How to remove your personal data from the internet (and why you can't afford to wait)

Data brokers make a living by selling your personal information for profit. Your phone number, email, home address, and Social Security number could be packaged and sold to spammers, scammers, and identity thieves right now. Your privacy loss is their gain.

Apple’s privacy protections can help block some but not all tracking as data harvesting efforts become increasingly sophisticated. If you want to proactively and continuously remove your personal data from broker databases, Incogni makes it easier than ever to fight back and regain control of your privacy.

The data broker ecosystem

Data brokers built a billion-dollar industry by harvesting your information. They vacuum up everything. This includes loyalty card swipes, public records, social media posts, and everything online that can be used to build a profile around your identity. Then they assemble detailed profiles and auction them off to marketers, employers, landlords, and yes, even criminals. Your data ends up in the hands of the highest bidder without anyone ever asking permission or telling you.

Apple’s privacy features may help stop future tracking where possible, but we can’t always rely on other companies that we do business with to protect our data. Apple also can’t undo years of information already collected and spread across hundreds of broker databases.

You technically have the right to demand removal. In practice, tracking down these companies would take months of full-time work. Their opt-out processes are deliberately confusing, and it’s an endless game of cat and mouse to ensure your data doesn’t return once removed.

Automated data removal with Incogni

The good news is Incogni does the grunt work for you. Instead of spending months hunting down data brokers, the service is purpose-built to automatically contact over 250 companies and demand they delete your information. Incogni doesn’t just try and hope for the best. They’re experts in getting results so your data is actually removed.

Built by the Surfshark team, Incogniweaponizes privacy laws across multiple countries so they can actually benefit you. These include laws like GDPR in Europe, CCPA in California, and more. Whether you’re in the US, Canada, UK, EU, or Switzerland, they deploy the strongest legal tools available to get results.

A comprehensive dashboard lets you track progress in real time, including:

Real benefits of data removal

Getting scrubbed from broker databases delivers immediate, tangible results:

Exclusive pricing for 9to5Mac readers

9to5Mac readers can lock in substantial savings on Incogni subscriptions. The service offers both individual and family plans, which covers up to four additional people.

Incogni’s Unlimited plan goes beyond standard data brokers, enabling custom removal requests from nearly any website exposing your personal data. Dedicated privacy agents handle these requests personally on your behalf. (Social media platforms, government records, and forums are excluded.)

Special 9to5Mac reader pricing:

Use discount code 9TO5MAC at checkout for these exclusive rates. Get started at Incogni’s website.

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