12, 2011 @ 10:38 am | delete
    Thanks for sharing !!
  • COUNTRYLUTHIER Sep 11, 2011 @ 9:31 pm | delete
    A powerful lens fill with useful no squid should be without. Thanks for the empowerment and tools to better our personal cyberspace.
  • FuriousOne Sep 8, 2011 @ 11:11 am | delete
    Unbelievable! As I am thinking of changing jobs I decided to search myself. I was completely horrified to find my phone number, income, directions to where I live as well as a photo of where I live on one of these sites. That is frightening! I am outraged. I was also dismayed to see a photo of another female (not me) appear with my name in a rather questionable photo. As it turns out she lives in another country and has this photo on her Facebook page. I wish we had more control over what appears online and what doesn't. Looks like this is going to cost me money I don't have to ensure my safety by paying to get my information removed. I am seriously outraged!
    Thanks for the great article - the bit about Classmates.com selling credit card info explains how a family member's credit card was used to buy airline tickets (possible explanation). All this time we thought mail had been tampered with!
  • JoeSteinbeck Sep 2, 2011 @ 10:49 am | delete
    I try to keep a low profile - hard thing to do in Internet marketing, though. I'll definitely want to remove my info in some of the ways you mention
  • daviddavid200 Aug 29, 2011 @ 7:22 pm | delete
    Very informative. Thanks!
  • inboundmarketingexpert Aug 27, 2011 @ 7:26 am | delete
    Very informative lens. Thanks for sharing. Do visit our lens to give your comments.
  • billy wyant@ymail.com Mar 5, 2012 @ 11:32 am | delete
    how come my picture is on social network i did not give pirspern to do it some one elice must have done it so please take off it so no one can find me on it so girl will stop sending me their pictors to me
  • Patbinc Aug 22, 2011 @ 8:51 am | delete
    Thanks for the great lens, this is a must read for all people who care about the security and privacy of information on the web.
  • JohnRedding Aug 13, 2011 @ 3:45 am | delete
    Hi Jessica, Read your entire lens and must give you credits for that. Very informative.You know your stuff. Keep it up!
  • StellaSingles Aug 5, 2011 @ 12:40 pm | delete
    if you find that your moniker or screen name is coming up on pages you wish it wouldn't, or just on any page you'd like to remove it from - its much harder to get rid of on google. the best way is just to make more pages with that moniker to push down the other results.
  • Mosoma Aug 2, 2011 @ 9:29 am | delete
    This is essential reading and great value for anyone living in the 21st century.
  • luxwebwizard Jul 29, 2011 @ 11:35 am | delete
    Hi,

    Well done Lens and good content, I like the layout especially... Keep up the good work...

    Have a nice day and best regards,
    Gust
  • seoacrossworld Jul 29, 2011 @ 2:37 am | delete
    This one is really great.. !
  • sugardaddy_sky Jul 29, 2011 @ 2:14 am | delete
    Thanks for sharing! This's one of the best lens!!
  • Dorothy Jul 27, 2011 @ 2:43 pm | delete
    Does anyone know how to get Bing to restrict their link to your name? Oher sites were so helpful in restricting my name (123people, ussearch, BNET, etc.), but Bing is completely unwilling to help in any way with this. Why are they such snots about it?
  • spikey64 Jul 26, 2011 @ 2:04 pm | delete
    Great lens thanks for taking the hard work out of finding out the info I needed.
  • M. Jul 25, 2011 @ 1:29 pm | delete
    How do U remove your number from google from it popping up with information
  • thethemit Jul 24, 2011 @ 1:01 am | delete
    beautifully constructed lense !
    verry informative also, now i could remove almost all of my bio in google
  • thethemit Jul 24, 2011 @ 1:01 am | delete
    beautifully constructed lense !
    verry informative also, now i could remove almost all of my bio in google
  • cerezo Jul 22, 2011 @ 10:02 am | delete
    Internet can be a very usefull tool but have his inconvinients! I like your site
  • Resjes Jul 19, 2011 @ 11:38 am | delete
    Great lens - very informative!
  • fred Jul 19, 2011 @ 10:19 am | delete
    Someone could make a wonderful fruitful business out of omitting people from these horrible
    site. I would pay to get my name off the internet.
  • Johnny D. Jul 15, 2011 @ 6:26 pm | delete
    I got arrested for a dui and when i search my name, the first three results are about this. How can I have my name removed? (the results are some local news websites)
    Thanks for the help.
  • helpme2011 Jul 18, 2011 @ 5:47 pm | delete
    I am having the same issue. I am a teacher and am looking into finding new employment and think they may be hindering my results. I have not heard back from any inquiries I have sent out since my arrest.
  • PositiveChristian Jul 15, 2011 @ 2:02 pm | delete
    Useful and well researched information. Thank you
  • seattle47 Jul 15, 2011 @ 12:31 am | delete
    This is what I just want to know..great lens!
  • HATE these megacorporations & PRIVACY INVADERS! Jul 14, 2011 @ 6:14 pm | delete
    how to delete your email information from facebook FOR NON-MEMBERS / non-facebook-users

    http://www.facebook.com/help/contact.php?show_form=database_removal
  • Varelli Jul 14, 2011 @ 9:40 am | delete
    Oh man, I knew some of these, but I didn't know the whole story... Many thanks for the lens, very well documented and torough. Keep the good work!
  • wayne_luvinlife Jul 11, 2011 @ 9:31 pm | delete
    Wow! there is alot I didn't know...will have to read it several times to let it sink in...great lens! I definintely need to do some home work
  • AlexPon Jul 10, 2011 @ 8:04 pm | delete
    We need to tell the personal data search for pay consortium: GIVE OUR PERSONAL DATA BACK.

    The personal data search for pay consortium functions like a tree. It is based on special cartel protocol.

    At the top sits the master. On the brunches going down from the master minions are sitting. There are two types of minions: leeches and reputation defenders. We can easily google out all participants of the
    personal data search consortium.

    Leeches and reputation defenders provide goods for visitors. Leeches take request and gratitude from visitors, and return goods to visitors and participate in gratitude sharing with the master and reputation defenders. Gratitude is one time endowment or subscription service. Reputation defenders take requests from visitors, provide reputation defense services usually by blocking goods from sibling leeches and participate in gratitude sharing with the master and sibling leeches.

    There are two kinds of visitor roles: fishers and simpletons. Fishers are fishing for personal data about other fishers and simpletons. Fishers mainly interact with leeches. During interaction fishers provide appreciation to leeches and additional confirmation data for global personal data bank. In return they receive goods with other people personal data from leeches. Fishers are potential simpletons. Also simpletons could act as fishers. Simpletons can plea leeches for removal from their goods. It is usually free service, but leeches make it laborious to stimulate seeking services from reputation defenders and to value reputation defenders. Leeches and reputation defenders have special mercy chains to plant on them simpletons who pleaded exclusion from leeches’ goods.

    This master-minions search for pay consortium structure is replicated further down cartel tree when minions of first hand are connected to minions of the second hand and further down the cartel tree.

    As soon as a fisher enters a request in google search box, cartel tree simultaneously directs request to all levels of cartel tree, all leeches generate personal data for the targeted person taking into account their mercy chains and reputation defenders generate blocks for goods about targeted person taking into account their mercy chains too.

    After satisfying a fisher, all participants (master, leeches and reputation defenders on all levels of the search cartel tree) share gratitude depending on their level in search for pay cartel tree and effectiveness.

    This allows very resilient functioning. Because leeches compete with each other to return more full personal data before other sibling leeches, the consortium can evolve to improve its effectiveness.

    The goal of search for pay consortium is to plant majority of population on reputation defenders mercy chains. Considering 10-100++ $/y for reputation defense service, the domestic market could be 50 bln/y easily. This could drive up stocks and profits further.

    Only after achieving this goal personal data search for pay consortium could start innovating in other arenas: smart phones, mobile applications, voluntary communities for sharing and truly enjoying relationships.

    But what about curtailing the development of personal data search for pay consortium altogether. We should demand returning our personal data back to us. No publishing of our personal data by any body without our direct consent.

    Then search for pay consortium could start innovating right now in meaningful for us arenas: smart phones, mobile applications, voluntary communities for sharing and truly enjoying relationships.

    Tell aloud: GIVE US OUR PERSONAL DATA BACK.
  • hithere Jul 8, 2011 @ 3:26 pm | delete
    Hi if you remove yourself from People Search sites...won't potential lenders, landlords, and employers not be able to look you up? Thanks!
  • Hi there Jul 8, 2011 @ 3:24 pm | delete
    Hey if you remove yourself from the People Search sites, won't potential employers and loan lenders not be able to look you up? Thanks!
  • bames24 Jul 8, 2011 @ 12:59 am | delete
    thanks for sharing the info...
  • JewelRiver Jul 7, 2011 @ 8:10 pm | delete
    hmmm... I will definetly be bookmarking this lens. Thanks!
  • Obscure_Treasures Jul 6, 2011 @ 7:20 am | delete
    Didnt know a single thing about it....great post.learn t a lot of things.....
  • AlexPon Jul 4, 2011 @ 8:00 am | delete
    Credit reports, background-checks and other services limit our right for our personal data. This right means, that only a person with definite name (first, last, personal identification) determines volume, time, conditions of sharing individual personal data.

    For effective functioning of value services we relinquish our right for our personal data. But this surrender is not absolute. There are time (3-7 years) and access constraints (owner, certified bodies). It should not allow access for just any body with some knowledge of our identity.

    Privacy should be by default. Except for law based access, all other public exposure of our personal data should be controlled exclusively by the owner of the data. No body can provide, for profit or otherwise, this data without warranting our consent.

    This contrasts with current practice, when providers of our personal data rush publishing our data, for profit or otherwise, without any definite consent.

    By the way, knowing that this undermines our right for our data, public or not, they seemingly allow us to request removing some parts of our data from their merchandise. But they determine the rules and function in concert against us to profit in other ways. After removing data from one provider, other providers pop up with the same data. Also providers of our personal data suggest special paid services to automatically or manually remove our data from their goods. This is also restricted. All limitations guarantee providers feeding on our defense of our rights and our frustration with ever increasing number of leeches on our personal data. Those services are also part of the system encroaching and clinging to our personal data for the profit or otherwise.

    The process of defending our right is formulated by providers to be especially laborious. Some need 3-4 years/months/etc to remove our data. Others demand presenting our case by appointment or using certified carries to send our plea package/case/box to their place of business at Sacramento/Culver City or other places.

    All this intertwined net is functioning on wrong premise of enforcing us to defend from them. We need to make it right: providers should have our specific consent to include our personal, public or otherwise, data into their goods.

