Look, I’ll be straight with you. Two years ago, I thought online privacy was something only paranoid tech people worried about. Then my neighbor got her identity stolen through information that was sitting in plain sight on people search websites – stuff like her mother’s maiden name, old addresses, even her kids’ school district. The thieves used that to answer security questions and clean out her checking account.
That wake-up call sent me down a rabbit hole of discovering exactly what information was out there about me and my family. What I found was horrifying. My home address, phone number, the price I paid for my house, my wife’s maiden name, my kids’ names and ages – all sitting on websites that anyone could access for free or for the price of a coffee.
The Shocking Reality: What’s Actually Out There About You
Here’s what most people don’t understand – the internet knows way more about you than your closest friends do.
I’m talking about everything. Your current and past addresses going back 20 years. Your phone numbers, including ones you forgot you ever had. Your family members’ names and ages. How much you paid for your house and when you bought it. Your neighbors’ names. Where you’ve worked. Court records if you’ve ever been sued or divorced. Voting history. Professional licenses. Business partnerships.
And that’s just the public records stuff.
Then there’s the commercial data. Every store loyalty card you’ve signed up for. Every online purchase. Every website you’ve visited that uses tracking cookies. Your browsing habits, shopping patterns, and interests all packaged up and sold to marketers.
I tested this on myself first. Within 30 minutes of searching, I found:
- My exact home address and property value
- My wife’s cell phone number (which she thought was private)
- Both our parents’ names and ages
- My daughter’s school district
- Three previous addresses I’d forgotten about
- My voter registration details
- The year and model of cars we own
This wasn’t from hacking or doing anything illegal. This was all freely available on websites that show up in the first page of Google results.
Where This Information Actually Comes From (And Why It’s Legal)
People always ask me, “How is this legal?” Unfortunately, most of it is completely legal because it comes from public records or information you’ve voluntarily shared.
Public records are the biggest source. Every time you buy a house, register to vote, get a professional license, or appear in court, that creates a public record. These records have always been public, but now data brokers scrape them systematically and make them searchable online. What used to require a trip to the courthouse now takes 30 seconds on your phone.
Social media is a goldmine. Even if your profiles are “private,” data brokers harvest information from public posts, friend lists, check-ins, and photos. I found my vacation photos being used to verify my identity on people search sites. Photos I’d posted to share with family were now part of my commercial data profile.
Marketing databases are everywhere. Every loyalty card, warranty registration, online purchase, and survey you fill out gets sold to data brokers. Remember that “harmless” quiz on Facebook about what kind of dog you are? That collected your name, location, interests, and friend list. All of it gets packaged and sold.
Data breaches compound the problem. Equifax, Target, Yahoo, LinkedIn – every major breach dumps more personal information into the wild. Once it’s out there, it gets bought, sold, and aggregated forever.
The really infuriating part is how data brokers combine all these sources. They don’t just have your address – they have your address plus your income estimate plus your shopping habits plus your family details. It’s like they’ve built a detailed dossier on your entire life without ever asking permission.
The Major Players: Where Your Information Lives
Let me walk you through the biggest offenders – the sites where your information is definitely sitting right now.
WhitePages: The OG Information Broker
Cost to access: Free basic info, $39.95/month for premium What they have: Current address, phone numbers, family members, property records
This is probably where your information showed up first. They’ve been doing this longer than anyone, and their data is frustratingly accurate. I found my parents’ landline number from 1987 on there. Who even remembers landlines anymore?
The free search gives enough information to be dangerous – full name, age, current address, and family members. The paid version includes previous addresses, property values, and detailed background information.
Spokeo: The Social Media Stalker
Cost to access: $19.95/month What they have: Social media profiles, photos, contact info, detailed demographic data
Spokeo specializes in connecting your real identity to your online presence. They’ll show someone your Facebook photos, Twitter handle, LinkedIn profile, and dating app profiles all in one convenient package.
I tested this by searching for my teenager’s name. Found her Instagram account (which she thought was anonymous), school information, and enough details for a stranger to convincingly pretend they knew her. As a parent, this scared the hell out of me.
BeenVerified: The Deep Dive Service
Cost to access: $26.89/month What they have: Criminal records, court documents, financial data, professional licenses
This is where employers, landlords, and background check companies go for detailed information. Their reports are comprehensive enough to make you uncomfortable.
They found a traffic ticket I’d forgotten about from 2015, my professional license renewal dates, and detailed property ownership history. The level of detail was impressive and terrifying.
TruePeopleSearch: The “Free” Option
Cost to access: Supposedly free What they have: Basic contact info, family members, associates
Don’t let the “free” fool you – this site makes money by selling your data to other companies. Every search you do, every profile you view, gets tracked and monetized.
The information here is often the most current because they refresh their databases frequently. I’ve seen people’s new addresses show up here before they’ve even finished unpacking.
Intelius: The Premium Background Check
Cost to access: $49.95/month What they have: Everything – criminal records, financial data, court documents, professional history
This is the site that private investigators and HR departments use. Their reports are detailed enough to reconstruct someone’s entire life history.
I ran a report on myself and found information I’d forgotten I’d ever shared anywhere. Previous employment going back 15 years, old phone numbers, even roommates from college. It was like reading a biography of my own life written by a stranger.
How to Find What’s Out There About You (My Step-by-Step Process)
Alright, enough theory. Let’s find out what the internet actually knows about you. Set aside two hours for this – you’re going to find more than you expect.
Step 1: Start With the Big Players
Begin with WhitePages, Spokeo, and TruePeopleSearch. Search for your full name plus your current city. Then try your name plus your previous cities.
