8 online accounts that are nearly impossible to delete
Your choice of apps plays a significant factor in privacy and security. These programs collect data and sometimes share it with others. On top of that, each app takes up space. Do you need a flashlight app when your phone already has one built-in?
It’s a good idea to do an app audit now and then. Run through your apps and get rid of the ones you don’t use or need. Tap here to get started with six apps you should delete right now.
Have you thought about how many sites and apps have your information? You may be registered with services you haven’t used in years or newer ones you barely use. Deleting an app isn’t enough. You have to delete your account along with it. This may not always be straightforward, so we compiled a list of accounts that are difficult to delete.
Just delete me already
The more online accounts you have, the more exposed you are to hackers and tracking. Some apps and services make it difficult to delete your account entirely. They may require you to access the site from a desktop browser or contact the company directly.
One website makes it easier to find the relevant pages to delete an account. Go to justdelete.me and click on or type in the name of the service you want to drop.
The site uses color codes according to how complex the delete process is for a site. Green is easy, red is difficult, and black impossible. You can click on “Show Info” if you find yourself stuck to get some more background.
The following are nine online accounts categorized as “Impossible” to delete by JustDelete.Me.
Are you having trouble locating your old accounts? Tap or click here for tips on tracking them down.
1. Netflix
The information tab for Netflix on JustDeleteMe reads: “Contact customer services. Even then, they may not delete your account under the premise that you might want to rejoin and keep your history and recommendations.”
Go to help.netflix.com/en/node/407 to cancel your membership, but be aware of the fine print at help.netflix.com/en/node/100625, which says that the company retains “limited non-personally-identifying information” for “lawful reasons” and “fraud prevention.” This includes your email address and hashes of your payment details.
Whoops! Social networking app that promises privacy exposed private messages
Data security is one of the most important aspects of any social network. Without it, personal data like names, phone numbers and email addresses can easily leak online. And when this data leaks, you can bet scammers and hackers will make the most of it.
28 useful websites you’ll want to bookmark right now
The web is a big place, but most of us visit the same websites over and over again. If you find yourself scrolling endlessly through Facebook and Twitter, it’s time for a change of pace.
Spending too much time on social media? You might be oversharing without realizing it. Tap or click here to see the top 6 social media privacy mistakes you’re making right now.