If you’ve ever searched your own name and found your personal details out there, you’re not alone. At DeleteMe, we know it can feel overwhelming to see your information exposed, especially when you never gave permission.
So, how does your information end up all over the web? Most of it comes from data brokers and people search sites that gather, post, and sell your personal data. These companies rarely explain how or where they got your information, but we know exactly how the process works.
Here are some of the biggest ways your data gets collected and shared online:
1. Government and Public Records
Lots of basic details about you are out there in public records. Data brokers regularly gather information like:
- Real estate transactions and appraisals
- Trademark filings
- Marriage licenses and divorce records
- Court histories, lawsuits, and legal actions
- Birth and death certificates
- Census data
- Voter registration lists
- Driver’s license records
- Utility company accounts
- Government spending reports
- Political donations
- Sex offender registry status
- Legislative meeting notes
- Business registrations and professional licenses
- Criminal records
All these records are technically public, which makes it easy for data brokers to collect and package them up for sale.
2. Self-Reported Information
Sometimes, we share information without realizing where it could end up. Signing up for mailing lists, entering sweepstakes, or filling out surveys are all examples. This type of data is often harvested for things like:
- Sweepstakes and contest entries
- Mailing list or newsletter sign-ups
- Warranty or rebate cards
- Customer surveys
That’s why we recommend always checking the Terms and Conditions before submitting your info—sometimes companies use these sign-ups to build lists that get sold or shared.
3. Social Media
Social platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn collect lots of details about you. Even with private settings, data like your interests, likes, job history, and friends list can still leak out through different kinds of sharing, depending on each site’s privacy rules.
Public forums like Reddit and Quora are other places data brokers can find information—especially if you use your real name or mention identifying details.
4. Other Data Brokers
Finally, there’s a “behind the scenes” side to this problem. Many third parties—other data brokers, advertising networks, and marketing companies—buy and trade all sorts of personal data with each other. They build detailed profiles using online tracking, purchase history, and anything else that can be scraped from the web. Then, they use those profiles to target you with ads, or resell your details again and again.
Bottom line:
Your personal information often ends up online without your knowledge, and getting it taken down can feel next to impossible. That’s where DeleteMe comes in. Our team is here to help you remove that information, so you can take back control of your privacy.
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