Getting your house, or more accurately, your address and associated property information, off the internet involves a multi-faceted approach to address its presence on various platforms, from search engines to data broker websites.
Your address can appear online through public records, real estate listings, and data brokers that collect and sell personal information. To remove this data, you generally need to target these sources directly.
Strategies to Remove Your Address from the Internet
Several methods can be employed to erase your address from the internet. These include contacting major search engines, reaching out to individual website administrators, and utilizing specialized data removal services.
1. Request Removal from Search Engines (e.g., Google)
While search engines like Google don't host your data directly, they index websites that do. If your address appears in search results, you can submit a request to Google to remove it. However, this often requires the information to first be removed from the original source website.
- Steps:
- Identify the Source: Click on the search result to determine which website is publishing your address.
- Contact the Website: Before requesting removal from Google, try to get the information removed from the source website directly (see "Contact Website Administrators" below).
- Submit a Removal Request to Google: If the information has been removed from the source but still appears in search results, or if it's sensitive personal information that poses a direct risk, you can use Google's Remove Your Personal Information from Google tool. (Note: Replace this with the actual Google removal request link if available).
2. Contact Website Administrators Directly
Many websites, especially people-finder sites and local directories, may list your address. Directly contacting the site administrators or owners is often the most effective way to request removal.
- How to Find Contact Information:
- Look for a "Contact Us," "Privacy Policy," or "Terms of Service" page on the website.
- Use a "whois" lookup tool (e.g., ICANN Lookup) to find the domain owner's contact information, though this is often anonymized.
- Look for an email address like
[email protected]or[email protected].
- Craft Your Request: Clearly state your request for removal, providing the specific URL where your address appears. Politely explain why you want it removed (e.g., privacy concerns, security).
3. Utilize Data Removal Services
Several third-party services specialize in helping individuals remove their personal information, including addresses, from data brokers and people-finder websites. These services often automate the opt-out process across many sites.
- Benefits: Saves time and effort, as these services track down your information on numerous databases and handle the removal requests on your behalf.
- Considerations: These are typically paid services and may require ongoing subscriptions to ensure your data doesn't reappear. Examples include DeleteMe, OneRep, and Incogni.
4. Opt-Out from People-Finder Websites (e.g., Whitepages)
Many people-finder websites, such as Whitepages, automatically collect and display public records, including addresses. Most of these sites offer an opt-out process, which you must initiate yourself.
- Specific Steps for Whitepages:
- Find Your Listing: Go to the Whitepages website and search for your name and location.
- Copy the URL: Once you find your listing, copy the URL of that specific page.
- Initiate Opt-Out: Visit the Whitepages opt-out page (e.g., Whitepages Opt-Out) and paste your listing's URL. (Note: Replace with actual Whitepages opt-out link if available).
- Verify Identity: You may need to provide a phone number for verification to complete the removal request.
- Confirm Removal: Check back after a few days to ensure your listing has been removed.
Many other data broker sites (e.g., MyLife, Spokeo, BeenVerified) have similar opt-out processes. It's often necessary to repeat this for each site.
Overview of Address Removal Methods
| Method | Description | Effort Level | Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Search Engine Request | Requesting removal of specific search results from Google, Bing, etc. | Medium | Free | Removing outdated or sensitive search results |
| Direct Website Contact | Reaching out to administrators of sites hosting your address for removal. | High | Free | Targeting specific problematic listings |
| Data Removal Services | Using third-party companies to automate the opt-out process from data brokers. | Low | Paid | Comprehensive removal from many data broker sites |
| People-Finder Site Opt-Out | Directly following the opt-out procedures on sites like Whitepages, MyLife. | Medium | Free | Removing your profile from individual people-finder sites |
Proactive Measures to Keep Your Address Private
Beyond reactive removal, consider these steps to prevent your address from appearing online in the future:
- Privacy Settings: Be mindful of privacy settings on social media and other online accounts. Avoid publicly sharing your home address.
- Public Records: While challenging to control, understand that some public records (property deeds, voter registration) are inherently accessible.
- Mail Opt-Out: Reduce junk mail by opting out of pre-screened credit offers and insurance solicitations through services like OptOutPrescreen.com.
- Use a P.O. Box: For online registrations or non-essential communications, consider using a P.O. Box instead of your residential address.
Removing your address from the internet requires persistence, as new data sources can emerge, and some information is publicly available. However, by systematically applying these methods, you can significantly reduce your digital footprint and enhance your privacy.