Use quotation marks around your name for exact matches: “John Smith” instead of John Smith. This cuts down on false results.
Try different name variations:
- Full legal name
- Name with middle initial
- Nickname versions
- Maiden name (if applicable)
- Professional name if different
I spent 20 minutes searching for myself and found profiles on 12 different sites just from this initial sweep.
Step 2: Search Your Contact Information
Now search for your phone number, email address, and home address. Put each one in quotes and see what comes up.
Your phone number is particularly revealing. I found my cell phone number connected to my home address, my wife’s name, and our property value on multiple sites.
Email addresses often connect to old forum posts, social media accounts, and professional profiles you might have forgotten about.
Step 3: Image Search Yourself
Upload your profile photos to Google’s reverse image search. This shows you everywhere your photos have been used or republished.
I discovered that a professional headshot I’d used on LinkedIn was being used by a people search site to verify my identity. They’d scraped it without permission and were using it to confirm that search results matched the “real me.”
Step 4: Check Social Media Connections
Search for your username across different platforms using tools like Namechk or KnowEm. Many people use the same username everywhere, which makes it easy to connect all your accounts.
Also check what information is visible on your social media profiles when you’re logged out. View your profiles in an incognito browser window to see what strangers can access.
Step 5: Professional and Business Records
Search for your name plus terms like “license,” “business,” “LLC,” or your profession. Professional licensing boards, business registrations, and court records are all public and searchable.
If you’ve ever been involved in any legal proceedings – divorce, business disputes, property issues – those records are probably online and searchable.
The Opt-Out Process: How to Actually Remove Your Information
Here’s where most people give up, because the process is intentionally frustrating. Data brokers make money from your information, so they don’t make it easy to remove it.
But it can be done. I’ve successfully removed my family’s information from over 200 websites. Here’s the system that works:
Start With the Major Sites
Focus on WhitePages, Spokeo, BeenVerified, Intelius, and TruePeopleSearch first. These feed information to hundreds of smaller sites, so removing it here often removes it everywhere.
Each site has a different opt-out process:
WhitePages: Go to their opt-out page, search for your listing, and follow the removal process. Takes 24-48 hours.
Spokeo: Email their customer service with your profile URL and request removal. Be persistent – they often ignore the first request.
BeenVerified: You have to create an account first (annoying), then request removal through their dashboard.
The key is being systematic. Keep a spreadsheet of which sites you’ve opted out from and when. Set calendar reminders to check back in 3-6 months because your information will reappear.
Document Everything
Screenshot your listings before removing them. This helps if you need to contact customer service or prove that your information was listed without permission.
Keep copies of all opt-out confirmations. Some sites will claim they never received your request or that you never had a listing.
Be Persistent
Most sites will ignore your first opt-out request. Follow up after a week if you don’t see results. Be polite but firm – you have the right to control your personal information.
I had to contact Spokeo four times before they actually removed my family’s information. Each time they claimed they’d “escalated” my request to their technical team. It took threatening to file a complaint with my state’s attorney general before they took action.
Use the Nuclear Option When Necessary
If sites refuse to remove your information, file complaints with:
- Your state’s attorney general
- The Better Business Bureau
- The Federal Trade Commission
Most data brokers will comply rather than deal with regulatory scrutiny.
Protecting Yourself Going Forward
Removing existing information is just the first step. You need to prevent new information from appearing.
Limit What You Share
Stop filling out surveys, contests, and “fun” quizzes on social media. These are data collection schemes designed to look harmless.
Use fake information for store loyalty cards. The grocery store doesn’t need your real birthday or phone number to give you discounts.
Be selective about what you post on social media. Location tags, check-ins, and photos with identifying information all become part of your digital profile.
Use Better Online Practices
Use different email addresses for different purposes. Have one for shopping, one for social media, one for professional use. This makes it harder to connect all your activities.
Set up Google Alerts for your name, phone number, and address. This notifies you when new information appears online.
Review privacy settings on all your accounts annually. Companies change their policies and default settings regularly.
Consider Professional Help
If you’re dealing with harassment, stalking, or safety concerns, consider hiring a reputation management service. Companies like DeleteMe or Privacy Duck specialize in removing personal information from data broker sites.
These services cost $100-300 per year, but they handle the opt-out process for hundreds of sites automatically. For most people, the time savings alone makes it worthwhile.
When to Be Concerned (Red Flags to Watch For)
Some information online is harmless. Some puts you at real risk. Here’s what to prioritize:
Immediate safety concerns: Home address combined with family information, kids’ school districts, daily routine details from social media.
Financial vulnerability: Previous addresses (used for identity verification), family members’ names (often used as security questions), phone numbers linked to financial accounts.
Professional reputation: Criminal records, court documents, negative reviews or comments associated with your name.
I helped a teacher remove information that showed her home address, her children’s names, and her daily schedule. Any angry parent could have used that information to show up at her house. That’s the kind of situation where privacy isn’t optional – it’s about safety.
The Bottom Line: Take Control Now
Here’s what I learned after 18 months of fighting to reclaim my family’s privacy: the system is designed to work against you, but you can beat it if you’re systematic and persistent.
Most people give up after trying to opt out of two or three sites. Don’t be most people. Your personal information is valuable – valuable enough that dozens of companies are making money from it without your permission.
Start with the big sites today. Right now. Pull up WhitePages and search for yourself. I guarantee you’ll find information you didn’t know was public. Then start the opt-out process.
This isn’t a one-time project – it’s ongoing maintenance. Set aside one afternoon every six months to check for new listings and opt out again. It’s annoying, but it’s the price of privacy in 2025.