An online search for your name may reveal more than you expect: An old address, your phone number, relatives’ names, or other personal details… all of which a scammer can use to make a call, text, or email sound as though it came from someone who knows you.
But don’t worry; you don’t need to disappear from the internet to take better control of your privacy. You just need to find out what’s visible, and it all starts with a simple search.
Take control of your privacy by:
Doing an online search for yourself
Search for your name along with “Cheyenne,” your phone number, and your email address. Try a former name or address if you have one.
Look beyond the first few results, and pay attention to listings that combine several personal details in one place.
Google’s Results about you tool can also help you find search results containing certain personal information and request removal of eligible results.
Keep in mind: Removing a result from Google Search does not remove the information from the website itself.
Using Personal Info Protection in AirTeller
First Education members have free access to Personal Info Protection, which helps identify personal information exposed on data broker and people search sites.
To get started, sign in to AirTeller, open the My Financial Health tab, and select Personal Info Protection. Review the results for information you would prefer to keep private, especially your address, phone number, and details about family members.
Note: The full Personal Info Protection product requires a subscription. AirTeller will show you the available features and price so you can decide whether the additional protection is right for you.
Reviewing information associated with your Google and/or Apple accounts
Public search results are only part of the picture. You can also review information associated with your online accounts:
- Google: Visit Google Takeout to request a copy of data associated with your Google account.
- Apple: Visit Apple’s Data and Privacy page and choose the option to get a copy of data associated with your Apple Account.
These downloads are for your own review; they do not show everything that is publicly available about you or remove information from the internet. The files may contain sensitive information, so download them on a device you trust and keep them private.
Making a privacy checks a regular habit
Information can appear again or show up on new sites, and knowing what is out there can help you recognize a scam that uses your personal details to gain your trust.
