If you're reading this, it's highly likely your personal information is available to the public. And by "public" I mean everyone everywhere. So, how can deleting yourself from the internet prevent companies from acquiring your info? Short answer: it can't. Unfortunately, you can never remove yourself completely from the internet, but there are ways to minimize your online footprint, which would lower the chances of your data getting out there. Here are some ways to do just that.
Be warned, however: removing your information from the internet, as I've laid it out below, may adversely affect your ability to communicate with potential employers.
1. Delete or deactivate your shopping, social network and web service accounts
Think about which social networks you have profiles on. Aside from the big ones, such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram, do you still have public accounts on sites like Tumblr, Google+ or even MySpace? What about your Reddit account? Which shopping sites have you registered on? Common ones might include information stored on Amazon, Gap.com, Macys.com and others.
Using a service like DeleteMe can make removing yourself from the internet less of a headache.
Screenshot by Eric Franklin/CNETTo get rid of these accounts, go to your account settings and just look for an option to either deactivate, remove or close your account. Depending on the account, you may find it under Security or Privacy, or something similar.
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