Security

How to Remove Yourself From People-Search Sites

Sites like Spokeo, Whitepages and MyLife publish your name, address, phone number and relatives. Removing yourself is free, but it is tedious and it does not stay done. Here is how to do it and how to keep it done.

Last updated October 14, 2026 · By Harbor Privacy

Step 1: Find Your Listings

Search your own name in quotation marks along with your city, for example "Jane Smith" Boston. Open the people-search results that appear and note every site that lists you. Check each family member who shares your address too, since listings link relatives together.

Search your phone number and your home address as well. Some sites list those separately.

Step 2: Request Removal

Open the listingCopy the address of your listing's page. Most removal forms ask for it.

Find the opt-out pageLook in the site's footer for links named Opt Out, Do Not Sell My Info, or Privacy Rights. Many are buried.

Submit the formUse an email address you do not mind sharing. A masked or throwaway address works well.

Confirm by emailMost sites send a verification link. The request is not complete until you click it.

Expect some sites to ask for a phone verification or a captcha, and to take from a few days to a month to act.

Your Rights Under State Privacy Laws

California's CCPA, and similar laws in a growing number of states, give you the right to ask a company to delete the personal information it holds about you. Many brokers apply that process to everyone in the US because it is simpler than sorting by state. Cite the law in your request if the site gives you a free-text box.

Why Your Information Comes Back

Brokers buy new data constantly from public records, marketing lists and other brokers. A removal fixes the current record, not the supply. Many people find listings reappear within a few months.

The fix is to re-check every few weeks and file again, and to reduce what flows in. Read How Data Brokers Get Your Info and Removing Your Info From Google for the sources.

Cut Down What Gets Collected

Use a masked email address for stores, forms and sign-ups
Skip loyalty programs that need a phone number and address
Place a credit freeze so a leaked profile is harder to use
Delete old accounts you no longer use. See Delete Old Accounts.

Common Questions

Is removal really free?

Yes. Every legitimate site has a free opt-out. Paid services charge to do the repetitive part for you.

How many sites do I need to cover?

There are dozens of major people-search sites and hundreds of smaller ones. Start with the largest, since the small ones often copy from them.

Will I be removed permanently?

Rarely. Plan on checking again every month or two.

Does removal affect my credit or my ability to be found by people I know?

No. Credit bureaus are separate from people-search sites, and personal contacts will still know how to reach you.

WANT THIS DONE FOR YOU?

Harbor Scan finds your name, address, and phone for sale on data broker sites and files the opt-outs for you. See where you are exposed.