    Publishing our personal data for profit or otherwise without specific consent should be unlawful.

    Only after this the net of providers of our personal data will start innovating and suggest meaningful services for society: various programs for voluntary sharing of our personal data. We could start sharing and truly enjoying relationships.
  • YourFirstTime Jul 2, 2011 @ 12:22 pm | delete
    There's no such thing as privacy anymore. It's crazy what people can find out about you by just doing a casual Google search.
  • TIRMassageStone Jun 28, 2011 @ 3:56 pm | delete
    Wow, that is incredible!
  • AlexPon Jun 21, 2011 @ 8:56 am | delete
    We could pay to remove our information and there seem to be no end to this activity. But what about switching the table and establishing our right to our personal, public or otherwise, data.

    We should be in charge of any data public or otherwise published about us.

    It shouldn’t be that any seller or publisher or anybody else is in charge and can publish data about us whether they consider it public or otherwise. And then forcing us to kneel and plead to remove us from their proposals, soliciting additional and confirming data from us. Or selling services for excluding us from their products.

    It should be illegal to publish data about us without our consent.

    Entities in this business for profit or otherwise should be legally responsible: convicted of breaking law, paying expenses, compensation and damages.

    If seller or publisher is publishing anything about us they should warrant our consent, not other way.

    This publishing should be licensed.

    From the other side everybody has a right to be searched for or get public or other data published. To cater for this right sellers/publishers of personal data could start producing real services.
    They could start creating databases of persons wishing to be included in publication or sharing of personal data public or otherwise. They could start with themselves. Of course, adding new person to the database, including themselves, their friends and loved ones, they should follow established procedure and have consent. They could also provide programs for general public to be included into databases for sharing and publishing.
  • AlexPon Jun 21, 2011 @ 8:55 am | delete
    We could pay to remove our information and there seem to be no end to this activity. But what about switching the table and establishing our right to our personal, public or otherwise, data.

    We should be in charge of any data public or otherwise published about us.

    It shouldn’t be that any seller or publisher or anybody else is in charge and can publish data about us whether they consider it public or otherwise. And then forcing us to kneel and plead to remove us from their proposals, soliciting additional and confirming data from us. Or selling services for excluding us from their products.

    It should be illegal to publish data about us without our consent.

    Entities in this business for profit or otherwise should be legally responsible: convicted of breaking law, paying expenses, compensation and damages.

    If seller or publisher is publishing anything about us they should warrant our consent, not other way.

    This publishing should be licensed.

    From the other side everybody has a right to be searched for or get public or other data published. To cater for this right sellers/publishers of personal data could start producing real services.
    They could start creating databases of persons wishing to be included in publication or sharing of personal data public or otherwise. They could start with themselves. Of course, adding new person to the database, including themselves, their friends and loved ones, they should follow established procedure and have consent. They could also provide programs for general public to be included into databases for sharing and publishing.
  • javed Jun 12, 2011 @ 8:41 am | delete
    sir my bio data is upload on the website. however, there are some mistakes in it and i want to remove it from the website.
  • Jack-in-the-Box Jun 8, 2011 @ 6:45 pm | delete
    Wow...you gave us a lot to think about and plenty of information to help us change our information on the internet. Thanks for all the research and a great lens.
  • gypsyman27 Jun 4, 2011 @ 11:50 am | delete
    This is a good and useful lens. I don't believe anyone should have the ability to access your personal information. I talking about employers or anyone else. In the 'old' days people had to ask you for information about yourself, and it should be the same now. I appreciate the information on how to opt out of this problem. See you around the galaxy...
  • a. n. May 29, 2011 @ 9:12 am | delete
    I found my name on Spokeo and noticed that they had "religious affiliation" and "ethnicity" completely wrong - I believe they have some generic rules for deducing this kind of information from your name. For example, just because someone's name is "Carlos" does not mean they are necessarily of Latin ethnicity - they could be from Russia for all I know. Interestingly, I have no religious affiliation and NEVER had any; I have always been an agnostic.
  • momsfunny May 27, 2011 @ 10:27 pm | delete
    Very useful lens. I suggest don't put too much info about yourself through the internet.
  • mano May 25, 2011 @ 1:58 am | delete
    how can i dlete my pictures from google
  • SeanVernall May 20, 2011 @ 3:57 am | delete
    This is a very useful and thought provoking lense. It's true that a lot of social sites make it very easy for profile building sites to access your information. So whilst you are under the illusion that you are just sharing with your permitted friends, your data is scraped and spread accross the intraweb like there is no tomorrow. Many of these sites also require you to then register an account, and provide them with more information, before you can even take action - like removing the data that you didn't give them permission to publish in the first place.

    The law does not really help here as these site claim to only scrape data that you make public. I guess the trick then, is to only enter data into sites where they provide the means to limit access and remove your information from those that don't. But in terms of cleaning up the mess already present, it is as you say a lot of hard and time consuming work. I'm not surprised that businesses have started to appear to help the situation, and even less surprised that many of them charge rates that are out of reach to most. Of course it is easy to monitor this yourself by simply setting up a 'Google Alert' to notify you whenever a page containing your name and details gets indexed.
  • amelia May 19, 2011 @ 3:09 pm | delete
    Genealogy.com allows living people's information (DOB, place, mother's maiden name, etc) to be veiwed by ANYone.
  • dschandar May 19, 2011 @ 11:02 am | delete
    Hi Jessi,

    Very useful information and i am searching this type of article in internet. But collectively you have brought the lens. I have send mail to many of my friends
  • freeliving May 13, 2011 @ 12:36 am | delete
    How do you correct erroneous information these companies have on you? a wrong address, incorrect name, etc.? If you have yourself publically blocked, you'll never know what law enforcement or businesses are seeing about you.
  • FlippinMermaid Sep 3, 2011 @ 3:10 am | delete
    Exactly!!Reply to--Alex Pom (who wrote some incredible, intelligent,informative details in his 'reader comment'). Also thanks to the author of this article, well Done. We, the people should take back this invasion of all our privacy. What a way to live. What's it going to be like in 10 -20 years? Impossible situation. I so prefer the old fashion way to live and communicate. Really, what's the point of all this? I don;t have a social network page or any of those. I protect my privacy fiercely. Feel like a prisoner, feel like at 'their' mercy. If anyone hears about a mass force operation website, or whatever) of people who are joining hands to take back our rights, please post here. Thank You Jessica for a fantastic and well researched article and thanks to Alex Pom (comment).
  • Internetreputation Sep 14, 2011 @ 5:10 pm | delete
    Protecting your information now before it goes public is more important then ever. Once information goes viral it can be very hard to remove if not impossible. It is not true that you can not remove information from the Internet, it is just not easy. FlippinMermaid is right, you need to keep your social media stuff as private as possible. Personal I don't even recommend many social media websites, friends can become enemies and take photos of yours to use them in a negative light. Be careful
  • sangeeta tate May 3, 2011 @ 11:32 am | delete
    If i write my name sangeeta tate on google search my college schorlarship information comes out i want to hide that information i dont know no how it comes without my permission i want to hide that head lines i.e sangeeta tate my information about schorlarship on google search please take a quick decision to remove it.
  • FlippinMermaid Sep 3, 2011 @ 3:16 am | delete
    Reply to: Sangeeta T. If you put your name (like you did here), perhaps even your comment can be picked up in search engines (with your name included). Well, really it should not be as privacy is so important and I am looking forward to live on those mama made island with no laws which are being built.
  • moonlitta May 3, 2011 @ 6:29 am | delete
    Some very good tips here. *blessed*
  • PL43 Apr 26, 2011 @ 9:27 pm | delete
    I would just like to add that it is impossible to get everything removed for as soon as you get it down on one, another site pops up. You just cannot get ahead of that game and even attorney's have written how it is impossible. There is public information which can be obtained from your county that can be put up on the web without your consent. So if you own property or a business, you are easily findable. And there are court records, speeding tickets, boat owners, licenses, etc., etc., etc.. And anyone who lists their phone numbers can easily be searched for and found via the internet. If you belong to a social networking site you will be found. Your insurance carrier can give out information on you (like State Farm, etc.) as well as your utility companies. I don't like this anymore than the next person does, but if you can be found in your county tax rolls, your local utilities, your landline carrier, then you will be found online. Ancestry dot come has you there too. Oh, and even if you manage to opt-out anywhere, it is only a matter of time before they are allowed to put you back on. You can't win. It sucks.
  • manchester Jul 29, 2011 @ 2:39 pm | delete
    Agreed... You can only remove what you added in most cases.

    Can never stop other people from writing anything they like about you and your business unfortunately :(
  • LensSeller Apr 22, 2011 @ 1:31 pm | delete
    This is a great resource & a very well presented lens Jessica. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
  • vv Apr 10, 2011 @ 6:15 pm | delete
    from http://www.whitepages.com/help/privacy_central#8

    here's a list of several websites that publish or sell listing information in some form.

    Addresses.com
    AnyWho.com
    Classmates.com
    Dexknows.com
    Facebook.com
    Intelius

    MySpace
    PeopleFinders.com
    PIPL.com
    PublicRecordsNow.com
    MyLife.com
    Spock.com

