Protecting Yourself Online

This is going to be a boring, passionless post. I make that disclaimer up front.

There are 2 specific places where amazing amounts of personal information about you is available online — google and public records sources. Here are some basic things you can do:

1. Sign up for google alerts so you are notified when new information shows up about you in google. http://www.google.com/alerts

2. Contact website owners and ask them to remove information about you. Or threaten them.

3. Ask the website to ask google to remove the information. Here’s instructions for the webmaster. http://googlewebmastercentral.blogspot.com/2007/04/requesting-removal-of-content-from-our.html

4. If the site does not cooperate here are suggestions on dealing directly with google http://www.webpronews.com/topnews/2009/01/31/how-to-get-google-to-remove-third-party-content-for-you

5. Public records sources — now you can buy information on anyone and find some very private information. You would be amazed at the info I have tracked down on even famous people while researching some stories. Here is a good article with some detailed information starting points (see bottom half) http://www.squidoo.com/personalInformation

This is important for your families too. Cyberbullying is a growing problem where people post false info about a person to discredit them. Cyberstalking makes it so some nutcases who cut you off on the interstate can write down your license plate and end up on your front door. It’s a brave new world and we all need to keep our eyes and ears open. Don’t live in fear. Live in knowledge.

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