karniv0re's Journal: 2022 Privacy Audit

I decided to Google my name. I mean, I've done it many times before, and I know what's out there. But after leaving most social media a few years ago, and really enjoying the new found privacy, I decided to do a complete privacy audit and see what someone, anyone out in the world could find about me if they so desired.

And I wasn't really happy with what I found. Much of the stuff I have thrown out onto the internet is from a version of me in the past that doesn't even exist anymore. Modern day me favors privacy over vanity and silence over blaring opinions and comments. So I'm documenting the steps I took here needed to remove my identifiable self from Google and other search results.

Step 1: Google your name in quotes along with your city.

Step 2: Follow up on image results first. These are the easiest way for people to identify you. If they have a face and a name, Google image results are an easy confirmation that they're on the right track.

Step 3: Start removing yourself. For me, YouTube videos from the past all had to be set to private. Account profile pictures either had to be changed to something that was not a picture of me, or the account deleted entirely. Note that it may take some time for Google image cache to catch up.

Step 4: Request videos, images, etc be removed from 3rd parties. I had to contact a YouTube channel to take down a video of me from almost 10 years ago, for example.

Step 5: This is the time consuming one. Opt out of all of the 3rd party data brokers. These are the creeper sites like Radaris, and Spokeo. But there are tons of them. Below is a list of them and their Opt Out process:

Intelius - https://Intelius.com/opt-out/
BeenVerified - https://www.beenverified.com/app/optout/search
InstantCheckmate - https://www.instantcheckmate.com/opt-out
TruthFinder - https://www.truthfinder.com/opt-out/
Spokeo - https://www.spokeo.com/optout
Whitepages - https://www.whitepages.com/suppression-requests *NOTE* They required to call your phone and have you enter a verification number. Don't send this to Google Voice, or the call interceptor will screw up the whole process, and if you fail it twice, you will have to contact their customer support, which is [e-mail], or [phone]. Emailing them results in them telling you to submit a request here: https://support.whitepages.com/hc/en-us/requests/new
PeekYou - https://www.peekyou.com/about/contact/ccpa_optout/right_to_know_and_delete/
USSearch - https://www.ussearch.com/opt-out/submit/
PeopleFinder - https://www.peoplefinders.com/opt-out
PeopleFinders - https://www.peoplefinders.com/opt-out
PeopleLookup.com - See USSearch
Familytreenow.com - https://www.familytreenow.com/optout
PeopleSmart.com - https://www.peoplesmart.com/app/optout/search - See: BeenVerified
PeopleWise.com -
Nuwber.com - https://nuwber.com/removal/link
MyRelatives.com -
ThatIsThem - https://thatsthem.com/optout
Publicrecords.directory - https://publicrecords.directory/contact.php
Telephonedirectories.us -https://www.telephonedirectories.us/Edit_Records
Instantpeoplefinder.com
Truepeoplesearch.com
Allareacodes.com - https://www.allareacodes.com/remove_name.htm
Peoplebyname.com
Radaris - https://radaris.com/control/privacy
Voterrecords.com - have to click on your record and go to the bottom of the page and click the opt out link
        Ancestry.com
Peekyou.com - https://www.peekyou.com/about/contact/ccpa_optout/right_to_know_and_delete/
        PrivateEye.com - https://removaly.com/privateeye-opt-out/
        Zabasearch.com - See Intellius
        CheckThem.com - https://www.checkthem.com/optout/
        DOBSearch.com
        MyLife.com - Click on Do Not Sell My Information at the bottom.
        IDtrue.com - https://www.idtrue.com/optout/optout.php
        411.com - https://411.info/manage/

spyfly.com - Email was returned - will have to call 1-800-831-9235

Other:
LexisNexis - https://optout.lexisnexis.com/
Advertising: https://optout.aboutads.info/?c=2&lang=EN
Experian: https://www.experian.com/privacy/opting_out - There are a lot of steps here.