    Switchboard.com
    USA People-Search
    US Search
    Yahoo! People Search
    Wink.com
    ZabaSearch
  • chocolate40@rocketmail.com Apr 5, 2011 @ 3:17 pm | delete
    I have negative article about me if you google my name, the article is only have truth and my charges was expunged. How do I get this article removed, please help me can not afford these business that charge $5000... Thank you
  • renee smith Jun 22, 2011 @ 12:04 pm | delete
    did you get any information. please let me know. i have the same problem
  • Vospek Apr 5, 2011 @ 1:51 pm | delete
    Lensport, May I know how to clean what's online about myreputation or privacy. I serached myself online and almost fainted. I need way or information how to clean up my personal only data.
  • concerned person Mar 28, 2011 @ 12:03 am | delete
    Spokeo.com doesn't remove all of your information even if you opt out. You can still find partial information if you go to spokeo.com/john+doe (the information is located in the bottom right pane of the website). Just replace john and doe with your first and last name, respectively.
  • Helper May 28, 2011 @ 1:43 pm | delete
    They seem to have fixed that now
  • isam mohammed shihada Mar 26, 2011 @ 10:14 pm | delete
    please i need to remove all my personal information from google. m. thank you
  • visitor324 Mar 24, 2011 @ 3:04 pm | delete
    Hello. I have the same problem as yours. I saw my personal information available to the public after googling my name. How do you remove the information from being expose. I would like to know the tips. Pls send to my email ---- ylang506@yahoo.com
  • snurpy Mar 15, 2011 @ 11:51 pm | delete
    call mylife.com at 18887041900 between 6a-11p and ask them to remove yur info.
  • Brian L. Mar 12, 2011 @ 10:05 am | delete
    Oh, and thank you for this article, by the way. Very informative.
  • Brian L. Mar 12, 2011 @ 10:02 am | delete
    All that work just to restore and keep your natural right to privacy? Ridiculous. It should be illegal for just ANYONE to gather your private information. What does anyone need with my private information? If employers want background checks, there should be a special U.S. government agency just for employers to do background checks. If there be any criminals of concern like sex offenders and murderers released, then first of all, they shouldn't even be allowed to leave jail, but second, there should be a map-based site showing where all the registered under criminal watch live. But even then, I don't need to know how much money a former prisoner made. That stuff is nobody's business. Privacy and security online are myths.
  • jackie Mar 9, 2011 @ 10:45 pm | delete
    Hi- Not a guilty party, but was arrested in BrowardCounty and a 3rd party stole their data and npw my mugshot and info is on the internet, the Sherriff dept said they never release it and the court house has no idea, How can you get your profile from ThugMug off ther internet. ? Thank you a professional
  • Me Mar 8, 2011 @ 10:35 am | delete
    Also add Spokeo to the list! They give out ALOT of info free when people search for you but on the upside they are very good about removing you from their list without all the bull
  • R.... Mar 3, 2011 @ 9:14 pm | delete
    I received a phone from a person asking to purchase my domain which I don't and have never owned. The person knew my name and phone number. I googled my name plus domains for sell and my name, address and phone number came up and this email: fringsrecruitment@googlemail.com any advice to remove and stopped this fraud???
  • tulasi Feb 23, 2011 @ 1:07 am | delete
    i am by mistakly i entered my mobile no in No Investment Data Entry Jobs plz tell me that how can i remove my no...
  • cbre dc Feb 20, 2011 @ 11:29 pm | delete
    this is quite scary as there are plen t of advertising smith s out there who will c bre
  • greece123 Feb 17, 2011 @ 4:29 pm | delete
    we need more security
  • disgruntled Kathy Feb 15, 2011 @ 4:46 pm | delete
    As a professional Social Worker, I worked briefly for a state run agency; I am no longer there but employed elsewhere.. HEALTHGRADES lists this info which is no obsolete yet they REFUSE to delete it, yet if I were to provide the updated info; they accomodate my request.. I choose not to but prefer to be off their site completely... I NEED TO FIND OUT HOW TO PRESSURE THEM INTO DOING THE RIGHT THING... any suggestions?
  • Inez Feb 9, 2011 @ 3:06 pm | delete
    Thanks a bunch, great info.
  • Snickers Feb 4, 2011 @ 1:44 am | delete
    damn, thought that my facebook likes and comments wouldn't come up in google when i my friend searched my name. i thought unliking the page would remove it...it didn't T_T
  • mongo Feb 21, 2011 @ 8:49 am | delete
    did you find a way? I tried to rid of comments and likes too, to no avail...
  • Creative Feb 24, 2011 @ 9:06 am | delete
    11/2/2010
    Gmail users received an email from Google yesterday notifying them that the company has settled a class action over alleged privacy violations by the Buzz service. According to the settlement, Google will pay $8.5 million into an independent fund that will be used to support Internet privacy education. According to the settlement, no one in the class action will receive individual financial compensation, except for the seven users who initiated the suit, who will get $2,500 each.
  • Nicole Jan 31, 2011 @ 5:41 am | delete
    Could someone please give the the link to software I can use to erase my personal information?

    Many Thanks
  • vic Apr 15, 2011 @ 4:10 pm | delete
    Go to=google.com/webmasters/tools/removals and then request google to remove you from there search.
  • renee smith Jun 22, 2011 @ 12:01 pm | delete
    does this work getting someones name off google completely
  • David Jan 20, 2011 @ 5:55 pm | delete
    Could someone please give the the link to software I can use to erase my personal information? Much appreciated.
  • Thank You! Jan 20, 2011 @ 3:18 pm | delete
    The best source of information for internet privacy. Just saw my very personal information available to the public after googling my name. I've never felt such fear and exposure. Thank you so much for all that you've done. Now I can take the necessary steps to protect myself and my family.
  • Visitor22 Jan 29, 2011 @ 9:06 am | delete
    Hello. I have the same problem as yours. I saw my personal information available to the public after googling my name and email address. How do you remove the information from being expose. I would like to know the tips. Pls send to my email ---- babyhsu2010@hotmail.com. thx
  • none of your damn business Jan 10, 2011 @ 7:09 pm | delete
    I don't want stalkers to have easy access to my address.
  • dragonlow Jan 5, 2011 @ 8:19 am | delete
    Very nice informational lens. Thanks for sharing.
  • scar4 Dec 16, 2010 @ 1:15 am | delete
    Thanks Jessica for sharing this powerful lens about protecting personal information.
  • SafetySteph Dec 12, 2010 @ 9:24 am | delete
    Very nice and informative lens on protecting your personal information - big thumbs up!
  • Dec 6, 2010 @ 10:58 pm | delete
    Thanks for the information well done
  • Dec 6, 2010 @ 7:38 pm | delete
    Thanks Jessica, Great info nice1
  • Dec 3, 2010 @ 3:16 pm | delete
    Great information on how to get rid of your information online. I try to put less information as possible and I am planning to do some removal of some information online also. Great lens.
  • Lucy Dec 1, 2010 @ 5:00 am | delete
    I would like advice on how to remove my info from MyLife.com. They have info listed on there that I have never given online, ever. The fact that they have it there is a serious privacy issue for me.
  • arly Jan 4, 2011 @ 1:28 am | delete
    Join MyLife, its free for you to see what they have on you and then ask them to delete all your info. By law they have to comply.
  • East_Coast_Gull Mar 2, 2011 @ 10:07 pm | delete
    That's great information. Thanks for sharing. But they are one among many.
  • East_Coast_Gull Mar 2, 2011 @ 10:15 pm | delete
    Oh, I didn't see this post before I saw the one below, since I was scrolling back up the page, instead of down. I agree with you on that. Where do they get that info? They should be penalized since it wasn't anything you shared publicly, in the first place. So many of these new sites are popping up that are supposed to be copycats of FaceBook, but I think that they are terribly engineered. They are just interested in duplicating FaceBook's succcess while offering substandard service.I have seen the marketing techniques on some of these sites that trick you into joining by requiring it as part of a job application. They say that you have to in order to find out what their company is all about before they will speak to you about working for them.
  • Leia Gance Nov 29, 2010 @ 6:27 am | delete
    I am Leia Gance (56 yrs old). Please remove all of my personal information at once.
  • Worried Oma Nov 27, 2010 @ 4:21 am | delete
    What's worse is some of these sites list your MINOR CHILD name and personal info. Why does not law stop? Predators find them easy!
  • Nov 25, 2010 @ 7:58 am | delete
    excellent lens and nice tips..
  • aymand Nov 13, 2010 @ 8:24 am | delete
    Great article!
  • cowzoom Nov 8, 2010 @ 2:14 am | delete
    Thanks for your detailed write up on this important issue. This article will be helpful for many people. Thanks again.
  • Nov 1, 2010 @ 12:18 pm | delete
    Good Lens. Everyone needs to take the time to do this.
  • Oct 30, 2010 @ 10:09 pm | delete
    ignorance was apparently bliss. thank you for all of this work you did.
  • private Oct 28, 2010 @ 7:12 am | delete
    THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!! This was sooo HELPFUL and very much APPRECIATED!
  • fatcat Oct 27, 2010 @ 12:02 pm | delete
    Really and excelent tools God Bless you for being supported with the integrity of the people, keep in that path thanks
  • huvalbd Oct 26, 2010 @ 7:49 am | delete
    Extensive. Includes recently issued news, so you must be keeping up to date very well.
  • lawyerscout Oct 7, 2010 @ 2:04 pm | delete
    I think it's really tough to prevent your info from getting out there. That's the real challenge of new internet era.
  • visitor2site Oct 4, 2010 @ 3:30 am | delete
    I have been able to remove almost all of my personal information from the Internet and from other sources (I rarely get unsolicited mail). So I know it is possible without a lawyer. Yes, it can be done. I have been able to remove my information from Google's cached webpages, online directories, online commercial data brokers, both online and offline marketers, data aggregators, social network aggregators, offline telemarketers, mailers, Google Streetview, etc. In addition, I have hidden my blogs so that they are unsearchable and have tweaked my social network (profiles, walls, etc.) so that are hidden and can't be found in directories and can't be found by reverse email.
  • green.girl Oct 22, 2010 @ 4:40 am | delete
    How, how did you manage to do all that as i am in a terrible situation at the moment and i need to get all the info out asap!!!
    please help
  • theresa Nov 1, 2010 @ 6:39 pm | delete
    how were you able too do this let me know thank you
  • thobo Jan 29, 2011 @ 7:16 pm | delete
    Can you advise on how to remove personal info off internet? I need help asap. Thx a mil.
  • D Mar 3, 2011 @ 10:43 pm | delete
    I need your help as well. If you respond this post I will give you my email so you could possibly teach me how to do this.
  • visitor324 Mar 24, 2011 @ 2:58 pm | delete
    visitor2site, can you please let me know how you did it? i tried, but only was successful partially. i don't want my name/personal info showing on any website, period. i'd appreciate it very much if you can share that knowledge info.
  • mcochs Sep 30, 2010 @ 8:16 am | delete
    Great lens,I'm keeping it as a fave!
  • WeddingZazzle Sep 30, 2010 @ 5:11 am | delete
    Blessed by a SquidAngel :)
  • rockwiz Sep 26, 2010 @ 7:49 pm | delete
    I agree, keep your information minimal, what a great lens on giving info on how to delete your personal info from the web. Look forward to finding out about areas outside the US.
  • toy Sep 19, 2010 @ 7:57 pm | delete
    ok so someone posted pictures of my ex slandering his name saying alot of bad and untrue things about him. were trying to sew the website ubunz.com but what would be the steps of doing so with no contact info from the person who created the website and person who posted his pics its getting out of control please help
  • New Hampshire Sep 22, 2010 @ 10:22 am | delete
    This website: http://www.networksolutions.com/whois/index.jsp will tell you who owns the website itself. Often times the email listed is for a technical support guy, so don't get too detailed on your first email. Remember- the guy probably runs cables and wires all day so he's just an average joe like you.

