Big Ass Data Broker Opt-Out List
Symbols | Meanings |
---|---|
high priority | |
requires driverâs license (cross out your ID #!) | |
must use snail mail | |
site charges money for access or removal (whaaaat?) |
This list was started on September 29, 2017 and was most recently updated in May 2023 to add information on sites that require you to click links sent via email or to receive an automated call and enter a four-digit number on your phone in order to complete an opt-out request.
Please send corrections or updates to [email protected], or file a pull request. Screenshots in emails are incredibly helpful. I will add opt-outs where users can verify that the data broker has their information before providing it, and where removal is not limited to GDPR/CCPA/etc.
Disclaimers: Some of these opt-outs take a long time to go through. Sometimes, information is pulled from other sources and youâll need to opt out multiple times for the same site. Data brokers come and go (and are bought out by others), and they also often change their opt-out pages. I try to update this ~every six months, but itâs not always current. Finally, even opting out of these sites doesnât mean that your address is secure. In many states, real estate data and voter registration information is public (or easy to obtain). And, of course, location data can be found by physical means (e.g., following you home) and through other people who know it (i.e., social engineering). That said, removing your home address from data broker sites can significantly lower your attack surface and make it harder for people to find it.
CC BY-NC-SA: This license allows reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator. If you remix, adapt, or build upon the material, you must license the modified material under identical terms.
Search Engines
If you've been doxed, you can remove your contact info from Google Search and Bing.
https://support.google.com/websearch/troubleshooter/3111061
https://www.microsoft.com/en-ca/concern/bing
Google further allows you to remove non-consensual or intimate personal images, involuntary fake pornography, irrelevant pornography from Google search results for your name, content about you on sites with exploitative removal practices, and several other categories of information.
People Search Sites
â Acxiom
It is hard to find your own info for free, but people in some countries can opt out using the following links:
https://gdpr-fr.eu.acxiom.com/ (France)
https://marketing.acxiom.com/AcxiomDE-Verbraucheranfragen.html (Germany)
https://gdpr-it.eu.acxiom.com (Italy)
https://gdpr-es.eu.acxiom.com(Spain)
https://isapps.acxiom.com/optout/optout.aspx#section8 (U.S.)
Users in Argentina, Australia, Canada and Mexico may email [email protected].
Users in Austria, India and Switzerland may email [email protected].
If you donât have an email address, call (877) 774-2094 and follow the prompts.
â Advanced Background Checks
Search for your information here: https://www.advancedbackgroundchecks.com/. (Remember that you can leave your city and state and your age blank.) If your information shows up, remove your data here: https://www.advancedbackgroundchecks.com/removal
Archives
To find your information, you must sign up for a free trial here:
https://www.archives.com/search/ancestor/checkout(and then cancel)
Opt out here: http://www.archives.com/Optout
đ« BackgroundAlert
Find your information and opt out here: https://www.backgroundalert.com/optout/.
â BeenVerified
Find your information and opt out here: https://www.beenverified.com/app/optout/search. Opt out of property search here: https://www.beenverified.com/app/optout/address-search. BeenVerified also owns PeopleLooker and PeopleSmart. Be aware that BeenVerified only allows one opt-out per email address, so you may need to reach out via email for additional opt-outs. You will need to confirm your opt-out request by clicking on a link sent to you via email.
CheckPeople
Look for your contact info here: https://checkpeople.com/. If it shows up, opt out here: https://checkpeople.com/do-not-sell-info. You will need to fill out a form and captcha, select the record for removal, fill out your name and email, and solve another captcha. You will receive an email which will require you to confirm your opt-out request.
Classmates.com
Cancel your free or paid membership following the instructions here: https://help.classmates.com/hc/en-us/articles/115002224171-How-can-I-cancel-my-membership-.
ClustrMaps
Find your information here: https://clustrmaps.com/. To remove it, go here: https://clustrmaps.com/bl/opt-out. It will ask you for a mailing address, but doesnât seem to verify it. It will then ask you to check off anything associated with your account that you want removed.
CocoFinder
Look for your information here: https://cocofinder.com/search. Opt out here: https://cocofinder.com/remove-my-info. It will send you to this Google form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScEgLH9ro7oQR4c0V9E19ug1Gb7wVMrFFSj0Sgx4sjba_ET4Q/viewform.
