PRIVACY GUIDE
Free methods that work in 2026
Photo: Colin / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons
THE PROBLEM
People-search sites sell your address, phone, age and relatives to anyone who types your name.
WHY IT MATTERS
A caller who knows your street and your kids' names sounds real. Stalkers and identity thieves use these sites too.
STEP 1
Add your phone, address and email. Request removal of results that show them and turn on alerts.
STEP 2: CALIFORNIA
One request on privacy.ca.gov reaches every registered broker. They must check every 45 days and delete within 90.
STEP 3
Search yourself, copy each listing URL, use the free opt-out page and confirm by email. Start with the biggest sites.
Photo: Pretzelpaws / CC BY-SA 3.0
STAY SAFE
Never upload your driver license. Give only details already in the listing. Real opt-outs are free.
STEP 4
Opt out of prescreened credit offers, freeze your credit and limit app permissions.
PAID SERVICES?
They send opt-outs and recheck for you. Everything they do, you can do yourself for free.
Photo: cogdogblog / CC BY 2.0
KEEP IT UP
Brokers buy fresh data and listings come back. A quick search each season keeps you hidden.
FULL GUIDE
Google removal, California DROP, the big opt-out sites and how to keep it that way.
nexgenheadlines.com
Photos: Wikimedia Commons (credits on each page)