    First print and save copies of everything your EX is posting about you. They are evidence now. You need to sure your ex, NOT the website. They're not commiting a crime, and if you threaten to sue them as a first resort- they can't talk to you by law because they'll have to get a lawyer to talk to you so they ddon't say anything to fuck up their defense. It's not their fault anyways its your ex.

    So like I said, save all the files and make printouts to sue your ex. Then contact anyone you can at the website and beg them to remove the material or shut down your ex's account with them. be nice to them, but get a lawyer and go after your ex. A lawsuit against the website WILL fail, so don;t go threatening them or then they're DEFINITELY not going to help you get the content removed.

    I looked at the search and whoever setup the site used godaddy.com so you'll have to remember that the contacts listed there might not have anything to do with the website directly, but you could at least try. keep your words brief and be as nice as possible. don't waste their time or they'll get pissed. try to keep it to a couple sentences or less, just say:

    Hi, someone made a slander website about me on ubunz.com and I'm trying to find the contact information for the website administrator can you help with that?

    good luck
  • turner-bob Sep 17, 2010 @ 9:27 pm | delete
    Very informative. Nice lens
  • Laddoo Sep 15, 2010 @ 3:51 am | delete
    This is excellent information. Do these sites also store info on people living outside the US?
  • Ella90 Sep 14, 2010 @ 8:33 pm | delete
    Great lens and good information
  • pyle_mountain Sep 11, 2010 @ 8:30 am | delete
    Great information. I've always figured it was close to impossible to remove all your personal information from the internet. These days, the Net is becoming more and more important in our daily lives and so many businesses are requiring its use. How will anyone be able to keep their personal information off the Net when it becomes a necessity to use the Net daily?
  • Class Sep 10, 2010 @ 8:02 pm | delete
    I feel you should not have to "opt out" for something you never signed up for in the first place, such as having all your personal, vital and private information exploited for mercenary companies to make money off of. My life, my privacy is not for sale. I feel this is a good time for a Class Action Law Suit and a new kind of Civil Rights Movement..that of privacy and information. If there are lawyers out there reading this feel free to email me because I'm all for it and have been a victim of the violence and distraction that this kind of "public information" is exploiting. If you would just as well not give a friend's telephone number away w/o asking first the same should go for the web. Where's the respect for human lives and decency here.
  • dazy415 Sep 16, 2010 @ 5:21 pm | delete
    Totally right!
    Just had husbands ex-sister in law call me! The ex has been sending him mail on Mylife.com He doesn't even know how to turn on the computer.
    They found everything on internet. Including an aireal photo of my house!
    I am sick. I have nothing to hide. Just don't want my personal information anywhere!
    Al Franken is working on some bill right now! I doubt Republicans will go along with it .
    I am ready for the Class Action Law Suit anytime!
  • ClassActionNeeded Jan 14, 2011 @ 4:07 pm | delete
    Hello, I just read the very, very informative article. I agree with you. There should be a class action suit to stop this intercepting and selling of personal info (what a joke, it really is not personal or private) info I feel is priviate and should not be readily available to the world. I hope there are lawyers that feel the same way and can begin initiation of a class action suit.
  • P.O.A.T.S. Jan 30, 2011 @ 9:08 am | delete
    I totally agree! The worst insult is the proliferation of so-called privacy-protection and reputation-recovery businesses that sprung up as a result of these "people-finding" sites that list personal info. They must be in cahoots, if not affiliates, outright. We have to find attorneys and politicians willing to institute a class action.
  • Creative Feb 24, 2011 @ 9:11 am | delete
    11/2/2010
    Gmail users received an email from Google yesterday notifying them that the company has settled a class action over alleged privacy violations by the Buzz service. According to the settlement, Google will pay $8.5 million into an independent fund that will be used to support Internet privacy education. According to the settlement, no one in the class action will receive individual financial compensation, except for the seven users who initiated the suit, who will get $2,500 each.

    So much for a class action... an education program...for whom Google's of the world or the victims?
  • BuckHawk Sep 9, 2010 @ 6:09 am | delete
    This is excellent information for all of us and now Angel Blessed* and featured on Angelography.
  • Sep 8, 2010 @ 3:16 am | delete
    Great lens!
  • Sep 8, 2010 @ 12:12 am | delete
    thanks for the info!
  • Sep 7, 2010 @ 2:47 am | delete
    useful info
  • Mrs C welthagen Sep 1, 2010 @ 8:12 pm | delete
    The Business Outlook Automotive does'nt excist anymore at 16 Boomkruiperstreet Birch Acres Kempton Park The partner move out Please remove the address from google and telephone numbers
  • meg Aug 29, 2010 @ 10:15 am | delete
    A couple of years ago I joined a penpal site (recommended by another penpal of mine in search of penpals ONLY!). Now, I am being inundated with some fairly raunchy e-mails. There is no way to remove yourself from this website and the contact e-mail is disabled. About a year ago, I reported them to the BBB for privacy concerns. Is there any way that this site can be taken down? The site is www.culturalcorrespondence.com
  • meg Sep 2, 2010 @ 8:36 pm | delete
    Meant to include the IP address for culturalcorrespondence: 208.43.115.151
  • RosegardenAdvice Aug 17, 2010 @ 7:37 am | delete
    Always wondered about this aspect of lack of privacy on the net. Good resources .. thanks
  • lasertek Aug 17, 2010 @ 2:37 am | delete
    This lens is very helpful. It is true that most of us do not limit the personal information that we share online. We are easily lured into putting much about us probably to get an application done or to make our profiles interesting to people.
  • East_Coast_Gull Mar 2, 2011 @ 10:29 pm | delete
    That was a very astute observation. I have to agree with you that we are originally motivated by benign impulses.
  • Nancy Aug 16, 2010 @ 10:10 am | delete
    we are intersted in removing information about our business from the internet. Could you please contact me if this something that yo do and how much do you charge to remove it.
  • Curious Aug 8, 2010 @ 4:03 pm | delete
    What about when an insurance company gets your information for an application (so social security, name, health data & credit card number) - then keeps it well past the date you have ended your contract with the company? Is there no law requring that company to delete your sensitive data, since it is no longer required to be in their system?
  • Robert Aug 2, 2010 @ 8:38 pm | delete
    the worst is blockshopper.com
    our privacy has to be protected. State laws have not stayed current with the fast-pace-growth of the web and various opportunist sites
  • andyschnauzer Aug 31, 2010 @ 8:32 pm | delete
    Hi Robert,
    Yes, the worst is blockshopper.com. Do you know how to get information off from their site? Anybody out there know?
  • Sara Oct 11, 2010 @ 4:18 pm | delete
    If anyone out there knows how to stop blockshopper.com please let me in on it, too. They have posted every bit on information about me and I want it removed. Maybe if we get enough people, we can sue them in a class action.
  • Jacqueline Jul 28, 2010 @ 4:03 pm | delete
    I would like to remove all the untruthful information about my company- how do I do this?
  • Concerned Citizen Aug 16, 2010 @ 5:57 pm | delete
    Hi, besides the obvious- writing the webhost that printed it, you can contact their site's web host, list the: site, page url, quote defaming material or false information, quote the host's TOS (terms of use) policy and ask for the site to be suspended or ordered to remove it. Also the registrar for the site can be contacted although they seldom will act. You can find both of these sources by going to: whois.net
  • frustrated Jul 27, 2010 @ 9:51 pm | delete
    someone has created an email account at yahoo using my first and last name. they went so far to post an ad on craigslist that my home was for rent and the post requested they contact the yahoo account. i have been job hunting so obviously they have obtained information from the internet. the one eyed monster! needless to say someone came to my house this evening wanted to know if it was for rent when it's up for sale with a broker.
    i have made a police report as well as contacted the fbi. how can i get this yahoo account deleted. I made a local police report too and they were of no help! however, i have learned, if it isn't written, it isn't done. any answers or helpful information would be appreciated.
  • mrs kumar Jul 26, 2010 @ 6:44 pm | delete
    i want my name removed from google search engine as it links to a prayer website and contains some very personal information. can some one please guide me. i have contacted the website itself but no respose as yet.... please i need step by step help...thanks
  • mymobileskins Jul 25, 2010 @ 1:22 pm | delete
    great lens!
  • joe reilly Jul 24, 2010 @ 8:18 pm | delete
    hi
    i am wondering, how i go about doing this, i want to to take my email address off a certain site and dont know how to go about it, i am living in ireland,
  • Sadheeskumar Jul 16, 2010 @ 1:08 pm | delete
    Excellent lens on important topic. It is worth more than 5 Stars. I have book marked it as well. I will comeback here again. Thanks.
  • dakota Jul 6, 2010 @ 12:27 am | delete
    I had my information removed from all of the links provided (plus 160+ others) . If the company didn't remove all of my personal information (both past and present), I filed a complaint with the website's associated truste.com privacy program. If that program didn't exist with the website, I filed a complaint against the company at BBB.org. Afterwhich, all of my information has been removed from various data brokers, directories, social network aggragators, marketers, telemarketers, catalog companies, etc.
  • afdilqncy Jul 4, 2010 @ 8:15 am | delete
    good lens and very helpfull info.
    Thanks for sharing
  • Accident Lawyers Jul 1, 2010 @ 8:30 am | delete
    It is indeed by far a very good article. In my opinion, once you started to "register" yourself onto the WWW you knew that you passed all your infos into the public arena.

    Goidel & Siegel
    Goidel & Siegel injury lawyers
  • jamie Jun 30, 2010 @ 3:55 am | delete
    i have been trying to get out of intellius and other sites and i am supposed to give all kinds of personal information and send copies of records and my drivers license and other things just to ask them to remove me --- i am not about to send them more information about me just to ask to be removed
  • monalisa Jun 7, 2010 @ 2:31 pm | delete
    this is crazy i just found my name on the internet had no idea and i just got interent service. now i have no idea what to do can someone help me?
  • Denise Jul 9, 2010 @ 12:53 pm | delete
    Hey monalisa, try this...go up to the word on this page that says LINK, this will get you off the white pages. Or you can google get my name off white pages, and it will give you links. As for the public info, you have to go to each one, give them a copy of your drivers lic. But block your pic. and driver #. give them the correct address if it's not on there.
    They will block all your private info. They need your lic. To know it's you. You are the only one with accsess to your licence!
  • Karen Jun 2, 2010 @ 4:24 pm | delete
    Thanks for this very helpful info. I agreed, this is situation of us citizens not being able to have a say in what kind of information to be exposed on line of our livs is just wrong. The identity theft crime business is one of the biggest this Country, is growing every day, and adding our public records online just make it easier. Even us Nurses that take care of dangerous Patients as those from the Jail system and Psychhospitals; we are not able to keep our personal addresses and phone numbers from being exposed online. This is just putting the safety of professionals like us in risk.
  • pryvac May 30, 2010 @ 2:03 pm | delete
    Are you an attorney? Avvo.com refuses to remove your name from the internet!

