As you browse the internet and sign up to sites or services, you’re actually leaving behind a trail of personal information. This can then be packaged up and sold to various parties, with results that can impact applications to jobs, financial services or even healthcare. Just try Googling your name and you may find a shocking amount of data about you that’s available to anyone for free or at a small cost.
So, is this just the price of using online services, or should you be worried about how this information could affect your life?
How does your personal data become available?
One of the main currencies of the internet is information. This means that when you join a new site or service, there’s a good chance that elements of the data you provide could be sold to data brokers. These companies can then put together the information they glean from various sources to build a profile on you, which is then either made available on people search sites or sold to a range of interested customers.
What harm comes with having personal data online?
Not only does this have potential risks to your privacy and safety, as anyone could get access to things like your phone number, businesses you own, or other contact details. But it could also work against you in a number of ways.
Data brokers can sell your data to financial bodies such as banks and insurance companies, who might decide that you’re too much of a risk for loans, credit cards or mortgages.
Recruitment consultants can go to brokers for background checks on potential employees, all without your consent.
Healthcare providers can also approach brokers as part of their risk-mitigation, which could result in you being refused treatment or cover.
The problem is that the information they are using to appraise you might not be accurate or at least could be missing the context in which it would make more sense. But you never see it and wouldn’t even know that the checks had taken place.
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How to I remove my personal data from the web?
To protect yourself from this scary situation it’s best to employ the services of a professional data broker information removal service. These have the best resources, knowledge of the industry, and know what legal and procedural approach to take when getting your data erased.
One of the leading companies in the field is Incogni, with over 245 million successful data removal requests executed so far. Its streamlined service makes the whole experience effortless. All you do is sign up for an account, ask Incogni to run a scan, then it takes care of the rest.
The service automatically removes your data from over 420 brokers (both private and public), then regularly re-scans the sites to ensure that your information doesn’t get added again. If it does, then Incogni removes the information can remains vigilant on your behalf. This constant monitoring and removal means you can feel safe that your data isn’t going to reappear the moment your back is turned.
If you use the Unlimited plan, then there’s the option to create custom requests, pointing Incogni to specific sites that host your data so it can be removed. Over 1,000 unique websites have already been addressed in this way, and Incogni constantly works to increase its scope in order to protect customers’ data.
Incogni never sells, trades or shares customer information, and it’s the first data removal service to have its commercial claims verified by a Big Four auditing service. This means you can trust Incogni to work on your behalf.
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Keep your personal data private
Signing up to Incogni only costs $7.99/£5.99 p/m for a single account and there are also plans available for up to 5 people. Plus, there’s a 30-day money back guarantee and you can cancel at any time.
To celebrate Cybersecurity Awareness Month in October, Incogni is running special promotions, with large discounts on its normal subscription prices. So, keep an eye on the Incogni site throughout October if you want to pick up a bargain.
Don’t let that job, loan or health cover get away because of information about you that you can’t control. Instead, let Incogni clean up your online presence so you can take back your privacy once more.
