How to Remove Your Personal Information From the Internet

Jorge Felix  - Cybersecurity Expert
Last updated: November 7, 2023
Read time: 29 minutes
Share

Every internet user leaves a digital footprint behind with every session. And there is a whole new economy, the data economy, paying close attention, gathering the data we leave behind, and using it to make a profit.

It’s no surprise that the internet is fraught with information. Of course, that was the whole idea in the first place. However, personally identifiable information has become the center of a new economic system, the data economy, at the heart of surveillance capitalism. This system turns people’s privacy into a commodity, a raw material that can be processed and sold with some additional work. However, this phenomenon is exceedingly harmful to individual users whose information is turned against them by corporations, governments, and criminals. The only way to stay safe in this environment is to delete your personal data from the internet and ensure minimal digital footprints.

Do you remember the first time you went online? Was it to get a free email account? Did you want to read the news? Was it to do some shopping? On that day, you started leaving a digital footprint of personal information behind you. Since then, that trail has been growing until today. Should you mind? Since you are reading this article, you probably want to delete your personal information from the online world.

The internet’s thirst for personal user information has grown out of control, and it’s a threat to your privacy. It can even turn into physical danger if you’re unfortunate enough.

Much of your personal information is out there, and it’s not a result of you watching your favorite video content on the best movie streaming websites or other random online activities. Instead, it’s a deliberate and systematic process in which data brokers constantly sweep the web and public records to build and sell your profile.

This article will explain why having all this information about you online harms your privacy and security, why it happens, and how to stop it yourself or with professional help.

Pro tip: The most effective way to keep your private data and information off the internet is to get a professional service; we highly recommend Incogni. There are other ways you can use too, as covered in detail in this inclusive guide below, but please note they are time-intensive. You should also do them every few months because the internet isn’t static; it continues to accumulate your information as long as you use it. Hence using a professional service might be worthwhile for most users.