Have you ever Googled yourself and felt unease about just how much is out there about you online for anyone to see? Your full name, current and past addresses, phone numbers, relatives, criminal records, and more—all compiled into a profile on Intelius without your consent.
This pervasive people search site, with over 20 billion public and non-public records in its vast database, represents the troubling practices of the booming data broker industry. As your personal details get bought and sold, your privacy, reputation, and even identity are put at risk.
This guide will walk you through how to remove your information from Intelius and other data brokers. We‘ll also examine compelling reasons to opt out, from thwarting fraud to controlling your digital footprint. Reclaiming your data takes effort but is essential for protecting your future.
Contents
The Growing Data Broker Industry and Your Privacy
To comprehend the privacy implications of Intelius, it helps to understand the massive, opaque data broker business enabling sites like this. There are over 4,000 data brokers worldwide compiling dossiers on consumers from various sources.
This is a $200 billion industry projected to surpass $330 billion by 2025, according to esteemed research firm MarketsandMarkets. With growth driven by rising data volumes and surveillance technology, court records, social media, purchase history, and other information streams feed the data economy.
Intelius sits among the largest data brokers. Since 2003, it has amassed over 20 billion records from thousands of data sources on hundreds of millions of people. This includes:
- Public records – birth, marriage, divorce, bankruptcy, licenses
- Court and criminal records
- Social media activity
- Other data brokers
Without your knowledge or permission, details about your life are commodified into a profile. While data brokers portray their practices as harmless information provision, consider:
- 87% of Americans feel they‘ve lost control of their personal data according to Pew Research
- 91% of Fortune 500 companies experienced data breaches from 2018 to 2020 per Tessian
- Over 1.4 million cybercrime victims in 2020 alone according to FBI
Despite growing data regulations like CCPA, securing your privacy requires direct action. Now let‘s examine how to remove your Intelius profile.
Step-by-Step Guide to Opting Out of Intelius
Want your personal details erased from Intelius? Here is a walkthrough of submitting an opt-out request to ensure your profile no longer appears in searches.
1. Locate Your Profile
Begin by searching for your first and last name on Intelius.com. Refine by city or state if multiple listings appear to identify the correct record.
2. Access the Opt-Out Page
Scroll to the very bottom of the Intelius homepage and click the tiny "Do not sell or share my personal information" hyperlink. This goes to the PeopleConnect opt-out portal.
3. Open User Data Tools
On PeopleConnect, click "View public data tools" in the top menu bar, then select "Manage my suppression rules" to reach the opt-out form.
4. Enter Your Email
Supply the email address associated with your name. Ensure it‘s one you actively use and can access. Agree to the terms of use.
5. Verify Your Email
Check your inbox for a verification email from Intelius. Open it and click the confirmation link inside. This directs you to the suppression request page.
6. Input Your Date of Birth
On the suppression page, provide your full date of birth. Consent to the terms. Accurate info allows identity verification.
7. Provide Your Full Name
When prompted, supply your first, middle, and last legal names. Precise details help match to your record.
8. Select Your Record
From the list of records displayed, identify the one belonging to you to remove. Repeat opt-out for other records appearing under your name.
9. Verify Your Identity
Choose to receive a verification code via email or phone. Input code to complete identity confirmation. Check spam for emails.
10. Continue Monitoring Your Data
While removing your Intelius profile helps, regularly checking other data broker sites and search engines is still needed to protect your privacy.
Patience and precision when submitting your opt-out request ensures successful processing and removal of your Intelius profile within 72 hours. But is DIY really the best approach? Let‘s explore the advantages of using data removal services instead.
Leverage Data Removal Services for Automatic Opt-Outs
Manually handling opt-out request forms across dozens of shady data broker sites quickly becomes a frustrating game of whack-a-mole. For convenience and comprehensive removal, enlist the help of reputable data removal services like DeleteMe, Incogni, or Privacy Duck.
| Handling Opt-Outs Yourself | Using a Data Removal Service | |
|---|---|---|
| Time and Effort | Tedious form submissions across many sites | Submits requests automatically for you |
| Opt-Outs Completed | Limited by your stamina | Removes data from hundreds of sites |
| Ongoing Maintenance | Need to continually re-check and opt out again | Proactively monitors and deletes new data |
| Cost | Free but tons of your time | Roughly $5 to $25 per month |
| Privacy Reports | No visibility into progress | Dashboards show removal status |
While DIY opting out is free, is it worth the hassle compared to services that automate removals at an affordable monthly price? Your time and privacy have value after all.
