Have you ever had this strange feeling that someone is watching you? I hate spreading bad news, but there are countless tech companies, advertisers, hackers, and adventurous hackers out there trying to get as much of your information as possible.
If you want to take back your privacy, your first step is to close all the intrusive GPS trackers and hidden maps that you can do. Tap or click eight buried settings that you need to change now.
Now it’s time to find out what’s out there. Sure, you can do a quick Google search for your name, but it won’t show everything that pops up. Tap or click for step-by-step instructions for sifting through all the dirt others can see when they search for you online.
It’s almost impossible to completely delete yourself from the web, but you can erase your data a bit if you know where to start.
1. Facebook
The term “data collection” and Facebook go hand in hand. We’ve known the social media giant has been following you across the web for years, and haven’t been entirely careful with all of our private information. Just this year, an information breach exposed more than 530 million users.
If you want to lock your profile, you need to navigate through a few menus to catch everything. Tap or click here for 10 security and privacy settings to change.
If you don’t want to bother with all that, you can delete your profile. Here’s how to do it on a computer:
• tap on Down arrow icon in the upper right corner.
• click Settings and privacy > Settings then press Your Facebook information in the left column.
• He chooses Deactivation and deletion.
• Select option delete account.
• Then press Proceed to delete the account.
You will be asked if you want to deactivate your account or download your information. If you want to deactivate, your information will still be available for pick up. To delete:
• He chooses delete account.
• Enter your password, click Complete Then click delete account.
Once you delete your account, you have 30 days to sign in again and restore the account if you change your mind. Keep in mind that you will lose access to Facebook Messenger as well.
2. Instagram
This Facebook-owned social media platform is all about photos, and you’d better think your account is analyzed if you have a public account. Even if your list is private, it’s hard to keep track of who can see what you’re posting unless you keep a close eye on your friend list.
You won’t find the delete option there in the normal menu. Here’s how to clear this account:
• Click or tap here to accessDelete your account page.
• Select an option from the dropdown list for Why are you deleting your account? and type your password.
• He chooses delete (your username).
Instagram will delete your profile and account details one month after the day you hit that delete button. You will not be visible on Instagram at that time, and you can log in again before this date if you change your mind.
3. Twitter
If you’ve been obliterating your online presence, don’t forget Twitter. She may not have shared much there, but she’s still part of the puzzle.
Deleting your Twitter account is easy. Log in to your computer and follow these steps:
• Click on Settings and privacy from the list. You will find this by clicking more In the right menu when logging in.
• He chooses your accountt> Deactivate your account.
• Enter your password when prompted and confirm your desire to continue by clicking deactivate account button.
Just like Facebook, Twitter waits 30 days before deleting your account completely. During this time, your personal information is hidden from the public. If you log in, your account will be fully restored.
As Twitter warns, even some deleted tweets may still appear in online searches.
4. Amazon
Amazon sells them all at great prices. However, you probably don’t want others to see the comments and ratings you have left on products purchased on the Site, your biographical information, and other Site interactions.
Your public profile doesn’t include purchases or browsing history, but there’s still a lot to glean from it. Here’s how to change that:
• Log in to your Amazon account. click Account and Lists.
• under Order and Shopping Preferencesclick Your Amazon Profile.
• Click the orange box marked Edit your public profile.
• Here, you will see Edit Public Profile and Edit Privacy Settings.
Click through the different options to review. You can adjust the About Me section, shopping lists, wish lists, any pets you’ve added, and more. Check out the Community Activity section, too.
5. Google
I bet you think, “Yeah, Google knows a lot about me.” But do you really know the amount? Click or tap here for a simple way to view all of your data points that the search giant has indexed. You will be shocked.
think about it. If you use Google to search, email, navigate, store photos, and watch YouTube videos, the flow of data never ends.
The first step is to clear your search and activity history. You can also delete what you said to the Google Assistant, block personalized ads, and clear your information from Google Chrome.
Each of these has its own set of steps. It won’t take long, and is well worth doing if you value your privacy. Tap or click here to clear what Google knows about you.
You can also blur photos of your home on Google Street View.
6. People Search Sites
These online databases go by a few names: people search sites, people finder sites, people search engines, background check sites… the list goes on.
They all work the same way. They scrape publicly available social media profiles and public records sites to gather as much information about you as possible. Browse a few, and you’ll realize how much they know. The scariest part is that most of this information is free for anyone who decides to search for you.
How can you stop it? By law, these sites are required to delete your information if you request it. This does not mean that they make it easy.
CyberBackgroundChecks.com is a surprisingly accurate website. When I saw my profile, I was blown away. Tap or click the steps to delete your profile.
There are a lot of websites to find other people. Tap or click for a complete list and steps to remove your profiles.
7. Delete yourself from genealogy and genealogy sites
DNA clusters look pretty cool in theory. Find out your background and find out where you come from. But what does it mean to send your actual genetic information to a company? I don’t like the idea.
Get started with FamilyTreeNow, a genealogy site that reveals more than you want. Tap or click for directions. Make sure to follow these carefully. You should never pay anything to remove yourself from this or any other site.
Then there is 23andMe. If you no longer wish to share your private information with 23andMe, you can delete your account through Account settings page. Here’s a big caveat: “Genetic information and/or self-reported information that you have previously provided and that you have approved for use in 23andMe Research cannot be removed from ongoing or completed studies using that information, as stated in any consent document.”
If you have used Ancestry.com, you can revoke access to your DNA and ask the company to delete your results. Tap or click here for steps to do so.
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Catch up on the latest tech on the Kim Komando Show, the country’s largest weekend radio talk show. Kim takes calls and provides advice on today’s digital lifestyle, from smartphones and tablets to online privacy and data breaches. For her daily tips, free newsletters and more, visit her website at Komando.com.
The opinions and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of USA TODAY.