Data brokers are businesses that gather and sell your personal information to other individuals and companies. They collect information about you from multiple sources like public records, your search history, and what you've purchased. Then, data brokers use this information to create a detailed profile about you that they can sell online. Your profile could include information such as:
- Name, address, age
- Phone numbers, email addresses, and social media profiles
- Marital status, marriage, and divorce records
- Employment and education history
- Family, relatives, neighbors, and associates
- Legal records
- Photos and videos
- And more
Having your personal information available on the internet can put you at increased risk for stalking, receiving unwanted marketing messages, and even having your identity stolen. Finding and opting out of these sites can significantly reduce the exposure of your information and reduce the risks. However, repeatedly finding and opting out of these sites can take hundreds of hours a year. You can see which data brokers have your information by entering your email into Malwarebytes Personal Data Remover scan.