It seems incredible that anyone can legally create a business which involves scraping your personal data from the web and then selling it, yet here we are. There are literally hundreds of data brokers doing just this.
They also buy data from app developers, who use innocuous-sounding terms like “sharing data with selected partners” in their privacy polices. Fortunately, individuals and families can fight back this Cybersecurity Month.
Personal data bought and sold includes everything from your web-browsing habits and interests to your location history. The least-worst case is that your personal data is purchased by companies wanting to target you with ads. In the worst case, hackers gain access to that data, where it is made available to scammers and identity thieves.
You can fight back using what’s known as “takedown requests.” By law, data brokers have to remove your data if you tell them to. However, this is much easier said than done.
First, you would have to contact literally hundreds of different companies. Second, many of those companies deliberately make takedown links hard to find, then force you to jump through all sorts of hoops in order to issue the requests. Some of them even break the law by not providing the links in the first place.
But even if you succeed, the results won’t last for long. Data brokers are constantly buying new data and adding it to your profile. It’s a constant game of whack-a-mole.
Incogni does the work for you
That’s where Incogni comes in. Not only do they do all of the hard work for you across literally hundreds of data brokers, genealogy websites, and social media, but they monitor to ensure that it has been done, scan for the later addition of new data, and issue new takedown requests for that.
Unlike other services, Incogni helps remove your sensitive information from all broker types, including those tricky People Search Sites that are often missed.
With the company’s Unlimited plan, you can even send links you’ve discovered yourself and Incogniwill take care of it for you.
Black Friday deal
Incogni is kicking off Black Friday with an exclusive deal for 9to5Mac readers, offering 58% off its annual Unlimited plan. Savings are also available on the Standard, Family, and Family Unlimited plans. Use this special link and the checkout code 9TO5MAC.
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