Friday, October 21, 2016

ESCAPE THE NET: A 5-step guide to going MIA online

How do I erase myself from the internet? With growing concerns over online privacy and government surveillance, what was once a seemingly unthinkable question is now becoming more common...

The answer, as you may have guessed, is not so simple. As the saying goes, the internet is forever, and smart, dedicated stalkers will always be able to track you down. But if you're committed — and patient — you can come awfully close to removing your digital footprint. Here's how to do it.

Step 1: Delete your social, shopping and entertainment accounts.

Step 2: Search for yourself and cut any remaining ties.

Step 3: Remove outdated search results.

Step 4: Clear your information from data collection sites.

Step 5: Contact your phone company, unsubscribe from mailing lists and delete your email accounts.
(details on each step here)

Congratulations, you no longer exist online. Right? Well, actually ... you probably still do. It's incredibly hard to fully delete your presence on the internet, but by following these steps, you've come as close as you possibly can.