CyberBackgroundChecks
Find your information here: https://www.cyberbackgroundchecks.com/. If itâs listed, remove it here. https://www.cyberbackgroundchecks.com/removal. You will need to confirm by clicking a link sent via email.
Dataveria
Find your information here: https://dataveria.com/. Opt out by entering the specific profile URL you find here: https://dataveria.com/ng/control/privacy. You will need to confirm your opt-out request by clicking on a link sent to you via email.
â FamilyTreeNow
Search for yourself and remove your information here:
https://www.familytreenow.com/optout
â FastPeopleSearch
Look for and remove your information here: https://www.fastpeoplesearch.com/removal. You may need to solve a captcha.
FreePeopleDirectory
Search for your information at https://www.freepeopledirectory.com. If you find it, you can opt out on Spokeo at https://www.spokeo.com/privacy/control. Make sure to scroll down to the grammatically incorrect âopt out your informationâ section.
Glad I Know
Find your information here: https://gladiknow.com/. Follow these instructions to remove your data: https://gladiknow.com/opt-out. You can remove your information without downloading your free report, and email [email protected] for assistance.
Homemetry
Look for your home address here: https://homemetry.com/. If your name is listed alongside your address, click on the âinformation controlâ link. Opt out of applicable phone numbers and names. There's a limit per each opt out and each email you use to opt out. You will need to click the verification link they email you to finalize the opt out.
IDTrue
Find your information and out here: https://www.idtrue.com/optout/
InfoTracer
Find your information here: https://www.infotracer.com/. You can opt out by filling out this form: https://www.infotracer.com/optout. You can also mail in this form: https://members.infotracer.com/tspec/shared/assets/data_opt_out_form.pdf or fax it to 1-617-933-9946.
â Intelius
Find your information here: https://www.intelius.com. Opt out here: https://www.intelius.com/suppression-center. You will need to enter your birthdate and any information you want suppressed, and youâll also have to confirm your email address and enter a verification code emailed to you. (Intelius owns Addresses.com, Addresssearch.com, Anywho, Classmates, DateCheck, Instant Checkmate, InstantPeopleFinder, iSearch, LookUpAnyone, Peopleconnect.us, PeopleFinder, PeopleLookup, Phonesbook, Publicrecords, Spock, US Search, and Zabasearch.) If you have trouble opting out on the website, email [email protected]. If the person you're emailing says they can't find your account, you may need to confirm your mailing address, phone number, old email addresses, or other information via email. (As always, make sure Intelius already has the information before providing it.
LocatePeople
Find your information and Record ID here: https://www.locatepeople.org/. Opt out here with your Record ID: https://www.locatepeople.org/optout/
â đ MyLife
Find your information here: https://www.mylife.com. Opt out using the following URL: https://www.mylife.com/ccpa/index.pubview. Although this is CCPA-focused, non-California folks have successfully removed their profiles. However, another option is to email your removal request to [email protected] with your name and a link to your profile. MyLife will try to get you to create an account with a copy of your driverâs license to submit a profile removal request, and weâve received reports that emailing the [email protected] or [email protected] email addresses will require a phone call to (888) 704-1900. Previously, calling that number and pressing 2 allowed you to be removed from MyLife (and Wink.com) after providing your name, age, date of birth, email address, current mailing address, and a previous mailing address, but this no longer appears to be the case. (It also appears that you can sign up for a free membership to remove your reputation profile, though not your personal information such as your home address.)
NeighborReport
Search for your name, address or phone number at https://neighbor.report/. To remove a report, go to https://neighbor.report/remove. You will need to verify the opt-out request via email.
Nuwber
Find your information here: https://nuwber.com/. Enter the URL of the profile page you found and your email address here: https://nuwber.com/removal/link. You will need to confirm your opt-out request by clicking on a link sent to you via email. Your profile will look like this "https://nuwber.com/person/563a151aa219445d5225ff38." Be careful not to accidentally click on a Truthfinder link (conveniently up top). You will need to confirm your opt-out request by clicking on a link sent to you via email.
