How to remove my name from public records?
There are a number of easy ways to remove your name and other information from public records on the internet. However, there is no guarantee that your information is entirely free from the internet. You can minimize your information online by not including your full names on social media sites, google yourself to see whichever sites have your information, and many more. ..
How To Delete your Personal Information?
- Delete your social media accounts: Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram can be used to share personal information with the world. It’s important to delete any posts that are from your past or that you don’t want people to see. You can also deactivate your account if you no longer want to share information with the public.
- Delete your contact information: Contact information like addresses and phone numbers can be shared online. It’s important to delete any contact information that you no longer need or want people to know about. You can also remove any email addresses if you no longer want people to receive emails from you.
- Delete any personal data on your computer: Your computer is a place where you store personal data like photos, videos, and other files. It’s important to delete any files that are related to your personal life or that you don’t want people to see. You can also uninstall programs if they’re causing problems for you online.
Google yourself
I used a VPN and Google my name to see where my name or other personal information popped up. I remember having my full name and signature on Google image. This is because my University publishes students’ thesis reports available for the public, containing my name, student ID, and signature (a big no-no). But as professors found their signatures online, too, my university was able to handle it and remove any signatures being able to be searched online.
Have a low social media presence
When it comes to social media, be aware of the risks and benefits of using it. On one hand, social media can be a great way to connect with friends and family. On the other hand, it can also be a platform for cyberbullying or revealing personal information. If you want more privacy, remove any personal information from your social media profiles. If you want to stay connected with friends and family but still have some privacy, use a fake name or pseudonym when posting or sharing content. ..
Delete unused emails or accounts
Do you have any emails or social media accounts that you made as a reckless teenager or young adult? Try to get access and delete them. Or, if you are inactive on any social media, it’s best to just delete those.
Get help from a professional
If you are a business, you could contact a data broker to have your records deleted.
Threats of public records
Identity theft
If you’re online, be careful about sharing too much personal information. If someone can find out your name, home address, phone number, and even your signature, they could falsely identify you as a criminal or other threat.
Stalking
Social media has made it easier for people to cyber stalk and offline stalk others. Be careful what information and images you share online, as it could be seen by others and lead to dangerous situations. ..
Doxxing
Doxxing is a cybercrime where someone uses your personal information and photos to harass and intimidate you. Boxers would expose your home address, social security number, credit card information, personal and or embarrassing photos or information, and many more. Celebrities or politicians are usually the most common victims of doxing to inflict fear and ruin their careers. Still, it doesn’t mean that regular people can’t be a victim of doxing too. ..
Phishing emails
Be cautious when clicking unknown emails and make sure not to click suspicious links. In a phishing attack, criminals will try to have you click those links, which will expose you to malware and steal more personal information. ..
Your digital footprint will be with you forever. It’s impossible to completely remove your name or any other personal information already posted on the internet. You can minimize the appearance of your personal information by making your social media private or even deleting them, tracking whatever information about you is available online by tracking them yourself, or asking data brokers to delete your information. Prevention is key. Use a VPN when accessing the internet and practice other internet safeties.
Can you tell if someone has searched for you on Google?
Google Alerts are a great way to stay up-to-date on what people are saying about you online. ..
The risks of not having a social media presence are that you may not be able to connect with your audience, you may not be able to share your content effectively, and you may not be able to receive feedback from your followers.
Employers may be suspicious of you if you have few or no social media presence. This can be a problem if you want to connect with potential employees or customers.