How to delete your personal data from the internet (and why you should right now)

Data brokers are making serious money by selling personal information. Your phone number, email, home address, and Social Security number could be packaged and sold to spammers, scammers, and identity thieves right now.

Apple’s privacy protections help block future tracking, but if you want to get proactive about removing your existing personal data from broker databases, Incogni makes it easier than ever to fight back.

The data broker ecosystem

Data brokers built a billion-dollar industry by harvesting your information. They vacuum up everything. Loyalty card swipes, public records, social media posts, and more. They create detailed profiles that they auction off to marketers, employers, landlords, and criminals.

Apple’s privacy features help block future tracking, but we can’t always trust other companies to protect our data. Apple also can’t undo years of data that’s already been collected and spread across hundreds of broker databases.

You technically have the right to demand removal. In reality, tracking down these companies would take months of full-time work. Their opt-out processes are deliberately confusing. It’s also an endless game of cat and mouse.

Automated data removal with Incogni

Incogni does the dirty work for you. Instead of spending months hunting down data brokers, the service automatically contacts over 250 companies. It demands they delete your information. Check out Incogni’s plans and pricing. 

Built by the Surfshark team, Incogni weaponizes privacy laws across multiple countries. GDPR in Europe, CCPA in California, and more. Whether you’re in the US, Canada, UK, EU, or Switzerland, they use the strongest legal tools available.

Users can track progress through a comprehensive dashboard that shows:

• How many databases potentially contain your information
• Removal requests sent on your behalf
• Completed removals and ongoing cases

Real benefits of data removal

Getting scraped from broker databases delivers immediate results:

Your phone stops ringing. Fewer robocalls and spam texts when companies can’t buy your number.

Scammers lose access. Identity thieves often source victim info from broker sites. No data, no target.

Your address stays private. Stalkers and harassers can’t easily find where you live.

Your credit stays clean. Less data exposure means lower identity theft risk and better financial health.

Exclusive pricing for 9to5Mac readers

9to5Mac readers can secure their privacy with substantial savings on Incogni subscriptions. The service offers both individual and family plans. The family option covers up to four additional people.

Incogni’s newest Unlimited plan goes beyond standard data brokers. It allows custom removal requests from almost any website exposing your personal data. Dedicated privacy agents work on your behalf to handle these custom requests personally. This excludes social media, government records, and forums.

Special 9to5Mac reader pricing:

• Monthly Standard: $16.58
• Monthly Family: $32.98

• Annual Standard: $99.48
• Annual Family: $197.88

• Annual Standard Unlimited: $179.99
• Annual Family Unlimited: $359.88

Use discount code 9TO5MAC at checkout for these exclusive rates. Get started at Incogni’s website.

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