How to delete Yourself from the Internet

How to Remove Yourself from the Internet

     You may think your internet usage is completely private, but anytime you access a website, signup for an account, purchase a product, post a message, or browse search engine results, you're sharing something about yourself. If you find this troubling, you may want to learn more about how you can delete your internet footprints.

Four Tips for Erasing Yourself from the internet:

     While many people have known for years that companies- especially social media platforms- have collected and sold their data, the recent Cambridge Analytica-Facebook Revelation brought it to the attention of the general public.

     This "scandal" is just one example of  some of the privacy risks come with using the internet. Almost every major social network has been hacked in some form or fashion over the past few years and we haven't even scratched the surface.

     As someone who has dozens of online accounts, it's imperative that you start taking control of your online presence. Erasing personal information and covering up internet footprints is challenging, but there are some practical steps you can take.

1. Search yourself:

     The first step is to search yourself on Google. Begin by searching just your name. If you have a generic name, you may need to search your name plus other qualifying factors (such as the city you live in).

     Not only will these searches open our eyes to just how much information is out there, but this process will also help you get the lay of the land. In other words,  it tells you how much work you have to do.

2. Delete Your Social Media account:

     The most important step is to delete your social media accounts. Profiles on sites like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube often have lots of information on you. The key is to delete, rather than  deactivate.

     "Facebook notably provides option for deactivation and deletion", Security Baron explains. " Deactivation keep your account ready for a quick return to the site. Deletion instigates the process of wiping your stored data and prevent Facebook from accessing your information, as long as you don't login for the two week quick reactivation period".

     Sites like Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn also have similar procedures. So make sure you read upon the procedure of deleting you data.

3. Contact Webmasters:

    If you run across information that's been published about you online- such as in a news article or blog- you must need to contact the webmaster in charge of the website. In most cases,they'll have to physically delete the content. You don't have a whole lot of control.

4. Remove yourself from Data Collection Sites:

     There are multitude of companies in the internet that collect your information and sell it to the advertisers and other interested parties.

     While it is possible to access each of these sites one by one and have your information removed, it's a pretty cumbersome process. Every site has its own unique policy. Some require you to fax over physical paperwork, while others make you get on the phone.

     "Anyway, an easier way to do it is to use DeleteMe at abine.com", Eric Franklin writes for CNET. "For about $130 for a one-year membership, the service will jump through all those monotonous hoops for you. It'll even check back every few months to make sure your name hasn't been re-added to these sites".

Putting it all Together:

     The troubling about the Cambridge Analytica-Facebook fiasco, recent data breaches, and the rise in cyber attacks  is the fact that you, as an individual, has a very little control over your data, internet behaviours, and personal information once you release control. There's also reason to believe that we're currently only experiencing the tip of the iceberg. And having said that, now's a really good time to drill down and focus on how you can protect yourself moving forward.

     It's impossible to actually remove your entire history or presence from the internet, but you can definitely make some strides in limiting the amount of information others can find and use- and its a worthwhile task.

    Thanks for Reading. If you've any questions, let me know in the comment section.