How To Remove Your Information From People Search Sites

Updated on April 14, 2025.

You can remove your personal information from people search sites by searching your name on Google, gathering a list of people search sites, finding your information on each website, locating the opt-out page and submitting a request to opt out. People search sites collect and publicly share Personally Identifiable Information (PII), such as your home address and phone number, without your direct consent. Although these websites claim to provide useful information, they can also expose sensitive data, which is why it’s important to understand how to protect yourself and remove your information from them. Based on a 2024 study from Consumer Reports, manually opting out of people search sites is much more effective than paying for a service to do it for you.

Continue reading to learn six simple steps you can take to remove your information from people search sites and why you should opt out of them immediately. 

1. Search your name with a search engine

The first step in removing your information is to search for your name on popular search engines like Google, Yahoo or Bing. This will help you identify which people search sites have your personal information and are displaying it. For more accurate results, enclose your full name in quotation marks (e.g., “Jane Doe”) since this will return only pages that mention your exact name.

As you review the search results, write down any people search sites that list your information. Make a list of these sites to help you tackle the following steps of opting out and reclaiming your privacy. 

2. Gather a list of people search sites

After checking the first few pages of search results for your name, the next step is to find people search sites that may not have appeared but still contain your PII. Many people search sites collect and share data regardless of whether they appear in a typical online search. Here are several well-known people search sites you should research:

• TruthFinder
• BeenVerified
• Spokeo
• FamilyTreeNow
• Intelius
• PeopleFinders
• FastPeopleSearch

But you don’t have to stop there; The New York Times also compiled a list of people search sites along with direct links to all their opt-out links. Resources like this can save you time and ensure you’re checking everywhere to protect your information from ending up in the wrong hands.

3. Visit each site and search for your information

With your convenient list of people search sites, visit each one and look for your name. To narrow down the results, you may need to include additional information, such as your city or state of residence. This can help you quickly assess whether your personal information is listed on a specific people search site.

Keep in mind that other people may share your name, so it’s important to verify that any listing you find is actually referring to you. Look for matching details to your identity, such as age, previous addresses or familial relationships to confirm it’s your profile before proceeding to opt out.

4. Find the site’s opt-out page

If you find your name listed on a people search site and have confirmed your identity, the next step is to locate the site’s opt-out page. Most sites have a dedicated FAQ section where you can find instructions on how to request your information to be removed. However, the opt-out process is different on every site, so be prepared to take varying steps.

Some websites may ask you to verify your identity to ensure you’re the person requesting the removal of your own information. Follow the instructions carefully on each website, as failure to do so could delay or complicate the removal process. Additionally, some sites may require you to submit a request through a specific form or email.

5. Follow the instructions to submit your opt-out request

Once you’ve found the site’s opt-out page, carefully follow the instructions provided to submit your removal request. In many cases, the site will ask you to provide the exact URL of the page that contains your personal information or an identification number related to your listing. Without finding your information on the site before submitting the request, you won’t be able to complete the process.

If the site contains multiple listings of your personal information, you’ll need to submit an opt-out request for each profile that needs to be deleted. Take your time to ensure all your data is properly removed by checking every relevant listing.

6. Repeat the process for each people search site

To fully remove your personal information, you’ll need to repeat steps three through five for every people search site on your list. Although this may take some time, it’s crucial to ensure your personal details aren’t easily accessible to the public and to protect your online privacy. Remember that even after submitting an opt-out request, some sites may re-upload your information in the future, such as if new public records become available. This is why it’s smart to periodically check these sites every couple of months to make sure your information hasn’t been republished.

Why is my personal information on people search sites?

People search sites gather personal information from many different public and semi-public sources. Here are the main reasons your information could end up on these sites:

Public records

People search sites pull data mainly from public records. This includes property deeds, marriage licenses, court records, voter registrations and more. These records are often accessible online or through government offices.

Data brokers

Some people search sites and buy personal information from data brokers — companies that gather, store and sell data from surveys, online shopping habits and social media profiles. This data collection includes detailed information such as your age, work history and even your relatives’ names.

Social media activity

Even if you have a private social media account, public posts or data shared by others that involve you can be scraped by people search sites and added to your online profile. Some people search sites may crawl blogs and public forums to collect and display your personal information.

Business directories

Information from professional networking platforms like LinkedIn or company websites can be used on people search sites. They can pull data, including your job title, company and workplace address, to build a more comprehensive listing of your personal information.

Why should I opt out of people search sites?

Opting out of people search sites is essential in protecting your personal security and online privacy. These kinds of sites can expose sensitive information that may put you in danger or impact your reputation. Here are several reasons why you should opt out of people search sites:

• Protect yourself from targeted cyber attacks: Various PII can be used by cybercriminals to target you with phishing scams or identity theft attempts.
• Minimize your digital footprint: Reducing the amount of publicly accessible information about you helps keep your digital footprint clean. This makes it much more challenging for strangers to piece together unnecessary details about your life to invade your privacy or even dox you.
• Prevent unsolicited contact: People search sites are used for telemarketing, spam or even cyber harassment. Opting out of them can limit unwanted contact from strangers or organizations.
• Defend your reputation: Basic information about you online can be misused or misinterpreted. By removing unnecessary details from these sites, you can protect your personal and professional reputation.
• Control your personal information: Opting out of people search sites gives you more control over what is shared about you online, ensuring only necessary information remains accessible to the public.

How can I keep my personal information private online?

In addition to removing your information from people search sites, you can keep your personal information private by reducing your digital footprint, searching your name frequently and being mindful about what you post on social media.

Periodically search your name

One of the easiest ways to ensure your personal information stays private is by periodically searching for your name on popular search engines. This lets you catch any new listings of your personal information and quickly submit an opt-out request to remove them.

Sign up for a service that requests removals on your behalf

Constantly monitoring your personal information online can be time-consuming and stressful. Luckily, several services can handle opt-out requests for you. Some services even offer recurring scans to ensure your information stays private. Here are a few reliable options:

• Discover offers free online privacy protection for all its customers, with recurring scans every 90 days.
• Experian provides monthly privacy scans as part of its paid IdentityWorks membership.
• DeleteMe is a paid service that removes personal information from people search sites every three months.

Before signing up for any service, check how many websites they cover, if they provide a report of the sites they’ve opted you out of and how frequently they scan for new information listings.

Adjust your privacy settings

An important step in protecting your personal information is adjusting your privacy settings on your online accounts. Even if you’re cautious about what you post online, certain public information, such as your workplace, can still be seen by others. Ensure only those you trust have access to your personal information by reviewing your privacy settings.

Be cautious about oversharing online

Although protecting your online accounts in general is important, you should be especially mindful of what you share on your social media accounts. Avoid posting personal information, such as your current location or private relationship details. Oversharing on social media or public online forums can expose you to unwanted attention and make you vulnerable to many cyber threats. By being intentional about what you post online and who can see it, you will reduce your chances of becoming a victim of identity theft.

Be vigilant about people search sites

Staying aware of what personal information about you is publicly available online is essential to minimize becoming a target of cyber attacks. Having your details exposed also removes your sense of security, allowing anyone to access or even pay to view your sensitive information.