

I don't want you to think I'm typing this out wearing my finest tinfoil hat - as I explained in How To Remove Yourself, I have been stalked, threatened and harassed by someone that used people finder sites with the stated intent to harm.

Think twice about “liking,” “digging,” “upvoting,” and especially “checking in” using Foursquare and other location-based check-in services. Know that your likes, check-ins and and +1's are public - not just public, but also profitable for the companies that made the buttons.

Think twice before putting content on sites that want you to make a profile, like dating sites.Use an alias or a pseudonym, and consider using an anonymous email that forwards to your real inbox to avoid getting spammed. Don't make it easy for sites to make an accurate profile about you, and know that your email address is in the hands of anyone you give it to.They're not "free" to use if you give them something of yours they can - and will - sell. Be wary of sites that make you register to use them.Only give them what's absolutely necessary for site membership. When you do have to give info out for a profile or signup, consider giving the minimum of information, and be strategic about whether or not you give them your actual information.Look at your privacy settings on all your social networks change them or lock them down if you can.Facebook continually prompts me to give them my phone number for "better security" but I'm not falling for it. Only give out your information when you have to.Opting out of people finder sites will get your private life off the public market. There isn't much we can do to stop people finder sites from getting public record information about us and making a profit off of it. In a blog post, people finder site Intelius openly states that another site, Spokeo, compiles data from social networking sites, and they say that Facebook and Twitter are "the face of a hidden world of commercial data brokers." Broker it with partners (post-transaction marketing businesses, analytics firms like KISS Metrics, and the Direct Marketing Association).Īfter public records and online accounts or registrations, people finder sites collect their information from other people search sites, social networks, online accounts, online tracking software, and more.Sell it to individuals (through people finder service storefronts) and companies (other data resellers, AOL, targeted ad companies).

