I did a deep search on pipl and zabasearch, and scary times ensued. It revealed my birthdate, email address, physical address, the full names of my family members, etc... Basic internet searches (e.g. Google) don't turn this stuff up. What can I do to scrub it out? Is it hopeless?
2007-12-05 10:51:46 · 13 answers · asked by Jessica D 1 in Computers & Internet ➔ Security
It is a big problems these days with private companies who gather personal information about you and make it available to anyone who is willing to pay for it. Sadly, there is little you can do to have the information removed. Zaba is one of several private companies who gather personal information and sell it. You can write to each of these companies requesting that they remove your personal information from their database. However, expect to wait a while before they remove it. In addition, they only remove the information they have on you at the time you sent the request. If at a future date, new information arises, the companies can resume collecting information on you. I subscribe to PC World Magazine for several years; I came across an article which is pertinent to your situation. Here is the article:
"Privacy Watch: Online Service Provides Easy Access to Your Private Data: The new Zabasearch service finds public records data on U.S. residents." written by Andrew Brandt, pcworld.com (http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,121769/article.html)
2007-12-05 11:06:15 · answer #1 · answered by What the...?!? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You will have to write (not email) to these companies and make a personal request to have your information removed. I know that Zabasearch has this option, but I don't know about Pipl. It would be very difficult if not impossible to permanently remove any and all personal information from the Internet.
EDIT: I looked it up, and it appears that ZabaSearch no longer offers this service. You could still try. Tell them you're worried about your personal safety. Also, call the phone company and make your number unlisted (there is a monthly fee for this service). The information is gathered from public information, so it's open to everyone. These sites just make it easier to obtain.
2007-12-05 10:55:08 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
depends where this info is as in websites, unsubscribe to these sites, try modifing info, to fake stuff? If the site is secure like got a padlock symbol all is ok but if not I would be worried unless the site you looking at is a national security data base or electoral? why it got family members i don't know. Ask these sites what they need this info for, how long they keep it? If they can't give you a descent answer ask for it's removal, put it in writting if need be. good luck
2007-12-05 11:04:21 · answer #3 · answered by pisces19522000 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not much if anything. This is just a fact of life. Everytime you buy something, sell something, apply for a loan, pay your taxes, don't pay your taxes, get arrested, go to court, go to jail, go to the hospital or fill out a form in the mall your personal stuff gets saved on a system somewhere. Too many of these systems have leaks that let out personal information. I would say you should move to an island in the Pacific or go into the witness protection program but to do so you have to enter your name into a form that gets saved on a computer.
2007-12-05 10:57:05 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Most of this information is a matter of public record and there's nothing you can do about it. Listed phone numbers pulled from phone directories, birth, marriage, real estate transactions, lawsuits, judgements, bankruptcies, criminal proceedings and conviction records - these are all public records.
2007-12-05 11:03:10 · answer #5 · answered by curtisports2 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When you go on a site and choose to enter your information, you can't get it back out.
Havent you seen those commurcials about "be careful what you post up online" because anyone could see it, and it cant be wiped from the data banks?
yeah.
But if you did NOT ENTER it, I have no clue how it got there, so you probably entered it yourself
2007-12-05 10:54:49 · answer #6 · answered by blushresponse 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
You can't. You can make it harder for others to access you by using spy-ware, and social security protector. But, your info will always be there. Especailly on search engine.
2007-12-05 10:55:41 · answer #7 · answered by Norm 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
wow. if you're not the host of the site, then I don't think you can do anything about it. Maybe you can contact the site/search engine owner for more information.
2007-12-05 10:55:36 · answer #8 · answered by Tasukete 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Click the internet preference and there should be a security feature just change it
2007-12-05 10:55:11 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
never heard of these sites. can you give us the full web addresses? might be worth us all checking our personal info
ok, just found both sites. for those of you (like me) who had no idea...
www.pipl.com (covers UK)
www.zabasearch.com (seems to be US based site)
2007-12-05 10:55:27 · answer #10 · answered by L 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