I wasted 36 hours trying to do it myself

So many of the calls, emails, messages and DMs I get are about privacy and security. I can’t remember the last time I had a full day where no one asked me some version of “How do I get all this info about me off the internet?”

It’s not just you. It’s me, too. After finding my personal cellphone number available on a free people-search site last year, I made it my mission to scrub everything online about me. There are literally hundreds of companies and sites that collect personal info, and they make it extremely hard to get your data removed. Why? Because they profit from selling your data — and mine.

I called the series Opt-Out Tuesday. We put together articles, newsletters and radio segments promoting it. I shared the steps in my nationally syndicated columns. And yet …

I didn’t make a dent

To be fair, we heard from a ton of people who had success following our instructions and removing their info. In fact, the big people search site networks got so peeved, they changed the steps to remove your data after one of my articles went viral.

I spent 36 hours emailing the scummy sites, filling out forms, making calls and even sending letters by USPS. I gave up when I had no real progress. That’s when I researched services to do this for me. I tried three, and I ultimately picked Incogni.

It took me about 3 minutes

Creating an account was easy, and I was immediately opted out of 27 databases, with 47 more requests sent. Now we’re talking about hundreds of sites I’m opted out of with no extra work on my end.

All you have to do is create an account and then enter your name and address. These sites require this info to remove your data — so you’d do that whether or not you use Incogni. Bonus: You can add up to three addresses and three phone numbers, too, so they can catch all the sneaky records.

Then, you grant Incogni permission to reach out on your behalf. After you finish the setup process, you’ll see a list of sites you’ve been removed from and pending requests.

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Own a Tesla? You’re a target

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👀 Big Tech’s got their eyes on your emails: Time to shut the door. I’m all in with StartMail: private, super secure, and you can even use burner addresses. Try it free for seven days, then grab 60% off your first year. Own your inbox today!*

📧 You’ve got mail, and Big Tech can see it. Time to shut the door. I’m all in with StartMail: private, super secure, and you can even use burner addresses. Try it free for seven days, then grab 60% off your first year. Own your inbox today!

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🛜 Who’s on your Wi-Fi? Angry IP Scanner is a free app that scans your network for IP addresses and tracks everything that’s connected to it. Perfect for spotting moochers, catching suspicious activity or just troubleshooting tech issues.

🛑 Did you know Big Tech reads your emails? Yeah, seriously. But not StartMail. It’s private, secure and even has disposable addresses. Try it free for seven days and get 60% off your first year!  

Getting weird Ring emails? You’re not alone. People are receiving legit Ring account sign-up messages they never asked for, and some of the usernames include racist slurs. It looks like hackers got hold of a bunch of stolen email addresses. If one lands in your inbox, don’t click anything. Just delete it.

🚨 Health data breach alert: Yale New Haven Health is dealing with the biggest health data breach of 2025 (so far). Over 5.5 million patients’ personal info, like names, addresses, SSNs and medical record numbers, is floating around the dark web. Watch for unexpected explanation-of-benefit letters in the mail. 

🚨 Bank of America lost your data … literally: Nope, it wasn’t a cyberattack. This time, savings bond documents went missing in transit, and they had everything. Names, addresses, account numbers, SSNs and more — the full “steal my identity” starter pack. No word yet on how many people are affected, but the bank says it’ll notify you. PSA: Freeze your credit.

📦 Remember the iPhone porch pirates? It was a major crime ring (paywall link). Hackers built software to scrape FedEx tracking numbers, then bribed AT&T employees to leak delivery addresses and order details for thousands of phones. Once the package showed up, a runner would grab it. Wild. 

Every Tesla owner doxed: Hackers created a website (now taken down) that shows a map of Tesla owners’ names, addresses, phone numbers and emails in the U.S. Why? They’re protesting Elon Musk. The site says it doesn’t endorse or condemn vandalism, but the cursor symbol is literally a Molotov cocktail. If you want your info removed, you have to prove you sold your car.

💸 Imagine winning the lotto: I bet you have. A Hillsboro, Missouri, couple thought the magical moment was real when someone told them they’d won $17 million. All they had to do was pay taxes upfront. They mailed over $800,000 in cash and gift cards to random addresses until their daughter figured out what was going on. They’re not getting that money back.

Why you need a new email address right now

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Smart guns, emoji sex secrets, AirTag car thieves

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Your home needs its own email address

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Smart guns, emoji sex secrets, AirTag car thieves

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Your printer has an email address

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