Article | How 42, Inc. Can Help Delete Yourself (From the Internet)

Dear 42, Inc.,

Whenever I Google myself, I find my name, home address, and phone number on all these shady-looking websites. I feel exposed and, honestly, a little creeped out. Is there anything I can do to erase myself from the internet—or is it too late? —Feeling Watched in Walnut Creek

Dear Watched,

Steps to Start Deleting Yourself from the Internet

Run Google's "Results About You" Tool

Visit myactivity.google.com → Other Activity → Results About You → Enter your info and request removals from search results.

Check People Search Sites

Search for your name on Spokeo, Whitepages, and other data broker sites to see what's publicly available.

Use a Removal Service

Try free exposure reports from DeleteMe or Optery. Consider a paid plan for automated and recurring removal.

Minimize Future Exposure

Use burner emails and phone numbers for online sign-ups. Avoid oversharing on public social media. Turn on "Do Not Track" in your browser and devices.

You're not paranoid—your personal information is out there and often for sale. Thanks to data brokers, public records, and social media, we have hundreds of personally identifiable information (PII) floating around the web. That includes addresses, emails, phone numbers, birthdays, family members, and purchase histories. It's not just uncomfortable—it puts you at risk for phishing scams, identity theft, and even doxxing.

But don't panic. While complete erasure isn't possible, you can reduce your digital footprint significantly. Google's Results About You tool is a good place to start—it scans public search results for your PII and lets you request takedowns. But that only scratches the surface. To fully address the issue, you'll need to go directly to data brokers or use a paid removal service like DeleteMe or Optery, which can automate requests across hundreds of sites and monitor for reappearances.

Here's the hard truth: even after you delete your data, it can return. These companies regularly refresh their databases from public records, so cleaning up your digital footprint isn't a one-time event—it's ongoing maintenance. That's why many people opt for continuous removal subscriptions, especially if they're public-facing, have families, or want to stay under the radar.

Want to go further? Use burner emails, fake birthdays, and disposable phone numbers to minimize the new information that gets out there in the first place. To help your team avoid oversharing sensitive data, contact 42, Inc. and take their Security Awareness Training, which is the perfect next step. It's not just about phishing anymore—it's about understanding how your data gets collected, shared, and weaponized.

Delete Yourself (From the Internet)

How 42, Inc. helps you take back control of your data.

Dear 42, Inc.,

Whenever I Google myself, I find my name, home address, and phone number on all these shady-looking websites. I feel exposed and, honestly, a little creeped out. Is there anything I can do to erase myself from the internet—or is it too late? —Feeling Watched in Walnut Creek

Dear Watched,

Steps to Start Deleting Yourself from the Internet

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