By Eva Williams 24 days ago, Apps and Software
The best data removal services let you manage your personal data's availability and allow you to delete it from the web. Such services operate by reaching out to data brokers and relevant sites that gather and resell user data and having them remove it.
Even though it’s impossible to find privacy management software that can guarantee that all your data will be removed, the best data removal services are capable of making a significant difference regarding the amount of publicly available information.
The post below goes over the most trustworthy and efficient options that you can contact today as well as tips on how to ensure you pick the optimal service for your specific situation.
★★★★★ (5/5) Deletes information gathered by more than 130 data brokers
Verdict: Incogni is arguably the best service to remove personal information from internet, as it was created by Surfshark, one of the best free VPN providers. It deletes user data gathered by 130+ data brokers, including Spokeo and Intelius. Its security functionality offers end-to-end encryption that guarantees your data will never be stored on its servers and won’t leave a trace online.
Incogni takes care of dealing with data brokers in your stead, as you simply have to pay for their services and your information will be deleted for the agreed-upon period. Other than data deletion, this service deals with spam, and ads (including targeted ones), and improves your internet security, negating the attempts of scammers trying to purchase your data from various sources.
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★★★★☆ (4.5/5) Handles data removal from search engines and data broking platforms
Verdict: DeleteMe provides comprehensive personal data removal services, covering more than 30 data brokering platforms like Whitepages and BeenVerified. Other than offering an in-depth report 7 days after you’ve signed up for the service, DeleteMe also provides yearly scans and thorough data removal every 3 months.
Should you stumble upon your personal info on one of the data brokering websites, you can simply send a removal request to DeleteMe and it will do everything in its power to fulfill that request.
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★★★★☆ (4/5) Deletes your info from different web platforms
Verdict: OneRep is one of the most efficient services that remove information from the internet out there, as it scans >195 data brokering platforms for your info and ensures all of it is deleted. This solution lets pick between automatic and manual removal approaches depending on your needs.
OneRep boasts a minimalistic UI and it will surprise you with the amount of personal data it will uncover and later delete from broker sites and the dark web, including your full name, age, address, phone number, email, family and friends, salary range, credit score, beliefs, criminal record, etc.
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★★★★☆ (4/5) Includes a tracking prevention add-on
Verdict: This is arguably one of the most reliable data broker removal services available today. Not only does PrivacyBee promise to clean out your information from more than 200 data brokers, but it also makes regular scans to make sure it doesn’t reappear in the future.
Other than performing internet sweeps, PrivacyBee also offers frequent scans for data breach occurrences that might result in hackers obtaining your personal information. Additionally, the service comes with a built-in vulnerability-scanning feature that offers recommendations regarding the security weak points of your devices and cloud storage.
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★★★☆☆ (3.5/5) Automated opt-out system for 260 data brokers
Verdict: The Kanary is one of the most proactive data broker removal services you can reach out to. When creating an account on this platform, you’ll have to provide your personal info. Once you have a profile, the service will search the entire web space for your data, which can take as long as 48 hours.
Once the scanning is complete, the service will send out automatic opt-out requests to all data brokers who have your information each month. Kanary offers free information scanning regarding your email address. It lasts 24 hours, after which you’ll receive an email report. Consider combining this service with Windows 10 privacy tools to maximize your internet security.
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The internet data removal industry is still in its budding stages, but it couldn’t be more relevant in the current web climate. The best data removal services covered above were all checked to ensure they satisfy these criteria:
Large database of the major data brokers. If you want to get rid of as much of your private data from the internet as possible, then you need to reach out to every large data broker out there. Since there’s virtually an endless amount of them, it’s highly recommended to pick a service that can deal with all the biggest ones.
Bang for your buck. Getting your information deleted from a large number of brokers is a herculean task, which is why most covered services require a subscription to be used. That said, it’s vital to ensure the plan you’re getting offers enough value to justify the price.
Advanced features. The best data removal services also offer additional tools for improving your web security, including cookie removal, phishing notifications, etc.
Free trial option. It’s normal to try using a service only to see that it isn’t up to your standards. A free trial option allows you to test a solution without risking wasting your hard-earned money.
Global availability. All people deserve to control how and where their personal data is stored and used. As such, the best data removal service should be available to everyone regardless of his or her country of residence.