â PeekYou
Find your information here:https://www.peekyou.com/, opt out here: https://www.peekyou.com/about/contact/optout. You will need the letters at the end of your profileâs URL in the "unique ID" field. Make sure to check "remove my entire listing." You can also remove your information from the sites that it says it has aggregated information from.
PeopleByName
Look up your name here: http://www.peoplebyname.com/people. Or, you can fill in your name in the URL like this: http://www.peoplebyname.com/people/[Last_Name]/[First_Name]. Opt out for each record here: http://www.peoplebyname.com/remove.php. This site, unfortunately, does not support HTTPS.
â PeopleFinders
Find your information here: https://www.peoplefinders.com/ and opt out here:https://www.peoplefinders.com/opt-out (includes Advanced People Search and PublicRecordsNow). The opt-out link also includes information on finding your profile, after you hit next. You will need to confirm your opt-out request by clicking on a link sent to you via email.
PeopleSearchNow
Find your information and opt out here: https://www.peoplesearchnow.com/opt-out.
PeopleSearchSite
PLook for your information here: https://www.peoplesearchsite.com. Opt out by clicking the link at the bottom of the profile you want to remove. You can also try emailing [email protected].
Persopo
Search for your information here: https://persopo.com/search. Cut and paste the text of it (which is hard to do because of the 1990s site format, but is required by the site) and email it along with your opt-out request to[email protected]. You can also mail your request to Persopo.com, Attention: Opt Out Dept., 848 N. Rainbow Blvd., Suite 20, Las Vegas, NV 89107. (Opt-out instructions are posted here: http://info.persopo.com/opt-out.htmlâthis site unfortunately does not use HTTPS).
â Pipl
Go to https://pipl.com to find your data. Opt out from Pipl at https://pipl.com/personal-information-removal-request. Then, remove your information from any sites itâs aggregated from. You can also email support at [[email protected]] (mailto:[email protected]).
Private Eye
Look for your info here: https://www.privateeye.com/ Opt out here: https://www.privateeye.com/static/view/optout/. You can also skip the first part and head to the second.
PrivateRecords
Search for your name and state and opt out here: https://www.privaterecords.net/optOut/name/landing.
PublicDataUSA
Find your information here: https://www.publicdatausa.com/optout.php. Then, select the items youâd like removed, and fill out the form at the bottom of the page.
PublicRecordsNow
Find your information here: [https://www.publicrecordsnow.com/]. Click on the orange âclick here to opt outâ button on https://www.publicrecordsnow.com/static/view/contact/, fill out the form, complete the captcha and send it in.
â Radaris
Find your information here: http://radaris.com. Click on "control information" and "remove information" by clicking on the X next to it or by removing specific listings. You can also privatize your account. You unfortunately need to register to remove information, and are limited to removing six items at a time. (I recommend removing items even if you privatize your account because these settings donât always stick.) Details are here: http://radaris.com/page/how-to-remove. You will need to confirm your opt-out request by clicking on a link sent to you via email.
Rehold
Look up your home address here: https://rehold.com/. If there is a number or name next to it youâd like removed, click on the red âremoveâ button next to it. You will need to enter your name and email address and solve a captcha.
đ° SearchBug
Unfortunately, you have to sign up with a credit card to search for your information at https://www.searchbug.com, though your first search is free. You can contact SearchBug using the contact form or chat link on this page https://www.searchbug.com/contact-us.aspx or via phone or text at (760) 652-4050 or via fax at (760) 454-7341 to to ask them to block the display of your personal information.
SearchPeopleFree
Find your information here: https://www.searchpeoplefree.com/, making sure to search by name, phone number, address and email address: Opt out here: https://www.searchpeoplefree.com/opt-out.
SearchQuarry
Find your information here: https://www.searchquarry.com/. If itâs listed, opt out here: https://www.searchquarry.com/opt-out/ You will need to click the verification link in your inbox to finalize the opt out.
SmartBackground Checks
Find your information here: https://www.smartbackgroundchecks.com/. Opt out here: https://www.smartbackgroundchecks.com/optout
Social Catfish
Find your information here: https://socialcatfish.com/. Record the URL of each page that has your information. Then, go to https://socialcatfish.com/opt-out/ and scroll down to the instructions for removing URLs, email, phone number, and address. (Make sure to only ask for information to be removed if you already see it on the site.) Youâll need to provide your email address and click on a confirmation link to complete the opt-out process.
