HONOLULU (KHO2N) — Imagine someone typing your name into a search bar and learning where you live, who your family is, your birthday, even your job history. That’s what people search sites make possible.
These sites collect details about you from public records, your online activity and other data sources. Then, they sell that information in reports, sometimes for just a few dollars.
The Federal Trade Commission has dedicated pages to help you navigate online data and security. This is what they recommend.
How these sites collect and sell your information
People search sites don’t just guess who you are. They buy, gather and organize real data from other businesses and public records. That includes things like social media posts, government files and even voter registration.
The public records they use may include:
- Property records.
- Driving records.
- Birth, death, marriage and divorce records.
- Professional licenses.
- Criminal and civil court records.
Once your report is built, anyone with your name or phone number can search for it. These reports may include:
- Your age and birth date.
- Former names you’ve used.
- Current and past addresses.
- Properties you’ve owned.
- Marital status.
- Education and job history.
- Court cases, bankruptcies or liens.
- Family names and where they live.
Some people use these reports to reconnect with friends or learn more about someone they just met. Others may use them in ways that feel unsafe.
For people escaping abuse or stalking, having this kind of information online can be dangerous.
How to stop them from selling your information
Most people search sites offer a way to opt out. That means you can ask them to stop sharing some of your personal information. You can do this yourself or pay a company to do it for you.
Doing it yourself is free, but it can take time. You have to go to each people search site, search your name and follow their opt-out instructions. If you don’t see a link for opting out, try searching the site’s name with the phrase “opt out”.
Paid services will opt out for you. Before choosing one, check how many sites it covers, how often it checks for new data and whether it sends reports of what it removed.
Even after you opt out, people might still find your information. It could show up in records about your family or neighbors. And if your public records change, the site might collect your information again.
Also, opting out of these sites does not remove your records from the government. Anyone can still search public records at official websites.
Whether you choose to go through the process yourself or pay a service, it helps to stay alert. Check these sites from time to time. If your information shows up again, opt out again.
You can click here to access the FTC.
Taking action doesn’t erase your digital footprint, but it can give you more control over who sees it.