How to delete your personal data from Google search
The world wide web has become a much bigger place than it was when it was first invented, and with search engines like Google, finding anything you want on the internet is (almost) possible.
This also means that if someone wanted to find out information about you, they could easily search your name, your home or email address, or phone number, and find websites that might contain data about you.
If you hate the idea that you can be so easily searched, Google actually has a tool that lets you remove your personal data from search results. This works by Google notifying you whenever it finds your personal information online, after which you will be given the option of removing them.
If this feature sounds familiar, it is because it is slightly similar in concept to Google’s other feature that removes private results. The main difference here is that this feature lets Google proactively search for your personal data, as opposed to you doing the legwork. If this sounds like something you might be interested in, then here’s how to get started on it.
Get notified when your personal information appears in search results
- Launch your browser and go to https://myactivity.google.com/results-about-you
- Select “Results to review”
- Choose “Get started” and then follow the steps
- Enter your personal info like name, address, email, phone number, and so on
- Confirm this information
- Choose how you want to be notified, either by email and/or push notifications
- Now just sit back and wait for Google to notify you whenever they discover your personal data, in which you will then be given the option to remove it from Google Search
Keep in mind that this only removes it from Google’s search results. The websites that contain your personal data will continue to exist, it’s just that it will be slightly harder for people to Google your information. Considering how Google is pretty much the dominant search engine in existence right now, removing it from Google’s search results can still be pretty effective at maintaining your privacy.