{"id":38558,"date":"2020-12-07T03:16:00","date_gmt":"2020-12-07T03:16:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/01873291-8d82-4cea-b4c1-f10b32309c05"},"modified":"2020-12-07T03:16:00","modified_gmt":"2020-12-07T03:16:00","slug":"how-to-remove-yourself-from-internet-search-results-and-hide-your-identity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.threatshub.org\/blog\/how-to-remove-yourself-from-internet-search-results-and-hide-your-identity\/","title":{"rendered":"How to remove yourself from Internet search results and hide your identity"},"content":{"rendered":"

There is now a very thin line, easily broken, which separates our physical and digital identities.<\/p>\n

Social networks<\/a> have evolved from the days of MySpace<\/a> to valuable, data-slurping machines that have information on everything from our friends and family to our voting habits<\/a>.<\/p>\n

When you apply for a new job, many employers will try to find and evaluate<\/a> your social media presence to ascertain if you are a suitable candidate.<\/p>\n

A misjudged tweet from years ago or an inappropriate Facebook photo can destroy future job prospects or ruin a career<\/a>. A Google search that reveals an old conviction can make it more difficult to become hired, and — whether true or not — allegations of criminal conduct spread online can cause misery.<\/p>\n

There’s the idea that once something is online, it is immortal, immutable, and almost impossible to contain. In other words, you should not put anything online you wouldn’t want your grandmother to see, in case the consequences damage you or your prospects further down the line.<\/p>\n

However, keeping your digital information in check is not just about information that you put online. Monitoring the passive data collection<\/a> conducted by companies from you is important, too.<\/p>\n

Abuse, stalking, and bullying may also factor as reasons to erase our digital footprints and seize control of our devices. If you suspect your mobile device has been compromised by spyware or stalkerware, you can check out our guide here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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If you want to take control of your privacy and online data, here are some tips to get you started.<\/p>\n

\tNot much time? Check out this abridged version…<\/em><\/p>\n

Google is your ‘friend’<\/h3>\n

In 2019, the European Court of Justice ruled that Google is not required<\/a> to apply the same privacy<\/a> standards worldwide as it does in the EU.   <\/p>\n

In the EU, if a request for a name or specific links connected to an individual is deemed acceptable, the tech giant scrubs away these links. However, Google has long argued that extending the “right to be forgotten” on a global scale could set a dangerous precedent and clash with laws implemented in other countries.  <\/p>\n

The company also claimed that extending the law<\/a> could turn the request feature into a “censorship tool” — in what appears to be in direct contrast to reports of the tech giant’s plans to woo China<\/a> with a censorship-friendly search service.<\/p>\n

Also:<\/strong> Social media cannot be trusted without these features<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Nonetheless, the Google search engine can be used to uncover exactly what information about you is public and what the average person can quickly find out without the need for advanced tools, social engineering, or reconnaissance.<\/p>\n

Once you know what is online, you can start tackling the problem. Run a quick search and make a note of any website domains that flag you, social media account links, YouTube videos, and anything else of interest.<\/p>\n

You may have the right to be forgotten<\/h3>\n

In the EU, citizens are able to request the removal<\/a> of information from the Google search engine, as well as from Blogger and other related Google-owned products.<\/p>\n

After filling in this form<\/a>, de-listing requests are reviewed manually by Google employees. Since 2014, Google has received 846,327 requests to delist related to 3,338,864 URLs. <\/p>\n

Also:<\/strong> Do we know where to draw the line with co-workers on social media?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Google may not accept every request to remove links relating to you. Reasons given for refusal include technical reasons, duplicate URLs, information deemed “strongly in the public interest,” and whether or not the content on a web page relates to professional lives, past convictions, work positions, or self-authored content. <\/p>\n

“When you make your request, we will balance the privacy rights of the individual concerned with the interest of the general public in having access to the information, as well as the right of others to distribute the information,” Google says. “For example, we may decline to remove certain information about financial scams, professional malpractice, criminal convictions, or public conduct of government officials.”<\/p>\n

To submit a request related to other products, such as Blogger, Google Ads, or Image search, you can use the form here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Also: GDPR: Two-thirds of organizations aren’t prepared for the ‘right to be forgotten’<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Have I been pwned?<\/h3>\n

You cannot take control of your digital footprint without knowing where and what information is stored — and potentially leaked.<\/p>\n

The HaveIBeenPwned<\/a> service is run by cybersecurity expert Troy Hunt and can be a useful tool to discover if any account information belonging to you has been compromised or included in a data breach. If you find an email address connected to you has been pwned, check to see what data breaches you have become embroiled in — and make sure you change your passwords as quickly as possible. <\/p>\n

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Google accounts<\/h3>\n

Make sure you visit the Google Account page<\/a>, where there are a number of settings that can boost your privacy, reduce data collection, or remove you altogether from the ecosystem.<\/p>\n

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