Top Data Removal Services
| Service | Price | Background |
|---|---|---|
| DeleteMe | $129/year | Established in 2015. Opt-out pioneer. |
| Incogni | $9.99/month | Newer service but very effective. |
| Privacy Duck | $99/year | Budget choicegood for basic removal. |
To explore specific services, see our detailed DeleteMe, Incogni, and Privacy Duck reviews.
Ultimately, harnessing data removal services offsets hassle and maximizes privacy for reasonable fees. Now let‘s examine key reasons you should remove your details from Intelius in the first place.
Compelling Reasons to Opt-Out of Intelius
Wondering why you should bother submitting an opt-out request to Intelius? Here are critical benefits of removing your personal data:
Prevent Identity Theft
With just your name, address, and birthday from your Intelius profile, identity thieves can impersonate you and wreak havoc. Outdated records also heighten risk.
- Over 1.4 million Americans were victims of identity theft in 2020 per the FBI
- Stolen identities resulted in over $56 billion in losses according to Javelin Research
Opting out makes fraud more difficult by removing data that enables theft.
Control Your Online Reputation
Your search results shape first impressions when people look you up. Removing unflattering or false Intelius listings allows you to manage your reputation.
Avoid Unwanted Contact
Nosy landlords, clingy exes, scammers, even harassers can find your contact info on Intelius. Opting out reduces this unwanted outreach.
Eliminate Inaccurate Records
Intelius may showcase outdated or incorrect public records that hurt your reputation and credibility. Opting out deletes this misinformation.
Stop Privacy Invasions
Your personal life and details should be private unless you consent to sharing them. Removing Intelius data reclaims control over your privacy.
Uphold Your Digital Rights
Some data broker practices tread into illegal territory. Opting out helps defend your digital rights and sends a message.
Sleep Better at Night
Ultimately, the peace of mind of knowing your personal info isn‘t freely sold on shady sites like Intelius is priceless.
As you can see, there are compelling fraud prevention, privacy, reputation, and personal security motivations for removing your data from Intelius.
While the opt-out process takes dedication, it‘s worth it. Now let‘s explore important next steps after submitting your request.
Next Moves: Monitor Your Footprint and Enhance Privacy
Successfully opting out of Intelius represents significant progress. However, additional vigilance is required to truly minimize your digital footprint.
Expand Opt-Outs
Don‘t stop at Intelius. Submit data removal requests to BeenVerified, Radaris, PeopleLooker, and MyLife to cover top people search sites.
Monitor Regularly
- Google yourself routinely to uncover lingering personal details online.
- Set Google Alerts on your name to receive notifications of new appearances.
- Use privacy monitoring tools like Incogni and Privacy Duck to scan people search sites automatically on your behalf.
Practice Ongoing Privacy Habits
- Audit social media privacy settings every few months.
- Change passwords routinely for accounts containing personal information.
- Leverage private web browsers like DuckDuckGo over Chrome.
- Clear cookies and browser history regularly.
- Review online shopping accounts and opt out of data sharing.
Leverage Reputation Management
Work with reputation management experts who can find and remove or suppress unflattering search results tied to you.
Keep Expanding Your Privacy Horizons
Learn about and leverage additional tools like virtual private networks (VPNs), encrypted messaging, and free credit freezes with Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian.
Reclaiming your privacy is not a one-and-done accomplishment, but rather an ongoing series of actions to curate your digital footprint. While the persistence pays off, also cut yourself some slack. Progress, not perfection, should be the goal.
Take Control of Your Data Today
Discovering your personal information listed on Intelius without your permission is unsettling. The risks span from identity theft to reputational damage. That‘s why submitting an opt-out request is a vital first step to securing your data.
While removing your Intelius profile takes effort, the privacy and fraud prevention payoffs make it worthwhile. You also have the option to enlist convenient data removal services that automate and streamline the opting out process across hundreds of sites.
Yet your journey doesn‘t end with Intelius. Regularly monitoring your digital footprint and leveraging ongoing privacy habits enable you to curate your online presence on your terms.
Your future identity, reputation, and privacy are absolutely worth safeguarding. Take control today by starting with this Intelius opt-out guide. The power lies in your hands.