    Avvo.com went state to state using the Freedom of Information Act to force State Supreme Courts to give Avvo the name and address of all licensed attorneys. Then, even if an attorney does not practice any more, even if the attorney has told Avvo that their name on the internet endangers their safety and the safety of their family, Josh King, General Counsel & Vice President, Business Development, said “Avvo does not, under any circumstances, delete attorney profiles”.

    So if you are an attorney and do not practice anymore, I recommend that you contact Avvo.com, go to “privacy policy” at the bottom, click on emailing us or contact us (words that have hypertext to bring you to a new page) and ask to be removed. They may remove your home address but will refuse to remove your name. When they refuse, go to http://alaskaoregonwesternwashington.bbb.org/Find-Business-Reviews/#middle-result and file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. For those who are victims of stalking, you can help by emailing Joshua King [josh@avvo.com] and telling him how having your name on the internet can ruin a person’s life. Maybe if he gets a clue, he will stop violating our privacy for a quick buck.
  • Pat May 26, 2010 @ 9:55 pm | delete
    I think the goverment should put a law against these search engines to sell private and personal information. But I guess everything revolves around money, if you want to take your private info. away from these search engines you have to pay ($20,000!!!?) why should we pay when we didn't even give permission to these search engines to sell our private info., it should be the other way around, they should pay us for profiting by selling our private info. to scammers and strangers!!!!
  • Goddesspower May 21, 2010 @ 3:17 pm | delete
    Thanks so much for this useful information! Love, Goddess
  • Stanley Clark May 20, 2010 @ 11:30 am | delete
    WOW! I have read some articles related to online reputation issues and services in the past but i have to admit that this one is an absolute killer! Whoever wrote this is definitely a PRO and did a terrific job gathering all this information in one place. I just wanted to add my 5 cents as a general consumer. I had a online fraud issue in the past but I was a bit scared of taking any actions to fix this on my own as i am not too savvy for that kind of stuff. One of my business partners recommended me a company called repmanagementfirm.com So you can only imagine how impressed I was when they did an awesome job in a fairly short period of time! I am sure that if someone has enough time and knowledge you should definitely try to 'do it yourself' ways of handling such issues. But if you are looking for a balance between cost and quality of the output - my vote will go to repmanagementfirm.com
  • shubhammalhothra May 18, 2010 @ 2:02 am | delete
    Wanna to say thank you for this fantastic lens. This shows how many hours you devote to do this research and obtain this useful for all information. I am reading this kind of information first time. Yes I would like to suggest this lens to my friends also. Thanks again.

    Best Reagards
    Data Recovery Software Expert
    http://www.squidoo.com/latest-hard-drive-data-recovery-software
  • Momsbusy247 May 14, 2010 @ 10:10 pm | delete
    Oh my gosh, this is some of the most important stuff I have read in a long time. Thank you for writing this lens.
  • private May 8, 2010 @ 1:39 pm | delete
    if u type in spock.com and anybody name you can find out everything about that person. Which is invasion of privacy. For $.95 cents you know where they live, for $40.00 you can learn everything from phone numbers to what they own, and if they have an criminal record. I went on that site and i'm pissed For $40.00 everybosy in the world knows your business. Please help by teling me how i can have my personal info removed.
  • nailroggers Apr 19, 2010 @ 2:36 pm | delete
    putting your personal data online could be harmful sometimes, someone bad could use your own data against you for some of his benefits. so it is better to remove the data as soon as possible.
  • surviving-2012 Apr 17, 2010 @ 11:45 pm | delete
    Oh my gosh!
  • WeddingZazzle Apr 12, 2010 @ 9:57 pm | delete
    Worthy of a blessing, Nicely done. Lots of great info and tips on this lens. Blessed by a Squid Angel :)
  • dagsmith Apr 11, 2010 @ 1:26 pm | delete
    Lots of good advice - it is hard to "live" online and stay private - but you have assembled some great tips. 5*****
  • Airinka Apr 9, 2010 @ 1:57 pm | delete
    is it true? has anybody tried it?
  • Luke Apr 9, 2010 @ 5:53 am | delete
    My name was associated with some nasty porn sites. I was really really upset when I found out about this but I decided to take action and clear my reputation. I've used methods described in this website. Contacted google via email at removals@google.com and used google webmaster tool. Within few days everything was cleared!! I could not believe how quick and easy it was. I'm trying to figure out how to do the same in yahoo. Thank you so much for the info Squidoo!
  • ReputationFixer Apr 8, 2010 @ 5:37 pm | delete
    Very good article w/ great content in an area most people are not thinking about when visiting websites. Online reputation management is urgent business in today's world where identity theft is a leading crime. I have found ReputationDr.com, like Reputation Defender, is another company that deals with these issues on a personalized basis.
  • TheWhistler Apr 6, 2010 @ 4:01 pm | delete
    Important information in today's world. Thanks for the lens.
  • Kim Apr 6, 2010 @ 1:42 am | delete
    I was wondering how intelius could post my phone number and address when it is unlisted?
  • JessicaM Apr 6, 2010 @ 1:59 am | delete
    The answer is right in above article, read section "How My Personal Information is Exposed..."

    http://www.squidoo.com/personalInformation#module8309489
  • jrok Apr 3, 2010 @ 12:35 am | delete
    Just want to share my experience with the cons of personal information being easily accessed.

    About 9 months ago, I was almost murdered because someone had access to my personal information. I wont go into details but the person got my full name from calling my cellphone and then listening to my voice mail. I work at a big company and I deal with a lot of clients so I had to release my full name in my voice message. Turns out the guy took my name and entered it in intelius and got my home address. Thankfully I am alive today but am now scared for even revealing where I live in my resumes. It only cost no more then 5 dollars, 5 dollars is how much my safety was worth, for some psycho to show up at your door and try to end your life. I wish we could have atleast a bill or some sorth of law go into affect to help people easily get their personal information taken away from these sites. Its our info, its our right and choice.

    Everyone please take the time to opt out of these personal information websites. Your safety and your love ones are worth it.
  • Class Sep 10, 2010 @ 7:44 pm | delete
    I say the time has come for a CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT for those of us who have been victims and for the future victims of any sort of harrassment, identity theft or simply the need to protect one's right to their own human respect and decency. Did I personally say go ahead and put all my personal private information out there. When it comes to our personal relationships with people we do not give out telephone numbers, etc. of our friends unless we have their permission. The same holds sway here. These kinds of mercenary companies that are giving away our privacy and listing it for sale is despicable and the time has come for a new and modern form of civil/human rights movement, that of privacy and information.
  • dazy Sep 16, 2010 @ 5:30 pm | delete
    Totally agree!
    Al Franken is the only one even coming close to protecting the people
  • Privacy4U Mar 22, 2010 @ 9:27 am | delete
    It's time we form an non profit organization to protect our privacy online. Seems like anybody can publish anything about us, our business etc online for profit. The internet is becoming a very dangerous place, our privet information should be kept privet.
  • Right2Privacy Mar 10, 2010 @ 2:47 am | delete
    I am so glad someone like you had taken the time to research and write all these valuable info for us so that everyone can learn it all in one place. Thank you very much. We ought to point out these privacy concerns to our local and national politicians come election time and the one with the most vigilence for our privacy would get my vote!
  • feasibilitystdy Mar 6, 2010 @ 6:53 am | delete
    Wow it's a great lens. You have some essential information for me and also many people as like as me.

    Thanks
  • ohcaroline Mar 4, 2010 @ 2:12 pm | delete
    Excellent lens. Much to take in and do something with. 5 stars!
  • prosperity66 Feb 25, 2010 @ 12:00 pm | delete
    Great information here. Just saw a TV document regarding this matter and seems that our TV journalists aren't as aware of those things that Webmasters and other specialists of the Internet are ;)
    Blessed by a SquidAngel.
  • J_Edwards Feb 20, 2010 @ 6:18 pm | delete
    Good reading, should be required reading.
  • Jenny Viverson Feb 12, 2010 @ 10:31 pm | delete
    If all tools fail, then I suggest you hire Reputec to get rid of the bad stuff for you. They do this by replacing the bad links with ones that have positive content. As a result, the negative links are pushed to the last pages of Google. No one actually checks Google's last pages anymore, so I say Reputec is a good choice.
  • Sarajanens Feb 6, 2010 @ 2:11 pm | delete
    privacy should be the rule and not the exception. Open Public Records Act-how come the public weren't made aware that this law was going into effect? Also why do we have to pay or go extra length to do some work to remove oursleves when they did not ask us about putting up the information. Also they are making money from our information. I do not care if background searchers--employers, law look at my records. but when they put it up all online for anyone to see--that is wrong. i do not care about misc info. but vital stats that can discriminate is not good. phone/address are things i give to peoplei meet after awhile. they should only list those who wanted to be listed, and make all other info private.
    just because something is available it does not mean its protecting us. its not.
  • ALawyer Feb 9, 2010 @ 6:32 am | delete
    Most personal records are in state and county levels.The Open Public Record Acts are state laws (NJ and CA are the recent ones passed, for example).

    Unfortunately, our federal and state constitutions provide with little guidance when it comes protect privacy to digital dossiers and people search sites. For the modern erosion of our privacy through Internet, it was unimaginable two hundred years ago when the laws were formed.

    In a recent court case, City of Kirkland v. Sheehan, a citizen in Washington State, Sheehan owned a website called justicefiles.org. On the site, he published names, addresses, dates of birth, phone numbers, Social Security numbers, spouses' names about local police officers at the City of Kirkland and other municipalities in Washington - similar to what you see at people search sites.

    The court held that the First Amendment protected the site, the site does not have any specific objective or motive that is in itself threatening. Its purpose it to provide more data to more people.

    The First Amendment has been held to allow publication of personal information even when it predictably will threaten the safety of particular individuals.

    Threats themselves can be made criminal, consistent with the First Amendment. But when information is not itself a threat - but does pose one - courts have recently tended to allow the information to be published, even on the Internet.
  • FreedomRider May 26, 2010 @ 1:53 am | delete
    I understand that the first amendment protects these website as it is for freedom of speech & press, however, how about our 4th Amendment that protects us of our Privacy?

