5 Practical Ways To Remove Yourself From The Internet In 2024

There are over 5 billion Internet users worldwide that share their information with everyone else because, on the Internet, personal information is made public. These data are accessible through state public records, social media accounts, and online purchases.

You might be considering opting out of the Internet—wiping off your digital footprint and protecting your personal information—but is that even possible in today’s digital age? 

As the saying goes, nothing is impossible. There are ways to remove yourself from the Internet, and this article has 5 methods for you to try, so read on!

How To Delete Yourself From The Internet?

As essential as the Internet in this current technological era, some choose to reduce their presence on the platform or try to opt out completely. 

However, removing yourself from the Internet can be a time-consuming process. Still, it’s better than falling victim to the cyber attacks that happen every 39 seconds or identity theft cases every 2 seconds.

Deleting yourself from the Internet can be helpful for numerous reasons. Here’s an example situation:

 

Method 1: Opt Out Of Data Broker Sites

There are 4,000 data broker companies worldwide that harvest your personal information. They gather publicly-obtainable data like federal and state records. Its full market size is now valued at over $276 billion.

At the same time, data broker sites help you find someone on the Internet with just a piece of lead—like a person’s name and phone number.

Thankfully, data removal sites exist to help. These tools erase your personal information from data broker sites and search engines. 

You can consider the following removal tools:

Incogni

This data removal service will help you withdraw your personal information from over 180 data broker sites. Moreover, Incogni helps you save the time and effort of sending removal requests manually to each site. 

To start using this service, follow these steps:

1. Open your browser and go to Incogni.
2. Sign up with your email address and provide a password. Click Continue.
   
3. Upon receiving a confirmation email, click it to open a new window.
4. Provide your current physical address with your postal code and country. Click Next.
   
5. The next page features an Authorization Form. Read it, scroll down, and sign. Click Next.
6. Choose a payment plan and fill in the boxes with your payment information.

After completing the payment, Incogni will contact the data broker sites. Typically, a site will respond to the removal request within a week.

The entire process will take a couple of months, but don’t fret, Incogni will send you weekly updates regarding the status of each removal request.

OneRep

OneRep offers a service that deletes your data from more than 190 data brokers. The tool also offers a self-removal service for 5 days, but if you prefer an easy fix, they can automatically send removal requests on your behalf.

Here's how you can use OneRep:

1. Go to OneRep. Enter your name in the search bar and click Search.
2. Input your address. Click Continue.
3. Wait for the results.

OneRep will execute a scan to find your data in broker sites. You will have two options:

• You can remove your personal information yourself;
• Or leave the entire work to the OneRep team by purchasing a subscription.

Method 2: Use VPN When Browsing

One piece of information that interests hackers is your IP (Internet Protocol) address. It is a good lead that shows your digital footprint. It can reveal your browsing history, cookies, and even data cache.

Concealing your IP address is possible by using specialized privacy tools like VPN. A Virtual Private Network (VPN) lets you encrypt your internet traffic, leaving hackers clueless.

There are many VPNs to choose from out there. Some of the great choices are:

NordVPN

NordVPN is one of the most reputable VPNs in the online privacy market. Their service is known to have strong security features and excellent speed, debunking the VPN myth that says such a tool slows down your internet and device.

This VPN offers a secure tunneling protocol, ensuring your personal information’s safety while you explore the web. It also has expansive coverage with over 5,000 servers worldwide.

One feature that makes NordVPN credible is its kill switch, which comes in two:

• App Kill Switch
• Internet Kill Switch

These two options will ensure your data will not leak on the web. It allows you to hide your digital footprint as you browse.

To use NordVPN, follow these steps:

1. Go to NordVPN and download the app. Install it. 
2. Sign up to open a new account or log in if you have one.
3. Open the app. Select Quick Connect. It will then find the best server for you.
4. Start browsing.

Windscribe

Other than hiding your internet traffic, Windscribe also comes with ROBERT, a feature that blocks the following:

• Malware
• Trackers
• Unwanted ads
• Phishing attempts

To start using Windscribe, here are the following steps.

1. Go to Windscribe on your browser and create an account.
2. Download and install Windscrive on your device.
3. Open the app using your sign-up credentials.
4. Choose your server.

Windscribe will mask your IP address with a new one. This protects your data by making your online activity unrecognizable.

Method 3: Adjust Your Social Media Privacy Settings

Social media apps usually collect user information to improve customer experience. However, the same social media apps that you spend so much time on can be the same apps that sell your data.

Have you experienced this before? When you visited a brand’s website to check them out, but you didn’t buy anything. The next thing you know, ads from that brand or its competitor begin showing on your news feed.

That scenario results from some social media apps accumulating your data, then sharing it with different companies for marketing purposes. 

According to pCloud, 79% of your data is being shared by Instagram with third-party companies. Facebook (57%) and LinkedIn (50%) follow this. 

Some people can’t just delete their social media accounts to protect their data. Admit it or not, these platforms have become integral to most people’s daily lives. However, you can always take preventive measures to regulate your social media activities. 

Facebook is one of the most extensive social networks, with over two billion users. Let’s use it as an example to know how to adjust your Privacy Settings:

Method 4: Remove Your Information From Google Search

Google holds much information on almost everyone on Earth. If you type a name on the search bar, you will see a list of data about that person on Google search results.

This could be good if people use it with good intentions, which is not always guaranteed. Moreover, not all of us are comfortable with being found on search engines.

Fortunately, Google offers an option to send a removal request to let anyone delete any personal data on a website. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do it:

1. Go to a Google removal page.
2. Upon entering, you will see two options:
   to remove your personal information in Google Search;
   or to prevent it from showing up.
3. Select the one that matches your needs.
4. Follow the instructions. Fill out any required data until you complete the request.

After you submit the removal request, Google will remove your personal information from the web page. Google may send you an email if they need more details. 

Method 5: Remove Your Information Using DeHashed

Even though Google has a secure system, hackers can still find ways to access all sorts of information from the web. They can resort to phishing, social engineering, and other sophisticated tactics.

One tool known to erase your data from the Internet is DeHashed. It is a cybersecurity company that is in the business of managing your online reputation.

If you want to use DeHashed to delete yourself from the Internet, follow these steps:

1. Go to DeHashed using your preferred browser.
2. Create an account. Log in if you already have one.
3. Click the Field button on the search bar. 
4. Choose your identifier (Name, Email Address, Phone Number, etc.)
5. Enter the character that corresponds to the identifier and click Search.
6. You will see your compromised online accounts.

Wrap Up

Your personal information is not just a cliche on the Internet. Anyone can use it for purposes that best fit their interests. Sometimes, it comes with bad intentions.

However, you can control your online activities or even remove your information from the Internet to protect your online privacy. The above methods can help you reduce the risk of being a cyberattack victim.