How To Limit Your Personal Information From Appearing Online
Internet phone books, people-finding services, and other online directories make it almost impossible to keep your personal contact information entirely off the Web. In fact it's now quite easy for anyone to find your name, phone number, email address and home address online. Now some seeking such information about you may want it for personal, business or social purposes many others merely want to advertise, market or steal from you.
Here are a few ways to help control the amount of personal information that is widely available on the web:
1
Limit the amount of personal information you give to a site. Only share your primary e-mail address with people you know, and avoid listing any information in large Internet directories. Always make sure you know how that information will be used by referencing the website's privacy policy and if they do share your information make certain you know who they are sharing your information with before you do business with them.
2
When you shop online, do your homework. Limit your purchases of expensive, popular items to prominent companies with clear privacy policies. Find out what others say about the sellers and selling sites by reviewing seller and buyer feedback and checking out comparison sites such as Epinions.com or Shopzilla.com.
3
Always read a website's privacy statement carefully. This statement should tell you how and why a business is collecting your information. If something doesn't sound right to you, contact the company with questions before you divulge any personal information. If the site doesn’t post a privacy policy, take your business elsewhere.
4
Post your resume only on highly recognizable websites. Be sure that any Internet job sites you use have privacy policies that only allow verified recruiters to scan your information. Choose large companies with clearly defined privacy policies such as Monster.com or HotJobs.
5
Do not participate in sweepstakes or giveaways. Typically these such "sweepstakes" are merely a method to collect your information for marketing and upselling purposes. Do not fall prey to these types of traps.
6
Find out where you are currently listed by doing your own online research. Search for your name in the popular search engines and in online directories.
7
Request that your name be removed from online directories. If it's not clear how to do this on a Web site, use the "Contact Us" link or address at the bottom of the directory site.
8
Get an unlisted phone number or at least have your address unlisted. Also, instruct your phone and Internet service providers to remove any existing personal information of yours from all of their directories.
9
Set up a special e-mail address solely for online activities such as shopping and newsgroups. This way you can close it if needed and start a new one without disrupting your business or personal e-mail correspondence.
10
Keep a record any time you give your personal information to a company so you can ask them to remove it later if necessary.
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