What to Know

• Removing your name and other information from a public database doesn't make it inaccessible-just less easy to access. 
• Most websites have you fill out an opt-out form to remove your data.

This guide covers how to remove your personal and public records information from the following databases for free: Radaris, USA People Search, Whitepages, 411.com, PeopleFinders, Intelius, Zabasearch, AnyWho, TruthFinder, Instant Checkmate, US Search, PeekYou, BeenVerified, PeopleSmart, PeopleLooker, Spokeo, FastPeopleSearch, Nuwber, FamilyTreeNow.com, TruePeopleSearch, ThatsThem, Spy Dialer, CocoFinder, Pipl, Truecaller, ClustrMaps, NumLookup, peopleWhiz, MyLife, and Hunter.

Deleting your data from one of these websites will stop people who use that site from finding your name, address, number, etc.However, someone who knows what they're doing can still dig it up.Plus, if your information changes (such as your last name or address), these sites might re-add your data since it's different from what you deleted.It's almost impossible to permanently remove all traces of your identity from anywhere on the web.

Radaris

To delete your information from Radaris, find yourself in their public records, follow some prompts, and then click the confirmation email.

1. Visit the Manage Your Privacy page on Radaris and selectNexton the first page.

2. Read the first few prompts and select the appropriate buttons to proceed.

3. When asked, enter your name and location and then selectGo.

   

4. Find your information from the list and chooseSelect>Start Removing.

5. Continue through the prompts by selectingNext.

6. Enter your email address when asked so you can receive a confirmation link.

7. Open the link from the email and then chooseNext>Submitto finalize the removal request.You'll get another email when your information gets deleted.

USA People Search

USA People Search lets you fill out a form to review what the website has on you so that you can choose to opt out of their database.

1. From the USA People Search Opt Out page, enter your email address, agree to the terms, and then selectBegin Removal Process.

   

2. Search for yourself.

   

3. SelectVIEW DETAILSnext to your entry.

4. ChooseRemoveRecord.

5. Open the email from USA People Search and select the link.Your information on their site should be deleted within 72 hours.

Whitepages & 411.com

Whitepages doesn't let you edit the information they have on you, but you can delete it through their opt-out form.

411.com uses the same information found on Whitepages, so deleting your personal data through the steps below is how you remove your information from 411.com, too.

1. Search for yourself from the Whitepages home page.

2. Select View Detailsnext to your information.You might need to scroll past the premium listings.

   

3. From the navigation bar, copy the URL to your profile page.

4. Open the Opt-out of Whitepages form, paste the link into the box, and selectNext.

5. Verify that the information pertains to you, then chooseRemove Me.

6. Answer why you want your information to be removed (for example,I just want to keep my information private), and then selectNext.

7. Enter your phone number into the space provided so that Whitepages can call you.

   

8. Listen to the automated phone call, and when asked, enter into your phone the code that's displaying on the website.Once verification is confirmed, your information will be removed within the next 24 hours.

PeopleFinders

To delete your name and other information from this site, you have to first find your profile.

1. Visit PeopleFinders and search for your information.

   

2. Right-click theView Detailsbutton and copy the link.

3. Open the PeopleFinders Opt Out page, selectNext, and then paste the URL into the first box.

4. Complete the other questions on that page and then selectSend Request.

   

5. From the email they sent you, select theRemove link and then chooseSend Requeston the website to have them delete your information.It should take no longer than 48 hours to process.

Intelius & Zabasearch & AnyWho & More

Intelius is one of the most widely-known pay-for-information people search websites, so it has lots of information on many people.To delete your data from their site, you have to fill out a form.

If there are details about you that you want removed from Zabasearch, AnyWho, TruthFinder, Instant Checkmate, US Search, and probably other sites, you can follow these same steps, since they all pull information from the same source.

1. Open the PeopleConnect Suppression Center form, and submit your email address.

2. Open the email you were sent, and selectVERIFY EMAIL.

   

3. Fill out the information requested on the web page.This includes your date of birth, name, email, phone number, and location.

