Before the advent of the internet, locating someone’s contact information relied on phonebooks, which were limited to local listings. In contrast, today, anyone with internet access can uncover a wide range of personal information about you—such as your address, phone number, age, and email—simply by performing a quick Google search.
Google does not directly display personal data; instead, it aggregates results from various data broker websites that accumulate and sell this information. Even if you never share your personal details online, they could still be easily accessible to anyone using regular web searches, as hunting for information on the dark web is unnecessary.
Fortunately, Google recognizes the potential security and privacy risks associated with this issue. A helpful feature allows users to check if their phone numbers, personal addresses, email addresses, nicknames, or maiden names are linked to any Google search results.
By accessing the Google app and selecting *Results About You* from your profile icon, you can monitor your information. Activating notifications ensures that you receive alerts via email or in the app whenever Google identifies results tied to your data.
Furthermore, the process for requesting the removal of search results has been simplified. By clicking on the three-dot menu next to a search result, you can use the updated interface to quickly select a reason for removal and expedite the deletion of your information from Google’s results.
However, it is important to note that even if your personal information is removed from Google search results, it is not entirely eradicated from the web. To truly eliminate this data, you must contact the data broker sites directly.
Avoid relying on their internal search options, which can be inefficient. Instead, look for *Do Not Sell My Info* or *Opt Out* links to initiate deletion requests.
It’s crucial to be mindful of the information you share to minimize the risk of it being sold or stolen, which would make monitoring and cleaning up your data easier. Moreover, specialized services have emerged to assist with the removal of your information from numerous data broker sites.
While some of these companies have questionable reputations, others are more reliable. By August 2026, a streamlined request process is expected to help restore privacy and significantly reduce the effort needed to manage personal data exposure.