    4th Amendment: 'The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.'
  • SSATprep Feb 4, 2010 @ 3:32 am | delete
    Wow. Awesome job. Very valuable information.
  • EYES WIDE OPEN Feb 2, 2010 @ 2:57 am | delete
    I usally skim through internet articles, this one I read completly through. The internet is a monster that will be around as long as we as people keep advancing forward. I believe that all new technology comes at at price. Internet privacy is a huge issue, that needs to be delt with A.S.A.P. You can't sit and wait for the goverment to intervien. I found a ton of information on myself and believe I am a victim of identy theft. There were a few address that I never lived at and they also slightly changed the spelling of my first and last name(unique last name, never meet anybody with it). I plan moving west by the end of the up coming summer and starting out fresh. IF I HAVE TO PAY REPUTATION DEFENDER TO PROTECT ME ONLINE...........SO BE IT...............I'LL SLEEP BETTER AT NIGHT!!!! ALSO, I'M NO LONGER TAKEN VIRUS SOFTWARE FOR GRANTED! I ALWAYS LOOKED FOR THE FREE SUFF ONLINE, AVAST, AVG ETC. NOWS THE TIME TO START BUYING THE FULL VIRUS PACKAGE, THAT SAY A COMPANY LIKE NORTON ANTI-VIRUS OFFERS. YOU CAN TELL I'M MAD WITH ALL THE CAPS. I WON'T BE SUCKERED ANYMORE!
  • Sandrastevens Jan 28, 2010 @ 8:49 am | delete
    Awesome lens. Amazing! How did you do the borders on the text module?..lol.. on another note.. its frightening to learn that so much of our information is posted somewhere online
  • icecreamama Jan 21, 2010 @ 1:10 am | delete
    Thank you for the post. However, as i live in Australia the whitepage solution did not quite work out for me. Do you know how to remove your personal information from the white page Australia site. This is the Australia site ==> www.whitepages.com.au
  • Xyzla Jan 19, 2010 @ 7:35 pm | delete
    We shouldn't have to pay to have privacy. As long as I had an unlisted phone #, no one could find me on the internet. As soon as I changed to listed, now anyone can find me. I should not have to pay to be taken off of lists.
  • websiteverification Jan 13, 2010 @ 5:08 pm | delete
    Tons of useful information. The internet is such a great thing, but it is kind of scary how nothing is private anymore! Thanks for this great lens.
  • eclecticeducation Jan 9, 2010 @ 10:34 pm | delete
    I think that privacy online is very important. Thank you for this informative lens. Blessed by an Angel!
  • larrybla Dec 30, 2009 @ 8:47 pm | delete
    Thank you. I think privacy died long ago. The internet just provided the headstone.
  • WorkingOnMe Dec 30, 2009 @ 1:07 am | delete
    This should be required reading before anyone gets on the Internet.
  • WHITHOLDING BY REGUEST Dec 21, 2009 @ 10:06 am | delete
    THERE SHOULD BE ONE PLACE TO REMOVE ANY AND ALL RECORDS THAT YOU DO NOT WANT PUBLISHED. JUIST ANOTHER THING THAT THE GOVERMENT DOES NOT TAKE CARE OF.
  • Massachusetss Dec 7, 2009 @ 10:41 am | delete
    This whole topic enrages me. Identity theft is a scam. If someone is using your identity to purchase things then it is the fault of the retailer. This whole problem is born from the greedy retailers that have to make a sale. If the retailer does not verify the credit cards they are accepting then why should the individual jump through hoops to clear their names. This problem should be put upon the retailer and let them try to recoup payments made with phony ID's credit cards etc..... It is about time the federal govt. steps in to stop this BS. We live in america, 70, 80 year olds having to fix their credit because of identity theft. What a SHAME. This has only created new businesses to help people clear names, all totally unnecessary.....
  • Dec 3, 2009 @ 2:48 pm | delete
    Will someone tell me how can i remove my personal information from the internet! Its crazy that people can go on line just to find out information about someone ...Why do people have to be so nosie! Who cares where you lived or how old you are its no ones business but our own....Now iv got a stalker to deal with because all he had to do is go on line.
  • Private Nov 27, 2009 @ 7:24 am | delete
    having private information online is extremely dangerous. this has people attacking me and my family constantly. i have been in court because of this. this has got to stop. no it seems my life is in danger. my tires were slashed. i'm being attacked in the streets for no reason. i have been to the police. this has to stop. i did not authorize anyone to put my information on line and it should not be a hassle as it is to it off the internet. i want my information off the entire internet period. the authorities won't help. i am now broke and cannot go any further because of all of this. just get everyone's information off the interned. paying parties or not. no one should have access to this. if anyone knows of just how i can do this to protect my family with just one call, i would be most grateful. is there an honest law enforcement person who understands what it's like to want to protect his or her family. please help. i have a child whose very much afraid.
  • tweety Dec 17, 2009 @ 10:25 am | delete
    I am in the same boat-i had a freind that became a stalker,he has ALL of my personal numbers-i dont have anything on him.He beet me to the jump & removed his data.He -moved somewhere else-still bothers me all the time when im least expecting it.He has made it to where if any other man saw my background-they would run..He has brought my business from $200,000.00 down to $15,000-how do we get our data removed from the internet?im sure youv done more checking than i because ive not had a computer in 16 months-he hacked&remotely shared all of mine to his-so i just stopped using them,now ive bought this one and MUST START STOPPING HIM_PLEASE if u know anything i can do -Tell Me= ill call myself tweety
  • Stressed out about this what more can we do? Nov 24, 2009 @ 1:18 pm | delete
    Thanks for the information. This is quite disturbing. I always opt out of sharing my information when filling out forms. I also wrote some of these online databases a couple of years ago to get my info off their databases. Yet, i still see my information online. I'll go through these steps again but this has got to stop! What’s even worse is that people overseas can get our (US) information but we can’t get theirs since many other countries are not so meticulous in collecting & publicizing their citizen’s personal information.
  • Wired Nov 18, 2009 @ 2:25 pm | delete
    Has anyone come across a fee based service that will do all the work for you? I have checked and found nothing. This is crazy and there are ways of curtailing the abuse of innoicent people. Has anyone been successful in completely eliminating their identities and information completly on all major information websites? Thanks very much for the information. Very helpful!
  • personal Nov 16, 2009 @ 12:46 pm | delete
    Here's a dumb question, what about police records, I know they go in the paper, but how do i get it off the internet???? i was charge, charges are dismissed, but the posting is there frome 3 months ago and now i can get a job...how do i get it removed from the internet, thats how they found it.
  • Right to Privacy May 14, 2010 @ 2:24 am | delete
    I went to trial and my charges were dropped too. Now, my public records display all the negative information and no indication of my innocence. If the state is obligated to post public records online, then they should be obligated to keep it continually updated. These records can have a significant effect upon employment, housing, credit, loans, etc. The worst part is that you WILL BE discriminated against because of your record, but they will not inform you. And be publicly humiliated even though you were proven to be innocent.
  • Worn Out Nov 13, 2009 @ 9:59 am | delete
    It's overwhelming! There has to be a single, simple way to get personal information removed. I get dozens or junk emails daily, junk mail and phone calls even with the Fed Opt Out program. Count me in for support!
  • GL Nov 10, 2009 @ 11:59 am | in reply to Vigilant | delete
    Can' agree more , it's like someone is peeping through your key-hole ,it's gone way too far and way too annoying ,and too many website to opt out from
    We do need a powerful company to offer a this service and i know it will get my support and everybody else's who's had enough of his privacy being public
  • Pouncer Nov 10, 2009 @ 12:09 am | delete
    I am under the impression that big brother isnt necessarily the government....but some of the companies that just want our money. I say lets get a class-action law suit going and hit them where it hurts. Do you think that in our society that we can find a bunch of lawyers to take these guys on??? I believe it is time to get that ball rolling. They are taking names and numbers and making money, why dont we take names and kick asses.?
    I will be glad to go online to do this....can we find enough to do this?????
  • Never leave your name on the internet Nov 9, 2009 @ 10:42 am | in reply to Vigilant | delete
    I'm in!! I have an unlisted phone # I have never been arrested or ran for office however I did have a crazy ex who can find me in 2 seconds thanks to the internet! This is bull and I want my info gone!!!!!!!!!!
  • Vigilant Oct 29, 2009 @ 3:28 pm | delete
    I am going to do something and looking for people who will stand with me . We need one site that allows you opt out that all these companies need to abide by. Just like the do not call list. I am going to start a letter writing campaign but need to know who will support my efforts. There are power in numbers and we need to take a stand. I am also a victim of stalker and I am going to take my life back!

    Thanks so much for the information but there should be a consistent process and done only once.
  • mylaine Oct 25, 2009 @ 11:32 pm | delete
    i think people should have the option to have or not to have their info posted. If they choose not to have their info posted, they should file a form with their attorney general's office. The companies then should be given 1 month to make sure the info is NOT THERE. It the info is still there after 1 month from when indiv filed the complaint. The company/companies should pay $5 a month for every month it is still out there.
  • tkwalker Oct 15, 2009 @ 12:45 pm | delete
    awsome!!! THANKYOU!!
  • scared to death Oct 14, 2009 @ 3:39 pm | delete
    Thank for all this informaton, I am just getting started removing my personal information. everyone needs to read all these comments. This is no ones fault but mine. I released this info. I just need to get rid of it. I think the comsumers should contact the federal goverment on this issue. If we all stick together, maybe we could get something done. I agree the authorities should be able to see this info. for our protection. I also, challenge everyone out there to contact their local, state and national leaders, to have this stopped.
    Thanks
  • N/A Sep 19, 2009 @ 11:04 pm | delete
    Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I am being stalked and your advice is so incredibly helpful. It is so overwhelming, but thanks to your article, I don't feel so alone and that there is some hope.
  • Keran Sep 15, 2009 @ 10:39 pm | delete
    Thanks this is great. Very disappointed with US Search, shouldn't they be held to the privacy policy, I also can't believe it's legal, they're the only ones that charge a fee to remove information. I may file a complaint against them with the FTC.

    Dedicated- I would suggest signing up for Google Voice. You can give that number out instead of your actual number to businesses. I also have a unlisted number, but only give it out to family.
  • Someone Jun 3, 2010 @ 4:50 am | delete
    Here's something I discovered about US Search and it's link with Chase.

    Through your Chase account, opt-out of all information sharing by Chase (check all 3 check boxes and submit the form link in their privacy policy page). Now create an additional credit card within your account in the name of someone you know who does not have a card, let's say your minor child (below age 13), or create an additional card for yourself using your nick name. As long as you take the responsibility to pay all charges made on your account, they will issue you additional cards. Once the card is issued, monitor US Search for your records. The name on your additional card will show up on US Search as your relative within a couple of months. If the name is that of your minor child, try arguing with US Search that they have listed a minor on their website; they will argue back that they never make any mistake. The only way to make them remove the name of your minor child will be to pay them $10 and fill their opt-out form.

