Can You Really Delete Yourself from the Internet?

• Online Privacy
• Data Protection
• Scam Prevention

Your personal info is likely online and for sale. Learn practical steps to reduce your digital footprint and protect your privacy from scammers and data brokers.

Is Your Data Fueling Scam Calls and Spam?

If your phone feels like it’s ringing non-stop with scam calls or your inbox is full of suspicious emails, there’s a good reason. Your personal information might be circulating online, readily available to scammers and marketers alike. But while deleting yourself from the internet entirely is a massive task, you can reclaim control with some smart, strategic steps.

Why Your Data Is Out There

Every online form you fill out, newsletter you subscribe to, or competition you enter leaves behind traces of personal information. Over time, these traces form detailed profiles—your name, address, habits, even political views. Data brokers collect this info, often without your consent, and sell it to advertisers, political campaigns, and sometimes scammers.

As Dr Arash Shanghagi from UNSW explains: “Brokers collect and sell personal details, often without consent. This exposure can make you a target for identity theft, fraud, or aggressive marketing.”

Step 1: Use Free Tools to See What’s Out There

Start by searching for yourself using Google’s ‘Results About You’ tool. It highlights where your data appears and allows you to request its removal from Google Search. Keep in mind—it doesn’t delete the original content, only its appearance in search results.

Other helpful tools include:

• Google’s Security Checkup: Review suspicious activity on your account.
• Google My Activity: See what’s being tracked and delete unnecessary data.

Step 2: Go Pro with Paid Privacy Services

Premium services like DeleteMe, Optery, Mozilla Monitor, and PrivacyBee scan and request removal from hundreds of data broker sites. Many offer a free report to show what data is out there.

As Optery CEO Lawrence Gentilello notes, the data brokers’ reach is staggering: “Profiles often include tens of thousands of sub-attributes and behavioural inferences, many of which are wildly inaccurate.”

Though many services are US-based, they still provide some international coverage, including Australia.

Step 3: Go Nuclear—Delete Your Online Accounts

If you're ready to vanish online, start closing your social media, online shopping, and app accounts. Use account settings or contact support for platforms that don’t offer a delete option. Don’t forget to:

• Delete apps from your devices.
• Request removal from The Internet Archive if needed.

It’s extreme and time-consuming—but every step reduces your exposure.

Step 4: The Privacy-First Lifestyle

Not keen on digital vanishing? Here’s a more balanced, practical approach:

• Use privacy-focused browsers (Brave, Firefox) with ad blockers.
• Create alias emails and phone numbers using services like Firefox Relay or SimpleLogin.
• Segment your identity—use one email for shopping, another for important services.
• Be selective with online forms. Don’t share data you don’t have to.
• Use a VPN on public Wi-Fi to protect your location and traffic.
• Avoid ‘Sign in with Google/Facebook’ for third-party sites.

Bonus tip: Use Mozilla’s Privacy Not Included guide to check how data-hungry new devices are before you buy.

Final Thoughts

While it’s nearly impossible to erase yourself completely from the internet, you can reduce your visibility and make it significantly harder for scammers, marketers, and brokers to misuse your data. Every small step helps—and adds up to stronger digital privacy and peace of mind.

Have you tried cutting down your digital footprint? What worked—or didn’t—for you?