Spoke
Find your information here: http://www.spoke.com/. Find the âpeople site mapâ on the bottom, and itâll take you here (with a different initial at the end, depending on your last name): https://www.spoke.com/dir/people/name/a. Click the links to search for your last name. Then do the same for your first name. You will get to a results page. Click each name listing, and suppress it by clicking the "Request Removal" link at the bottom of the page, entering the URL in the contact form it takes you to, and providing your email address. You can also email your removal request to [email protected]. Unfortunately, Spokeâs opt-out page is workingâits link from the FAQ page is dead.
â Spokeo
Find your information here https://www.spokeo.com/search and remove your information by entering the URL of the profile you want removed and your email address here: https://www.spokeo.com/optout. Make sure to scroll down to the grammatically incorrect âopt out your informationâ section. You will need to confirm your opt-out request by clicking on a link sent to you via email.
SpyFly
Look for your data here: [https://www.spyfly.com](https://www.spyfly.com. Opt out here: https://www.spyfly.com/help-center/remove-my-public-record. You can also try emailing [email protected]. Youâll need to provide your name, age, address, and email address. Make sure SpyFly has information you'd like removed before volunteering these things.
TruePeopleSearch
Opt out here: https://www.truepeoplesearch.com/removal.
Thatâs Them
Find your information here: https://thatsthem.com/, if it shows up, try to opt out here: https://thatsthem.com/optout. Do not click on the Spokeo identity theft protection link, as it is a paid product.
â TruthFinder
First, request your public data at https://www.truthfinder.com/suppression-center. Then, fill out a suppression request form. You can also send your removal request in the mail to TruthFinder, attn: OptOut, 2534 State St., Suite 473, San Diego, CA 92101. If you find your information after you have opted out, contact Truthfinder at (800) 699-8081 or [email protected]. You can also contact TruthFinder by filling out a web form at https://www.truthfinder.com/contact/. If you are working through this list, you may have already removed this data at Inteliusâ suppression center site.
United States Phone Book
Search for your information here: https://www.unitedstatesphonebook.com/search.php. If your address is listed and you want it removed, enter the telephone number and zip code listed on the above site in this page https://www.unitedstatesphonebook.com/contact.php.
Unmask
Look for your data here: https://unmask.com/. Opt out here: https://unmask.com/opt-out/.
USA People Search
Find and remove your information at https://www.usa-people-search.com/manage.
US Search
First, you must request your public data. Then you can apply to have the information removed. The form for both is here: https://www.ussearch.com/suppression-center/. If you are working through this list, you may have already removed this data at Inteliusâ suppression center site.
â USPhoneBook
Look for your number and opt out here:https://www.usphonebook.com/opt-out/.
Verecor
Find your information at https://verecor.com. To opt out, enter the profile URL (along with your name and email) at https://verecor.com/ng/control/privacy. You will need to fill out a captcha, and confirm the email link to finalize your request. If it doesnât go through, you may need to email [email protected].
Vericora
Find your information here: https://vericora.com/profile/search. Opt out here: https://vericora.com/ng/control/privacy.
VoterRecords
Go to VoterRecords.com, find your information, scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the "record opt-out" link. This will lead to an opt-out form, which youâll need to submit. You may receive a verification link youâll need to click on to verify your opt-out request.
â đ đ° White Pages
Find your information here: https://www.whitepages.com/, and then opt out here: https://www.whitepages.com/suppression_requests. You will need to provide a phone number and enter an opt-out code when you receive the phone call. Opt-out information is available here: https://support.whitepages.com/hc/en-us/articles/115010106908-How-do-I-edit-or-remove-a-personal-listing. You can also send a request here https://support.whitepages.com/hc/en-us/requests/new. (Including multiple options because these sites have a tendency to disappear.) Sometimes, information is removed from White Pages but not White Pages Premium, so make sure to double-check for your listing. Unfortunately, it may not be possible to opt out of White Page Premium pages without an account. White Pages also owns 411.com, so check for your information there. The opt-out is the same. You may need to verify your opt-out by receiving an automated voice call and entering a four-digit code into your phone.
