Protecting your privacy online is a way of not just making yourself safer, but those around you as well. The overarching goals of the data privacy and removal services are to protect users’ personal information, reduce their digital footprint, and enhance online privacy. These services provide tangible benefits to users by addressing key concerns related to data security, identity theft, and unwanted exposure. Here's a breakdown of their goals and the advantages they offer followed by a list of service providers that, importantly, don’t sell or share your data:
Goals of These Services
Safeguard Personal Information
Remove sensitive data (addresses, phone numbers, emails) from data brokers, public records, and people-search websites.
Prevent misuse of personal data by marketers, hackers, and malicious actors.
Enhance Privacy and Security
Limit users’ online visibility to protect against stalking, harassment, and doxxing.
Reduce exposure to scams and phishing attacks by minimizing publicly available information.
Empower Users with Control Over Their Data
Provide tools and processes that help users reclaim ownership of their personal information.
Offer transparency about where user data is exposed and what actions are being taken to remove it.
Protect Against Identity Theft
Minimize the risk of identity theft by reducing access to personal identifiers commonly targeted by cybercriminals.
Monitor for data reappearance and address new exposures proactively.
Simplify Data Removal
Automate the complex process of navigating opt-out procedures for hundreds of data broker websites.
Provide ongoing monitoring to keep users' data private without requiring constant manual intervention.
Foster Peace of Mind
Reduce stress for users concerned about digital privacy by offering a reliable, professional solution.
Build trust by emphasizing strong privacy policies and ethical practices (no selling or misusing user data).
Who Benefits Most?
High-Risk Individuals: Activists, journalists, and public figures gain added protection against harassment and targeting.
Victims of Harassment: Those who have been doxxed or cyber-stalked can regain control and privacy.
Frequent Online Shoppers: Protect payment and personal data from leaks and misuse.
Before you buy into a service, check with a security expert to make sure you’re making the choice that’s right for you. Now, here’s that list of providers with descriptions of the personal data removal services they offer:
1. Privacy Bee
Description: Privacy Bee focuses on creating a safer digital environment by removing your personal data from data brokers, people-search sites, and online directories. They offer proactive monitoring to ensure that your information stays off these platforms.
Key Features:
Comprehensive removal of personal data from data broker websites.
Regular scans to detect new listings of your information.
Proactive monitoring and updates to keep your data private.
Privacy Policy: They do not sell or trade personal information. Data sharing is limited to service providers for payments, analytics, and support.
2. OneRep
Description: OneRep specializes in personal data removal from people-search websites and other public databases. They offer both individual and family plans for ongoing privacy management.
Key Features:
Removal of personal data from over 100 data broker websites.
Automated scans and removals for continued privacy.
Customizable removal plans to suit different needs.
Privacy Policy: They do not sell user data. Information is only shared with service providers essential for operating their platform.
3. Kanary
Description: Kanary provides automated data removal services, focusing on eliminating your information from people-search websites, public databases, and marketing platforms. They emphasize user-friendly tools for privacy management.
Key Features:
Data removal from public records and search engine results.
Monitoring services to prevent re-listing of removed data.
User-friendly dashboard for tracking progress.
Privacy Policy: Committed to not selling user data. They use customer information solely to perform removal services and improve their offerings.
4. Optery
Description: Optery offers a unique “free DIY” plan alongside paid plans for automated personal data removal. They help you monitor and remove your information from data broker sites and maintain your privacy over time.
Key Features:
Free plan allows users to see where their data is exposed.
Automated removal services for data brokers and search sites.
Continuous monitoring for reappearances.
Privacy Policy: Ensures that personal data is not sold or misused. Data sharing is limited to service providers for operational purposes.
5. Incogni (by Surfshark)
Description: Incogni is a privacy-focused data removal service by Surfshark. It automates the process of opting out of data broker sites and ensures your data stays private.
Key Features:
Automated removal from people-search and marketing databases.
Ongoing monitoring and requests for data deletion.
Simple user interface and clear reporting.
Privacy Policy: Operates under Surfshark’s privacy framework, which prohibits selling or misusing user data.
6. Reputation Defender (by Norton)
Description: Reputation Defender helps individuals manage their online reputation by removing personal data, suppressing negative search results, and enhancing positive online content.
Key Features:
Removal of personal information from people-search databases.
Reputation management tools to promote positive content.
Ongoing monitoring and updates for continued privacy.
Privacy Policy: Strong privacy policy ensures that user data is not sold or shared unnecessarily.
7. Safe Shepherd
Description: Safe Shepherd offers data privacy tools that help users remove personal information from online sources and prevent future exposure.
Key Features:
Removes data from people-search sites and public records.
Tracks data breaches and helps mitigate risks.
User-friendly platform for managing privacy.
Privacy Policy: Dedicated to protecting user privacy with a strict no-sell policy for personal data.