    Try this with other banks that issue you credit cards.

    By the way, the same results as on ussearch.com also show up on peoplesearchpro.com. They use the same underlying database. If anyone has information about that database and how to request removal of our information from that database, please let everyone know.

    In addition, watch out your own bank's privacy policy. I had an account with a credit union whose privacy policy states that they will share my information. I did not realize this until UPS account opening questionnaire asked me a question about an auto loan which only that credit union could have known. Since then, I have shut down my account with the credit union.

    It is shocking how much information about us is being gathered and sold between these entities who have no permission from us to use or sell our personally identifiable information!
  • Another Someone Jul 4, 2010 @ 8:21 pm | delete
    It is not your Bank or your Credit Union that is giving out info on your car loan. That information is coming from off of your Credit Report. Same thing on the Credit Card example from Chase. All of those additional cards you set up under your kid's name appear on YOUR credit report. Similarly, if you pulled a credit report for your kid, your name and other card numbers would appear on their report. US Search is accessing data on your Credit Report and adding it to their search engine.
  • Dog Fish Family Jul 8, 2011 @ 5:24 am | delete
    I opened an additional credit card in my dog's name and another in the name of my long dead goldfish from childhood. Now my dog and deceased fish are listed as my relatives in Intelius, US Search, etc.
  • WAKE UP AMERICA!!! Sep 14, 2009 @ 7:24 pm | delete
    It's way past the beginning of the end unless we agree to do something collective about it.
    First we need to take back our country from the political machine we created with our own laziness. We have an internet and all of these data bases but do you think you will find Barrack Obama or George W. Bush in them? Do you think our elected officials are going to do a damn thing about your information being sold? We are in over our heads!!!
    It's now such a big mess that we have to start at the beginning again to untangle the ropes that the socialist movement has around our necks. What you don't think our Government can't fail from within? I have news for you it's happening just like communism fell so is America. Lets start by voting all the socialist followers out of office this election period coming up for congress and senators. Go anything but democrat or republican.
    Vote for an independent or libertarian in every race but not before you check them out on the net. Join the 9-12 movement
  • Concerned Sep 6, 2009 @ 12:47 am | delete
    There should be a law against websites that post your private information without your approval. There are people out there not just looking to market you but, harm you or your family. Why should I have to pay some search engine to remove my information. They didn't pay me to disclose it. Now, I have contact all the aforementioned websites to remove my information and pay for it to happen. This is bullshit! When somebody dies because they were stalked maybe then there will be a limit to how much information can be publicly shared.
  • Was Anonymous Sep 2, 2009 @ 5:48 pm | delete
    I have found information on my arrests on a website that pull date from a public database (Police). Any idea how I can get it removed from this Public side that is accessible to anyone? Thanks
  • Coco Aug 29, 2009 @ 8:50 am | in reply to tammy | delete
    This is for everybody, please read the book "How to Be Invisible" by J.J. Luna. In addition to using the above techniques to remove as much information as possible, use this book to cover as much of your identity as possible going forward. One of the best tips in the book is to STOP using your home address on EVERYTHING. Get a mail box address at places like the UPS Store or Mailboxes Etc. because it will not have the letters "P.O." in the address. Preferably, not in your current city. Most of us live within at least 15 miles of another town/city, so it would be best to get mail box there. Then just drive to it once a week to pick up mail.
  • No Name Please Aug 21, 2009 @ 11:09 pm | delete
    Sorry I didn't give my name but if someone really want to find me I know they can. I am sure that this squidoo server is tracking my IP address. This is excellent. I never used my real name on the internet, yes since 1995 and there are only a couple of places when I did Google search, Amazon and LinkedIn. But I know that if someone paid $19.95 to intellius I will be found. I have a home and my information is in public records. People are blaming the Govt for letting this happen, the Govt is not going to stop until we start complaning!
    I like the piece about paying some company to remove you and you have to send them your addresses for some years back. I know something about database/business intelligence and I immediately suspected that given 10 years information is a Torjan horse, you might as well hand a sign in front of your lawn, "come on in and find anything about me."
    I wonder if there is really much we can do about it.
  • star Aug 18, 2009 @ 11:06 am | in reply to abyy | delete
    yup ussearch charges a $10 fee to do a privacy lock "WHICH REALLY SUCKS!"and it is only valid for an year and again if you dont pay the them the next year to keep your info private it just pops up!on their website all over again!ussearch needs to be sued for doing this and also when i called their no to find out about this a rude a** woman answered and was so rude and unfriendly!i paid $10 online to ussearch to have my personal data removed and guess ussearch is one greedy &nasty organization making money both ways charging people if they prefer to have a privacy lock put on their info and on the other hand selling your info to those morons out there willing to spend a $10 on such heinious websites to steal your identity!I thank the author of this article for her splendid job and for a wealth of information which is helping many people to protect their personal info onlinine.GREAT JOB&THANKYOU SO MUCH!BLESS YOUR HEART!
  • Marked for Death Aug 16, 2009 @ 7:17 pm | delete
    I am a victim of stalking. the stalker told the court that he found me on the internet. and after he gets out of prison he will continue to look for me. I left the state and moved across the country, and in less than 5 minutes, i found my new location on the internet. When he kills me, my family will file a lawsuit against all these companies!
  • Marked for Death Aug 16, 2009 @ 7:17 pm | delete
    I am a victim of stalking. the stalker told the court that he found me on the internet. and after he gets out of prison he will continue to look for me. I left the state and moved across the country, and in less than 5 minutes, i found my new location on the internet. When he kills me, my family will file a lawsuit against all these companies!
  • bloggingbetty Aug 14, 2009 @ 8:47 pm | delete
    not sure if I should even leave my name after this excellent article. Pleassssse consider writing a book on this topic. Thanks and I appreciate your sharing.
  • Michael Aug 6, 2009 @ 12:37 pm | delete
    Also, you are a godsend. This is the most thorough, detailed article about this sensitive subject. Job well done, and keep it up.

    Also for US Search they do NOT need your social security number. People please NEVER give this to anyone ever if you can help it. When asking these sites to remove your name, only give them the information that you see posted. DO NOT give them old addresses and what not b/c then they have even more information on you.... and the fact that they charge you? DISGUSTING! I seriously plan to take them and these other companies to court one day.

    They are going down, unless they stop with all their dirty practices- charging us, seeking more information, etc.
  • WhyohWhy Aug 6, 2009 @ 12:30 pm | delete
    I can't believe the government allows this. This is a total invasion of privacy and it absolutely sickens me.

    Please, if ANYONE who reads this knows someone whos a law official or in government or in congress or whatever- please tell them to work on a law/bill that shuts these websites down and or makes removing the information MUCH easier... i cant believe some of them try to charge you. That's sick!
  • Why is no one warning about USsearch removal?? Jul 31, 2009 @ 5:58 pm | delete
    Be careful with USsearch . com. I requested they remove my name and addresses from their website. I sent my last 10 addresses and now I'm receiving collection notices for things that I thought were settled over 10 years ago... USsearch basically sells your information you send to be removed TO collection agencies, how this is legal is beyond me? BE CAREFUL!...
    Yes you get removed from their site but there are side-effects, not to mention I'm sure you remove from one search site, and gets sold to another one. There's just too many and it should all be illegal to buy.....
  • bobby lupo Jul 31, 2009 @ 4:35 pm | delete
    Thank you so much for writing this article...this is BS that people can find your address from the internet...THIS SHOULD BE STOPPED BY THE GOVERNMENT IMMEDIATELY!!!!
  • tammy Jul 24, 2009 @ 3:13 am | delete
    I rhink this a real intrusion to the privacy of ordinary American citizens making us prey to any type of dirty, nosy, self promoting, humans if you want to call them that. We need to get together to outlaw and send these nosy scumbags flying out of our personal busines in order to stop them from profiting and promoting our personal information to sleeze bags that rip us off. The unsuspecting American citizens need to be protedted by laws. Where is our government to protect us when we need them from hackers, identity theives, stalkers, and any other criminals that need our personal information? HELP US! WE CANNOT LIVE LIKE THIS ANY LONGER, IT HAS BECOME A VERY DANGEROUS WORLD AND HAS GIVEN THE CRIMINALS AND DECREPIT HUMANS MORE RIGHTS AND EASE IN TAKING AWAY FROM US WHAT WE HAVE WORKED SO HARD TO KEEP AS OUR PRIVATE IDENTITY!!! DOES'T ANYONE CARE????
  • Re: Lex Jul 20, 2009 @ 9:44 pm | delete
    I agree with Lex. These companies must be stopped. They are making money off of my personal information that I never gave them permission to use and threatening my personal security and safety to boot! How would they like it if I took out a page wide newspaper ad listing all of their personal information including maps to their homes and their children's names for everyone to see for the price of a paper? I think that most people know what is right and what is wrong. How can they think this is right? Won't anyone stop them?
  • Dedicated Jul 20, 2009 @ 9:35 pm | delete
    Several information sites list my unlisted / unpublished phone number to the previous owners of the number. I keep trying to remove it, but some companies won't remove it because they say it is that way in the public records. How can I get the previous owners to remove my number from their records? I get the feeling that they might be purposefully giving out their old number in order to protect their current number. That's great for them but stinks for me. Other companies require that I give them my personal information in order to have the correction made. I am paying for an unlisted number, but instead, I'm only getting a hassle.
  • Laurel Jul 17, 2009 @ 2:44 am | delete
    I did not realize till a few minutes ago how munch information can be found on a person, that is personal how can these companies get away with this?
  • abyy Jul 2, 2009 @ 11:17 am | delete
    i am confused... ussearch wants $10 to remove my info- is this legal?
  • cshigenaga yahoo Jun 8, 2009 @ 1:26 pm | delete
    That is an interesting idea. Where are you with this?
  • ruby Jun 5, 2009 @ 1:58 pm | delete
    Thank you so much for this valuable information. REALLY appreciate it.
  • sunshine May 27, 2009 @ 1:42 am | delete
    Thank you for making these information available! I was wondering if I have these company delete my information from their website, will my future hiring company who uses these services won't be able to run the background check on me because I have deleted it? Do you think I should not have them delete it or it's ok to do so?
  • casey May 19, 2009 @ 6:53 pm | in reply to frank | delete
    Frank, I had my info removed from ussearch (as well as the rest of my family) and did not have to provide any SSNs. It's just an online form that you fill out, print, then mail in. it actually worked pretty well.

