How to erase your info from the internet for free

Your personal data is scattered across the internet — your full name, phone number, home address, birthdate, even your relatives’ names.

You didn’t give consent for most of this to be published. And yet, anyone with a keyboard and a little curiosity can pull up this sensitive data in seconds.

This kind of exposure isn’t just creepy — it’s dangerous. Identity theft, phishing attacks, and targeted scams all start with someone getting access to just a few pieces of personal information.

And thanks to data brokers and people-search engines, that access is easier than ever.

The good news? You don’t need to spend money or be a tech expert to clean up your digital footprint. You just need a little time, persistence, and a solid roadmap.

This guide walks you through how to erase yourself from the internet for free — step-by-step.

By the end, you’ll have the knowledge to reclaim your digital privacy, reduce your exposure, and sleep a little better at night.

Step 1: Start With a Personal Data Audit

Before you can clean up your online presence, you need to understand what’s out there. Begin by Googling yourself.

Use your full name in quotes (e.g., “John Smith”) and try variations — include your city, job title, or even your phone number.

Make a list of:

Websites that show your home address
Any public listings of your phone number or email
Mentions of your name on forums, social media, or public databases

Next, use specialized people-search tools like:

Spokeo
Whitepages
BeenVerified
TruthFinder
FastPeopleSearch

Make note of where your data appears, and what information is visible. This will become your opt-out checklist.

Step 2: Remove Yourself from Google Search Results

Google offers a personal information removal tool that lets you request takedowns of search results that include sensitive data like:

Home address
Phone number
Email address
Government ID numbers

To use it:

Go to a search result that exposes your info.
Click the three-dot menu next to the result.
Select “Remove result.”
Fill out the form and submit it.

For ongoing protection, sign up for Google’s “Results About You” tool. It automatically alerts you when your personal information surfaces in new search results, so you can request removal in just a few clicks.

Important: Google only removes the link from search results — not from the original website. You’ll need to contact that site directly to fully eliminate the info.

Step 3: Opt Out of Data Brokers One by One

Dozens of data broker websites collect and sell your personal info. Many let you opt out — but the process is often hidden or time-consuming.

Focus on the biggest offenders first:

Whitepages.com
BeenVerified.com
PeopleFinder.com
MyLife.com
Intelius.com
Radaris.com
TruthFinder.com
FastPeopleSearch.com

Each of these sites has its own opt-out form. You’ll usually need to:

Search your name to find your profile.
Copy the URL.
Fill out the opt-out form.
Verify your identity (usually via email or a text message).

You can find full step-by-step removal instructions for each data broker using the DeleteMe Opt-Out Directory, a free resource that doesn’t require a subscription.

Step 4: Use Automation Tools to Speed Things Up

If you’re overwhelmed by the manual process, some services automate the process for you. While most charge a subscription, there are free and low-cost options worth considering.

Two services frequently recommended for their cost-effectiveness and transparency:

Optery: Offers a free basic plan with paid upgrades ($20–$40/year).
EasyOptOuts: Automates the process with a user-friendly dashboard and low pricing.

These tools can send opt-out requests on your behalf and keep monitoring your digital footprint.

But remember — you can accomplish everything they do manually if you’re willing to put in the time.

Step 5: Hide Your Email and Phone With Masking Tools

Your email address and phone number are gateways to your identity. Use these free tools to mask them:

Firefox Relay: Create aliases for your real email. Messages get forwarded to your inbox, but the sender never sees your real address.
DuckDuckGo Email Protection: Similar aliasing feature with tracker blocking.
Google Voice: Set up a free phone number you can use instead of your personal line for forms, accounts, or app sign-ups.

Using these tools helps prevent your real information from leaking to marketers, data brokers, or hackers.

Step 6: Lock Down Social Media and Public Profiles

Your social media profiles can leak a ton of personal information — often without you realizing it.

Set all accounts to private.
Hide friend lists and birthday info.
Avoid posting your location, workplace, or travel plans.

Go through your Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter/X, and other platforms. Remove public-facing posts, hide sensitive information, and consider pseudonyms or alternate handles for personal accounts.

Also check public-facing accounts like:

Medium
Reddit
GitHub
Quora

Remove or anonymize any profiles you don’t actively use.

Step 7: Freeze Your Credit and Protect Key Accounts

Even if your data gets leaked, you can still stop identity thieves from doing real damage.

Freeze your credit with all three major bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. This prevents anyone from opening new accounts in your name.
Use a password manager like Bitwarden or 1Password to create strong, unique logins for every site.
Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on every account that supports it.

These layers of security reduce your exposure even if some data remains online.

Step 8: Schedule Regular Privacy Maintenance

Unfortunately, data removal isn’t a one-and-done task. Data brokers often re-scrape your info or buy it from other sources.

Set a reminder every 3 to 6 months to:

Re-Google yourself.
Recheck major data brokers.
Submit new opt-out requests.
Audit your social media and email aliases.

Think of it like digital hygiene — routine maintenance keeps you safer long-term.

Step 9: Understand Why It’s Worth the Effort

You might wonder: “Is all this really necessary if I’m not famous or rich?”

The answer is yes.

Every successful removal increases the cost and effort required to target you. It’s not about becoming invisible — it’s about becoming harder to exploit.

Privacy analyst Corie Colliton puts it bluntly: “Even if you can’t delete everything, every piece you remove makes you safer.”