Have you ever Googled your name? You’ll likely be astonished at just how much of your personal information pops up.
THE RECOMMENDATION IS TO KEEP THE CURRENT GUIDANCE IN PLACE. >>> MANY PEOPLE WOULD PROBABLY BE SHOCKED TO KNOW HOW MUCH OF THEIR PERSONAL INFORMATION IS ONLINE FOR EVERYONE TO SEE. MANY COMPANIES OPERATE JUST TO COLLECT THAT DATA FROM PUBLIC RECORDS AND SHARE IT LEGALLY. THERE ARE WAYS TO REGAIN CONTROL, AT LEAST ON SOME OF WHAT’S OUT THERE. >> Reporter: GIVEN MY JOB, IT’S NOT SURPRISING THE INFORMATION THAT COMES UP WHEN I GOOGLE MY NAME. THIS IS JUST THE START. PEOPLE SEARCH SITES AND ACCUMULATE DATA, SCOURING COMMERCIAL SITES, SOCIAL MEDIA, PUBLIC INFORMATION. SOME OF THE INFORMATION THEY COME UP WITH IS CREEPY AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. >> Reporter: HAVE YOU EVER GOOGLED YOUR NAME? YOU COULD BE ASTONISHED AT HOW MUCH OF YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION POPS UP. >> WOW, THIS IS UNREAL. HOW DO THEY KNOW ALL THIS? IT’S A LITTLE SCARY AND UNNERVING TO KNOW MY WHOLE LIFE HISTORY IS ONLINE. >> Reporter: AND HE DIDN’T UPLOAD THAT INFORMATION, SO HOW DID IT GET THERE? SITES ARE PART OF THE DATA BROKER INDUSTRY THAT COLLECT INFORMATION ON PEOPLE OR COMPANIES TO SELL FOR ADVERTISING. >> A LOT OF PEOPLE DON’T REALIZE THERE’S A TON OF INFORMATION ABOUT THEM ONLINE. THESE COMPANIES DON’T TELL YOU THEY’RE PUTTING UP YOUR INFORMATION. >> Reporter: IT GIVES ONLINE STALKERS AND EVEN IDENTITY THIEVES ACCESS TO THAT INFORMATION, THINGS LIKE YOUR CURRENT AND FORMER ADDRESSES, E- MAILS AND EVEN ARREST RECORDS. THERE ARE WAYS TO GAIN CONTROL. START BY CHECKING WELL KNOWN SITES, OFTEN ON THE BOTTOM OF THE HOME PAGE WITH A LINK LABELED OPT OUT OR DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION. SOME SITES REQUIRE A COPY OF YOUR ID TO DELETE YOUR DATA. BEFORE SENDING IT. CROSS OUT THE EXCESS INFO LIKE YOUR LICENSE NUMBER. YOU CAN ALSO PAY TO HAVE SOMEONE ELSE DO THE WORK. THAT WILL REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF YOUR INFO THAT COMES UP IN A SIMPLE SEARCH. >> AND MAKE A LIST OF THE SITES YOU HAVE OPTED OUT OF SO YOU CAN CHECK BACK TO BE SURE THAT INFO HASN’T REAPPEARED. MONICA LALIBERTE, 5 ON YOUR SIDE. >> THERE’S MORE ON THE STORY AT
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