For PC pros: Don’t like logging into Microsoft every time you use your computer? Don’t even want a Microsoft account? UnattendedWinstall is a script that sidesteps the Windows login prompt. You can download it on this GitHub page. This video gives a great walkthrough of the process. Only do this if you’re a techie, OK?
I ticked off the creepy people-search sites, and you can, too
My son asked me where I lived for a few months in Los Angeles over 25 years ago. It was a gig working for Unisys that was far from memorable. He found that address at a free people search site, along with my other addresses and cell phone numbers. Nice.
That’s what inspired my widely successful Opt-Out Tuesday series at Komando.com. Every Tuesday, we walk you through all the steps to remove your personal information from a different people search site. It’s been a ton of work, as these sites don’t make it easy.
Opt-Out Tuesday has been so popular that people search sites are fighting back. After all, the less personal information they have about you and me, the less money they make.
Pro tip: If you’re not in a DIY mood, there’s a service that will do all the hard work for you. Incogni takes just a few minutes to set up, then opts you out of 180+ people search and data broker sites. Use my link to get 60% off.
It worked so well that we got their attention
Opt-Out Tuesday was gaining praise, and then, a change. Suddenly, I noticed a steady stream of emails and social media posts from folks having difficulty opting out of people-search sites. That’s because the opt-out process can change anytime — without warning. I can only assume the traffic we delivered to the site’s removal pages was to blame.
My team spent almost 48 hours opting out of every people-search site again to get the information you need to do the same.
You have friends and relatives who don’t even know these sites exist. Let them know you’re protecting your privacy online and encourage them to do the same. I bet they’ll thank you.
Try opting out now
Intelius is one of the more prominent data brokers on the web. The old opt-out link for Intelius is broken, so you’ll need to use the PeopleConnect suppression tool. Let’s start there.
NOTE: Follow these steps closely. One errant click may throw off the whole process.
- Go to suppression.peopleconnect.us/login.
- Enter your email address, read through the privacy policy and terms of service and hit Submit.
- Check your inbox for a confirmation email from no-reply@verifications.peopleconnect.us. Tap the Verify Email button in the message.
- Enter your name and email address, scroll down, and hit Save when you’re done.
- Go back to the top of the page, select the Suppression Setting tab, and wait for your information to show up.
- If the information matches yours, select the Visibility Setting dropdown menu and select Suppressed.
- If you can’t locate your information, select the Identity tab at the top to go back to the previous page.
- Hit the Edit Identity button and enter more information, such as another email address you use. Verifying more of your information may help to locate your matching profile on the site.
Are your logins secure? Use this password checker to find out
Is your password actually safe? The sheer number of data breaches and leaks have made it all too likely that your password is floating around somewhere on the internet — just waiting to be accessed by an ambitious hacker.
🚨 QR code scam spreading: Watch out for malicious QR codes in your email, posing as your bank or shipping services. Scan one and you’ll land on a fake login page hungry for your real username and password. Always check the sender’s full email address, watch the URL you’re redirected to, and turn on multifactor authentication for every app and service you can. I know it’s a pain.
Forget hacking networks: Now, cybercriminals are using genuine logins stolen from real people. Info-theft malware is already up 266% in 2024. Keep all your usernames and passwords safe, and don’t give them to anyone. And you really need solid antivirus software. Get TotalAV for $19 for the first year on up to five devices.
The last straw: Password manager LastPass has all kinds of drama around keeping its customers’ logins safe. The latest: A fake app pretending to be the real deal was pulled from the Apple App Store. If you recently downloaded LastPass onto your iPhone, iPad or Mac, it’s time for a complete password purge. I recommend Total Password (it’s just $19).