    and to the author of this blog page, do you a list of other sites powered by Acxiom? I'm having trouble contacting their privacy dept.
  • pissed off May 11, 2009 @ 6:35 pm | delete
    My mother emailed me a link to a site titled "pipple.com" where I found personal info, including info about my relatives. As victim of identity theft I am so glad to have found this site. I have contacted all of the major companies already in an attempt to remove my information. It is so sad now that in society not even a person's individuality is above selling. Thank-you so much for sharing this with us all.
  • Ticked May 1, 2009 @ 10:19 am | delete
    I wonder if there is a way I can copyright/trademark my personal information and then sue all these companies sharing & listing my personal information without my consent! In addition, I wish the families of those victimized in crimes, due to info posted on the internet without their consent, would sue each & every company who lists personal information out of business! Anyone recall the history of the Holocaust?! If not, millions of innocent people died due to personal information being released...
  • artsy andersen Apr 30, 2009 @ 12:33 pm | delete
    This was most informative and helpful to me! Kudos for a thorough job well done. Karen A.
  • Patti Collins Apr 20, 2009 @ 12:03 pm | delete
    I have been trying to get Acxiom to remove my personal information from their database. When I first contacted them by email, they contacted me and told me they would be mailing me a form. When I receive the form, fill it out and return it to their office. I never received. I have contacted them three (3) times in the last 30 days. They never respond. How do you make a corporation like this comply with your request? HELP!
  • Temp_Girl Apr 19, 2009 @ 11:09 am | delete
    One of my least favorites is pipl.com. There's a lot of stuff on that search engine, too, and it's very thorough. If you have a very unique name, it's very easy for people to find you on pipl.com -- as well as the address where you registered to vote! Thanks for writing this; this is very helpful information!
  • TopStyleTravel Apr 17, 2009 @ 1:07 pm | delete
    Great info to keep personal info private. Good detail and resources. Congrats on the Top 100!
  • MartinTheGregerson Apr 14, 2009 @ 9:37 am | delete
    Absoluty nice Lens. After im ready with studying i have to clean the web from my name to find a job. Thanks alot
  • unclevlad Apr 13, 2009 @ 8:14 pm | delete
    Very awesome lens with tons of good info. One thing I wanted to mention is that you should avoid selling an old computer without first cleaning its system registry, as that might have a record of any files that existed on your computer, even if they were deleted.

    I have a lens on protecting your personal information (http://www.squidoo.com/spyware-removal-tools) where it talks more about this.
  • Lex Mar 10, 2009 @ 8:25 am | delete
    This is BULL! Zabasearch lists addresses I never lived at but relatives have, it lists my birthdate, for a fee it will list my social security number, it has my unpublished number and email address, it is an identity thief's dream! How can this possibly be legal. This is libel and slander as by definition spreading false information about someone that can damage them to a person or persons is slander and libel! I think someone needs to get on this because this invasion is terribly dangerous. Zabasearch is dangerous as is Intelius! They need to be stopped!
  • Jessica Jul 28, 2010 @ 11:41 am | delete
    Mistake is not libel or slander. Libel or slander is spreading false information that damages one's reputation. Name address and social security number, whether correct or not, does not fit that criteria. Saying someone is gay when they are not or saying someone has HIV when they don't, that would be libel or slander. Misstating an address or posting a social security number is not either.
  • confidential Feb 8, 2012 @ 6:09 pm | delete
    By submitting drivers license and notarized letter with your personal signature to intellius wouldnt that allow them to see your signature. The federal government uspto website has made my personal signature and address public and won't remove it even though it has engendered my personal family and business safety. i'm concerned about someone fraudulently using my signature since it vastly accessible online and my personal address. Haven't been able to find lawyers to defend my case. Fed gov won't remove them.
  • Tracey Mar 9, 2009 @ 11:39 pm | delete
    I just learned today that my cell phone number, address and pics of my home are easily available online. There is even a satellite pic of my car in the driveway! I am completely freaked out about this. I don't want anyone being able to search my personal life. I have already started to take the steps to try limit my personal information.
  • fred Feb 21, 2009 @ 6:50 pm | delete
    a company asked for my SS# ,& were very aggressive about wanting al kinds of personal info car tag registion number etc..that was red flag then they did not want to refunf my money 7 threatened to ruin my credit if I reported them to the credit card
  • Who Cares!? Feb 18, 2009 @ 6:07 pm | delete
    I agree with Frank 100% - -- providing SS# to be removed from a database --- seems like a method of phishing.
    Disinformation - to those who don't needd to know - seems like a seems like an interesting solution.
  • Nameless Feb 16, 2009 @ 3:31 pm | delete
    Thank you for posting this information. It's been very enlighting.
  • robob Feb 15, 2009 @ 8:13 am | delete
    JessicaM -- this is superb! Thanks
  • andrerw calilap Jan 24, 2009 @ 10:39 am | delete
    www.goggle.com and www.state colleage.com and all webside
  • amandascloset0 Jan 15, 2009 @ 1:27 pm | delete
    Thank you very much for creating this lens. Its important and contains valuable information! 5 stars, fav'd.
  • frank Dec 15, 2008 @ 1:10 am | delete
    Why would a person be expected to provide their social security number to USSearch to be removed from their database? It sounds like phishing to me and this practice should be investigated at a federal level and curtailed. I was going to try to be removed from their database but I shall not give them a social security number in the process of doing that. I think I will start to provide disinformation on everything I fill out anywhere from now on to mess their database up completely concerning myself. How hard could it be??
  • jl Nov 25, 2008 @ 10:42 am | delete
    Great resource. Thanks for putting it together.
  • sophiesara Sep 11, 2008 @ 1:14 am | delete
    Your lens has valuable information; all need to protect their person information from internet is must. Thank you %u2026.. Good lens ***** stars for you.
  • sophiesara Sep 11, 2008 @ 1:14 am | delete
    Your lens has valuable information; all need to protect their person information from internet is must. Thank you %u2026.. Good lens ***** stars for you.
  • Aug 6, 2008 @ 1:21 am | delete
    Your lens is beautiful. I think most of the people should follow it. I am giving 5 stars for your valuable lens and great information about Internet.

    If you feel free please visit my window tinting blog
  • Aug 5, 2008 @ 9:14 pm | delete
    I'm very wary to leave some information on my PC and sometimes, I feel that I'm already very paranoid regarding these things and it even prevented me from doing business online before. But now, I can slowly breath easily because of tips and advices that I got from other people and from things like this lens of yours. Thank you very much for sharing this! Now, I can have peace of mind doing my online business for unique personal checks ! thanks again for your 5-star lens!
  • richgerman Jul 15, 2008 @ 1:04 am | delete
    its important sometimes to hide your personal details online since we do know lots of identity are stolen so we must be careful. thanks for your lens its an informative one!

    5 stars for you!

    anyway do you believe also in the law of attraction?
  • MiaBellezza Jul 12, 2008 @ 4:53 am | delete
    Loaded with great info - thanks!*****
  • Khalid-Osman Jun 27, 2008 @ 9:50 am | delete
    This is a wonderful lens. Thanks for the info. However, I have not come here searching for what you have said. I came from the next door.

    Well, as long as I am concerned, I think it is better for people not to save their information they entered into forms online even with those trusted services.

    The second important step is to use Firefox to clear their history when they close it. There is no problem as to forget login info and other information, as people can register all this in their WordPad or notebooks. There is no problem even with Firefox loading the same pages again because the history is deleted.

    I have listed almost all hackers here at No Way to Spam
  • www-BackgroundNow-com Jun 24, 2008 @ 2:20 pm | delete
    Thorough work, Jessica. Really nice. -- Lee
  • dtbs Jun 17, 2008 @ 10:22 am | delete
    interesting lens! thanks for sharing this info! please check mine out at----------------> Kava Kava.
  • Hanitan Jun 13, 2008 @ 12:20 pm | delete
    Nice lens. Good Work.
    Free Reverse Cell Phone Websites - What do they offer? Check out this hifi site which offers free reverse cell phone search
  • RyanRE May 26, 2008 @ 2:22 pm | delete
    Great info Jessica. I have had problems with identity theft because of my common name. It stinks!
  • May 2, 2008 @ 4:00 am | delete
    Hei Jessica,
    Your lens is very useful information. I like reading your site, I hope you have a chance to see my hair removal lens here
  • whitedot Apr 29, 2008 @ 8:43 pm | delete
    Hei Jessica, What a fantastic lens you have built here. I could learn so many things from your lens. Great work. Thanks for sharing the information. It is my pleasure to share with you a good stuff site about Phone Systems on Phone Systems Please stop by to surf more information about Cisco Phone System, Cordless Telephone Systems, Internet Phone Systems and plentiful Phone Systems.
  • funwithtrains Apr 20, 2008 @ 11:22 pm | delete
    Nice Lens! 5 stars and a favorite! Please visit my Marklin Trains lens.
  • ols Mar 31, 2008 @ 3:09 am | delete
    Nice job, detailed information on this lens. 5*
  • sara08852 Mar 17, 2008 @ 7:41 am | delete
    I don't think you can do much to remove your personal information once it's out there. It's done deliberately so some people can make money out of it.
  • Stephene Mar 16, 2008 @ 11:33 am | delete
    very useful information.. i like your lense very much.. i hv bookmarked this lense and joined your fan club.. (^o^)
  • LeslieBrenner Mar 14, 2008 @ 9:30 pm | delete
    Excellent lens, 5 stars. Thank you for this information.
  • RyanRE Mar 10, 2008 @ 10:24 pm | delete
    VERY detailed lens Jessica. Nice work This is 5***** all the way.
  • maxy Mar 4, 2008 @ 5:16 am | delete
    Great lens, creative and informative! Please check out my phone card lens!
  • MikeStockley Feb 28, 2008 @ 10:25 am | delete
    I must say this is another great work from Jessica. The information you provided apply to anyone.

    I hate these search engines, but it is not their fault, it is the damn open records law. I am serious about to remove the information Internet has about me.
  • jennar Feb 28, 2008 @ 10:19 am | delete
    WOW, very useful information, I never knew how much private info Internet has about me, $5 did it all.
  • rabidhillon Jan 12, 2010 @ 10:55 pm | delete
    yeh u r right. i am so scared after reading this about the privacy. i wll take care of revealing personal info on net.

by

JessicaM

Hello, welcome! I am Jessica, my interest is on Online Information and Investment. In this information age, I will share what I know about how to obta... more »

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