The problem with one-time data removals
I learned this firsthand. The first time I used a data broker removal service, my information disappeared in days. Then, a few months later, it slowly crept back into search results. That’s when it became obvious: removing your data once doesn’t solve the problem.
Data brokers constantly rebuild profiles using:
- Public records
- Data leaks
- Tracking pixels
- Online activity
- Third-party marketing lists
Unless you use a service that continually monitors and removes your info, your personal data keeps getting re-captured.
Why you need ongoing data broker removal
Technically, you can submit removal requests to each data broker yourself. But with thousands of data broker websites and new ones appearing monthly, manual requests are nearly impossible to maintain.
Even worse: Brokers face little to no federal regulation, meaning that even if you opt out today, they can legally collect new data on you tomorrow.
That’s why ongoing data broker removal services, which automatically submit requests and monitor reappearances, are the only realistic way to protect your privacy long-term.
While no service promises to remove all your data from the internet, these top removal services are great if you want to constantly monitor and automate the process of removing your information from hundreds of sites over a longer period of time.
Before you decide which data removal service to use, it helps to understand the bigger picture – how privacy laws shape what these companies can actually do, what experts say about their limits, and how pricing can change over time.
Understanding the legal landscape (and why it matters)
To understand what personal information removal services can actually do, it helps to know how privacy laws work in the U.S. and globally.
Federal protections (United States)
There is currently no comprehensive federal data broker law.
Certain industries like health (HIPAA) and credit reporting (FCRA) are protected, but the majority of data broker activity-people search sites, marketing databases, profile aggregators- is not federally restricted.
State-level rights
Some states have stepped in with stronger privacy rules:
- California (CCPA/CPRA): Right to know, delete, and opt out of personal data sales
- Virginia (CDPA): Access, correct, and delete for qualifying businesses
- Colorado, Connecticut, Utah, and 9+ additional states: Passed or advancing similar privacy laws
Because each law is different, the effectiveness of a data removal service may depend on your state.
International context (GDPR & more)
The EU’s GDPR is still the strongest privacy regulation globally. It includes the “right to be forgotten,” strict deletion timelines, and penalties for noncompliance. Similar frameworks exist in the U.K. (UK GDPR), Brazil (LGPD), and Canada.
Many top data removal companies use these international privacy standards to strengthen their removal requests, even for U.S. users.
Best personal information removal services
Incogni
Incogni scrubs your personal data from the web, confronting data brokers on your behalf, and has received third-party assurance from Deloitte validating its entire data removal process. Personal data including: name, age, home address, phone number, email addresses, your family members, other people associated with you, your income range, credit score range, political preferences, criminal record and more.
Unlike other services, Incogni removes your sensitive information from all types of brokers, including tricky People Search Sites – preventing stalkers and fraudsters from getting your information.
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- Incogni removes your data from 420+ people search sites and data brokers.
- Makes your details harder to find online and keeps your private data off the dark web.
- Helps stop frauds, scams, stalkers, robocalls, and spammers.
- Add up to 3 emails, 3 home addresses and 3 phone numbers (U.S. citizens only) and have them removed from data-broker databases.
- You’ll receive regular progress reports.
Incogni has just launched the Unlimited plan, which offers the most comprehensive data removal and privacy solution available. Not only does it scan and automatically remove your data from over 420+ data broker sites, it now includes Custom Removals—a powerful new feature that allows you to submit specific links where your personal information appears online, and have privacy experts remove it for you.
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CyberGuy readers can use the links in this article to get an exclusive 60% discount on any annual plan. Incogni offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so it’s completely risk-free to sign up.
- The Standard plan provides excellent value and protection across 420+ sites that trade and sell your personal data, for as low as $6.39/month for one person (billed annually).
- If you want complete peace of mind, Incogni’s Unlimited plan ($11.99/month – annual plan) gives you that security. If your data is exposed even in one place online, you’re vulnerable. With the Unlimited Plan, Incogni’s privacy experts work on removing your exposed information anywhere online, so that you don’t have to worry about data brokers, scammers, or fraudsters targeting you online.
I recommend Incogni’s Family plan because it works out to only $2.56/month per person (up to 5 people). If you’re looking at their top privacy protection plan for your loved ones, the Family Unlimited plan comes in at $3.68/month per person (for annual plan).
Get a free security scan to see if your information is already on the web.
Heads up: After you submit the form below, you’ll get an email with your scan results – it can take up to an hour as it checks where your info is showing up across the web.
Learn how to use Incogni – step by step
How I track progress with Incogni
This is my personal removal requests dashboard at the time of publishing from Incogni. It shows 455 sent requests, 80 in progress, and 375 completed, with 281 hours and 15 minutes of time saved. There are also 45 suppression list entries, meaning brokers won’t collect my personal data again. This dashboard helps me track progress and save time while protecting my privacy.
OneRep
OneRep has a very clean interface and you will be amazed at how much of your private information will be discovered and ultimately removed from the web including your name, age, home address, phone number, email addresses, your family members, other people associated with you, your income range, credit score range, political preferences, criminal records, and much more.
DeleteMe
Starting at $10.75/monthly (billed annually at $129), the standard plan for one person for 1 year includes removing your information from over 30 data broker sites. In addition to receiving a detailed report in 7 days of sign-up, this annual service scans and removes personal information off websites every 3 months. If you ever find your information on a data broker site not included in your service, you can submit a removal request. DeleteMe will research whether or not it is able to remove your data off that site or not. While DeleteMe is similar to OneRep, its annual plan is more expensive.
Kurt’s key takeaways
Data brokers constantly rebuild profiles, so your personal information can resurface even after a removal. As a result, you need a service that works continuously. The best data removal service automates monitoring, handles resubmissions, and covers as many broker sites as possible. Incogni, OneRep, and DeleteMe all offer strong privacy protection. However, each one differs in automation, coverage, and custom removal options. No matter which service you choose, ongoing data removal remains one of the smartest ways to reduce scams, identity theft, surveillance, and digital profiling.
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6 comments
some genuinely superb info , Gladiola I discovered this.
Excellent!
Just contact your elected representatives and ask to make it illegal to sell your private data. Get a receipt from the request otherwise they sweep it under the rug.
I don’t know what good the 2FA does. If someone has hacked into your phone, can they not see your texts? If they are faster than you at entering the confirmation info, how does that help?
Hi Barb, Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second form of verification, making it harder for attackers to access your accounts even if they have your password. However, if your phone is compromised, attackers might intercept 2FA codes sent via SMS or email. Using authenticator apps or hardware tokens can mitigate this risk. While 2FA is valuable, it’s most effective when combined with other security practices like strong passwords, regular updates, and account monitoring.
This crap of people constantly getting everyone’s personal data or info is the lowest of the low in my opinion! Luckily I have several different avenues of protection. I see people on Craigslist all the time trying to get rid of something they don’t even have just to get people’s info, when I see one I always flag them so it will be deleted! Anyone that thinks we are not living in the end times is really gullible and foolish.