In an age where almost half of the world’s internet users have googled their own names, it’s no surprise that many of us want to reduce or delete our digital footprint.
Included in this article are the 7 premiere ways of removing and avoiding a digital trace. Step by step, you’ll be able to vanish from the internet, almost entirely.
7 ways to delete your digital footprint
#1. Delete unnecessary accounts
The first step on the list is probably the most encompassing too. You’re going to need to filter through every account you’ve ever made and determine which ones are still necessary. This includes subscriptions, forums, and even social media.
If you’re applying for a dream position in a new company, what do you want your new employer to see when they Google you? I doubt this includes that embarrassing teenage Tumblr account that still exists with your name on it.
Consider what you’d like associated with you and remove anything that harms your reputation. An added bonus is that with fewer accounts and private data out there, cybercriminals would have fewer ways to breach your data.
#2. Request data brokers to delete your data
This can be a difficult task but one that is well worth the effort. The hard part is finding where and with whom your data lies — not that requesting the removal of your data will be any smoother. There are two ways to achieve this:
- Manually: You’ll need to Google, Bing, and Yahoo your name until you find every broker in possession of your data. Next, you have to request the removal of your data, which can either be quick and painless or excruciatingly slow.
- Via third-party: Luckily, you don’t actually have to do any of the hard work. By approaching data brokers for you, services that act as a man-in-the-middle will remove your data as soon as it reappears.
#3. Browse with a Virtual Private Network (VPN)
The best way to avoid a digital footprint is to prevent it from hereon out. Why go through the effort of removing your digital footprint if you’ll just replace it tomorrow?
The simplest way to avoid a digital footprint entirely is to browse anonymously via VPN. A VPN creates an encrypted bridge between your devices and the internet, so you won’t leave a trace.
With servers all over the world, you can actually trick websites into thinking you’re browsing from somewhere else. Set yourself up with a United States VPN, and every website, streaming service, and app will believe you’re located in the US.
#4. Place alerts on your name
Going forward, keeping tabs on your private data is central to maintaining your lack of digital footprint. Put a search engine alert on your name in case another data broker appears with your data.
For Google, head over to Google Alerts and place your name, email, or any pertinent information in the box above. Just press the “+” button next to the alert of your choosing or “Choose alert” to activate it.
In the “Show options” section, you can customize your alert preferences. Here, you can alter:
- How often you’ll be notified;
- From which sources (i.e. news, books, etc.);
- The language and region of the alerts;
- Where to deliver your alerts.
#5. Clear your cookies and turn them off
Cookies leave crumbs, except these digital crumbs are made up of your browsing data. Whenever you return to the same website, those cookies remind the site about your ad preferences, login data, etc.
Luckily, it’s super easy to delete them. In Chrome, go to your “Privacy and security” settings and then into “Clear browsing data”. Optionally, you can enter the “Cookies and other site data” section and disable cookies altogether.
Without the removal of all cookies and cache from every browser you’ve used, your digital footprint will never truly disappear. So next time you’re bombarded with the “Accept Cookies” pop-up, just say no.
#6. Unsubscribe
Guess what, every newsletter you’ve ever signed up for also has possession of your private data. Even if it’s only an email address, hackers and scammers can still reach you through it.
Now, you can try and manually unsubscribe from all the newsletters you signed onto, but that could take eons. Work smart, not hard — every newsletter can be unsubscribed from within the email itself.
Usually, it’s a tiny inconspicuous link in the footer of the email that leads to a simple form. Patiently play a bit of email fishing, unsubscribing as they appear. Before long, you won’t exist on any mailing lists anymore.
#7. Change details on the accounts you can’t delete
The truth is, not all accounts can be deleted so easily. Some might even be downright impossible. However, you aren’t out of options yet. For the accounts, you don’t manage to delete, change your personal details:
- First and last name;
- Email address and phone numbers;
- Passport, ID, or any other personal data.
This will work to remove any link between you and the account. In the worst-case scenario, where you can’t change the information either, contact the website directly to remove or alter your private data.
Wiping your digital slate clean…
You’re not the only one if you’re feeling a little paranoid, unprofessional, or plain weirded out by your digital footprint.
Follow along with the steps laid out here, and in a short while, your online presence will cease to exist.