4. SelectContinue.Some details, such as your phone number, must be verified.Follow the on-screen directions to do that.

5. OpenSuppression Settingfrom the top right of the page.Follow those directions to suppress your details.

PeekYou

PeekYou offers a very simple form to delete your name and other details from their directory.

1. Search for yourself on PeekYou.

2. Select your name when you find the right entry.You can use theSearch Toolsbutton to filter the results if you need to.

3. Go the URL in your browser and copy the string of digits at the very end.

   

4. Visit the PeekYou OptOut form and fill out all the fields, entering into the Unique ID box the part of the URL you just copied.

5. Agree to the terms by checking those boxes, and then select Submit.

   

6. Open the email PeekYou sent you, and choose the long URL to confirm that you want your information removed from their site.You might need to check the Spam folder to find it.

BeenVerified & PeopleSmart & PeopleLooker

Deleting your data from BeenVerified can be accomplished by completing a form on their website, and then you have to follow through by selecting a link in your email. Your information is typically deleted 24 hours later. The same directions apply if you want to delete your information from PeopleSmart or PeopleLooker.

1. Search your information in BeenVerified's Opt-Out people search.

2. Use the filters off to the side if you have to, and then select your entry when you find it in the list.

3. Enter your email address, complete the verification, and then chooseSend Verification Email.

   

4. Select the confirmation link in the email BeenVerified sent you.

Spokeo

Spokeo provides a super easy method for removing your personal information. All you need to do is submit the URL to your profile and confirm the removal request via email. It should take two to three days to process.

1. Visit Spokeo and find yourself through the search tool.

2. Select your name from the results list. If there are too many to look through, use the filters to search by location, age, and other details.

   

3. Copy the URL to your profile.

4. Paste the URL into the first text box on the Spokeo Opt Out page, and provide your email address in the second box.

5. Confirm the robot check and then choose Opt Out.

6. Select the link in the email Spokeo sent to confirm the removal of your personal information from their website.

FastPeopleSearch

Like most of these people finders, FastPeopleSearch lets you remove your data by first having you find your record. Once you confirm the removal through an email, your information will be deleted within 72 hours.

1. Open the Removal Request Form from their site.

2. Type your email address and confirm the checkboxes, and then selectBEGIN REMOVAL PROCESS.

3. Search for yourself, and then select your name when you find the entry that corresponds to you.

4. ChooseRemove My Record.

   

5. Select the removal link in the email they sent.

FamilyTreeNow.com

This family tree website lets you delete your public records from their site through an easy-to-use form. It could take up to 72 hours to complete the request.

Know, however, that according to their privacy policy, removing your public data might not delete everything they have on you.

...we may need to retain certain information for recordkeeping purposes and there may also be residual information that will remain within our databases and other records, which will not be removed or changed.

1. Open the Opt Out of Records page.

2. Enter your email address, confirm the robot check, and then selectBegin Opt Out Procedure.

3. Enter your information and pressSearch.

   

4. SelectView Detailsnext to your entry.

5. SelectOpt Out This Record, and then confirm via the link in the email they sent you.

   

TruePeopleSearch

This site works just like the others, and removing your information is identical to finding it, but you have to go through their opt-out page first. It should take no longer than 72 hours for them to remove your data.

1. Open the TruePeopleSearch Removals page.

2. Type your email address and confirm the checkboxes, then selectBegin Removal.

3. Search for yourself and select your name when you find it.

4. Scroll to the very bottom of the page and chooseRemove This Record.

   

5. Open the link in the email they sent you to confirm the request.

ThatsThem

Deleting your personal information from ThatsThem works a little differently than similar sites, but it's arguably a faster process. Instead of searching for your record, enter all your details into an opt-out form. It could take up to 7 business days for the request to be fully processed.

1. Visit the ThatsThem Optout form.

2. Fill out the text fields with your information.

   

3. SelectSubmit.

Nuwber

Submit your profile link through an opt-out form to delete your personal information from Nuwber within 24 hours.