Xlek
(formerly Cubib?) Look up your information at https://www.xlek.com/. Opt out at https://www.xlek.com/optout.php. Youâll need to submit a separate opt-out request for each item youâd like removed.
ZoomInfo
Check to see if your information is on ZoomInfo by filling out this form:https://www.zoominfo.com/update/remove. Opt out if it has an email on recordâthey will email you a code. ZoomInfo appears to have moved towards focusing primarily on business rather than individuals.
Special Circumstances
If youâre a victim of violent crime or identity theft, itâs often possible to opt out of information that others canât opt out of. You may, however, need to provide court orders or other information. It may be worth checking more complete data broker lists which include those: https://www.privacyrights.org/data-brokers See this resource: https://nnedv.org/mdocs-posts/people-searches-data-brokers/.
If you are experiencing or have experienced domestic violence, sexual abuse, or stalking, you may be able to keep your address private through state programs that provide a substitute address and mail forwarding. To see if a program exists in your state, look up âaddress confidentiality programâ along with the name of your state in a search engine.
If you are a healthcare worker with a National Provider Index (NPI) number, your personal cell phone number or home address may be showing up on various online directories and websites because they were listed as primary contact information when you filled out your NPI profile (or when someone else filled it out on your behalf). Look up your information here: https://opennpi.com/provider/. You can update or remove information by filling out this form: https://opennpi.com/contact. Youâll also need to reach out to any sites aggregating this data, like Doximity, where you may be able to edit or delete your profile.
Preventing Identity Theft & Opting Out of Marketing Sites
đ Consider freezing your credit, which prevents creditors from accessing your credit report. (It also prevents credit, loans, and services from being approved in your name, but you will receive a pin to unfreeze your credit, if needed.) You will need to provide personal information such as your name, address, date of birth, and social security number to freeze your credit. While you can sometimes initiate this online, itâs better to do it by phone. Fees for freezing your credit vary by state. To freeze your credit, contact:
- Equifax: 1 (800) 349-9960, https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-freeze/
- Experian: 1 (888) 397â3742, https://www.experian.com/freeze/center.html.
- TransUnion: 1 (888) 909-8872, https://www.transunion.com/credit-freeze/place-credit-freeze or https://service.transunion.com/dss/orderStep1_form.page
- Innovis: 1 (800) 540-2505, https://www.innovis.com/personal/securityFreeze or https://www.innovis.com/securityFreeze/index
Explore any privacy options offered by your stateâs motor vehicle department.
Contact your home and mobile phone companies to see if they offer privacy options, such as not listing your number on caller ID or allowing you to opt out of sales of phone numbers.
Consider opting out of direct marketing and telemarketing.
This list, compiled by Griffin Boyce, has a lot of information on doing so: https://github.com/glamrock/data-brokers/blob/master/data-brokers.md. It was last updated in 2019.
You can also opt out of targeted ads using cookies and similar technology at the browser level at https://optout.aboutads.info.
Opt out of prescreened credit offers
Follow the instructions at https://www.optoutprescreen.com/
Get on the Do Not Call Registry
https://www.donotcall.gov/register/reg.aspx
Paid options
Brand Yourself,DeleteMe,EasyOptOuts, IDX Privacy, Kanary, OneRep, Optery, Privacy Pros, Reputation.com, Reputation Defender, and Spartacus all offer different opt-out services. Of these options, I have personally paid for and had good experiences with DeleteMe and Kanary. In general, note that removal services are not comprehensive, as some data brokers do not allow third parties to remove listings, and removal services do not include every data broker on this list, let alone outside of it.
There are services for media mail as well. For a fee, PaperKarma will remove your name from common direct mail vendors, including charity solicitations, direct mail and catalogs. Also for a fee, DMAChoice, will remove your name from prospective mailers, not including political mail or mail from companies youâve done business with in the past two years. You can also remove your name from Valpak coupon packs, for free.
Further reading
Doxing: Tips To Protect Yourself Online & How to Minimize Harm (EFF)
Here are the data brokers quietly buying and selling your personal information (Fast Company)
Personal Data Removal Workbook and Credit Freeze Guide (Michael Bazzell)
Preliminary results are in! CCPA testers provide important insights into the landmark privacy law (Medium/Consumer Reports)