1. Visit Nuwber and search for yourself.

2. Copy the URL to your profile, and paste it into the Nuwber Opt-Out Remove Your Listing form.

3. SelectOPT OUT.

   

4. Review the information to confirm it's yours, enter your email, and then submit the request with theREMOVEbutton.

5. Select the confirmation link in the email you got. You'll immediately receive another email to confirm that your opt-out request has been submitted.

Spy Dialer

The Spy Dialer opt-out form has you enter all your details so the site knows what to stop publishing. Unlike some people finder sites, this one deletes your informationimmediatelyand presumably blocks your details from ever being published on the site in the future.

1. Choose your state on Spy Dialer's Right to Opt-out Page, confirm the reCAPTCHA, and then pressCONTINUE.

   

2. If you see a page about privacy laws, selectGOT IT, CONTINUE.

3. Answer each question in the list, which includes your name, address, phone number, and email address.

4. SelectOPT-OUT MY INFO.

CocoFinder

After locating your information on this site, you'll enter the URL to your page in a Google Form to request deletion within two days.

1. Search CocoFinder for your entry. It might take up to a minute for the page to fully load with results.

2. SelectCheck Detailsnext to your information.

   

3. Copy the URL to your profile from the address bar at the top of the browser.

4. Open CocoFinder's Remove My Info page and select the form link at the top.

5. Fill out the boxes with your name, email address, and the URL you copied.

6. Check the confirmation box and then selectSubmitto send in your request.

Pipl

Deleting your data from Pipl works differently than all of these other sites. Instead of sending them your profile link or describing who you are, you have to start off emailing them, explaining that there are details about yourself that you don't want them to show.

Open the Request Removal of Your Personal Information page on Pipl, and fill out the form with your name and email address. Someone will get back with you about what to do next.

Truecaller

You can remove your phone number from Truecaller by entering it in the text box on their Unlist Phone Number page. SelectNo, I want to unlistto see the text box. Submitting your number ensures that it's no longer searchable in their app.

ClustrMaps

Fill out a short form to remove your information from ClustrMaps.

1. Find your profile by searching for yourself on the ClustrMaps home page.

2. Copy the link to that page.

3. Paste that link into the ClustrMaps Removal Request page, and also fill out that form with your name, email, and address.

   SelectNext Step.

   

4. Choose what, exactly, you want to remove. You can pick one or more of the people and/or phone numbers listed.

   

5. SelectApplyto finish.

NumLookup

You can delete your phone number from this site by filling out the NumLookup Request to Remove Information form. According to the company, it could take up to 45 days to process the request.

peopleWhiz

Compared to these other people search sites, deleting your name and other details from peopleWhiz is far from easy. After finding your profile, you need to verify your identity by sending them your ID.

1. From the peopleWhiz Remove Your Personal Information page, enter your name and location to find your entry.

2. ChooseThat's menext to your listing.

   

3. Enter your email address in the space provided, and then selectNext.

4. Choose which method you want to use to send them your ID. You can upload an image or fax or mail a copy.

5. Follow the on-screen directions to finalize the removal request. You'll get an email confirming that they've started the opt-out process.

MyLife

Submit a form through the link below to opt-out from MyLife, which will remove any Reputation Profile that matches your information. Requests are processed within 7 business days.

1. Open the MyLife Opt Out form, and fill out the fields with your information.

   

2. SelectFind URL of Reputation Profile by last nameat the top of the form, or search for your profile URL manually using the website's regular search function.

3. Enter your profile URL into the appropriate field in the form.

4. SelectOpt Outto submit the request.

Hunter

This website has over 100 million email addresses indexed, but despite the huge collection, they make it extremely easy to delete yours from their website: Visit their Claim Your Email Address page to get started.

About Public Data Search Engines

If you've ever searched for someone on the web, you may have found data gleaned from publicly accessible information. Websites that have this data-including phone numbers, addresses, land records, marriage records, death records, and criminal history-collected and consolidated it from dozens of places and put it in one convenient hub.

Websites that offer this information are not breaking any laws. This is public information, so they function as search engines for public data. However, aggregating this information into one place and making it (usually) freely accessible can raise privacy concerns. A simple people search website allows anyone to research your life.