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Anti-Doxing Resources
Doxing is the practice of publishing someone's private information without their consent. The resources below will help you prevent doxing, and can also provide some help if you've been doxed and want to minimize further damage.
These resources can also help prevent other personal info leaks and identity theft.
Huge thanks to Griffin B., who put together most of the links in this list.
General
- Voter registration data is public in many US states, and can often be searched online with just a full name, or full name and zip code. Check with your Secretary of State website to see if your voter registration data is online, and if so, look to see if opting out is possible.
- Create a Google Alert for your name to be notified when new information about you is posted online: www.google.com/alerts
- Join the FTC National Do Not Call Registry: https://www.donotcall.gov/
- Note: other than credit reporting agencies, no one should ask for your social security number or tax ID while opting out. When sending a copy of your ID, mark out the ID number and photo.
Credit Reporting Agencies
There's not a good way to fully opt-out of credit reporting. Get a free annual credit report via annualcreditreport.com (if you have a social security number or tax ID number). You can request it from all three credit reporting agencies from that link. You can also opt-out of pre-approved credit card & loan offers, which is a common vector for identity theft.
- Equifax, Inc.;
Opt-out by: Email, Phone, or Mail; Phone: 1-888-567-8688; Website: https://help.equifax.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/2/noIntercept/1/kw/prescreen; Address:
Equifax Information Services LLC P.O. Box 740123 Atlanta, GA 30374-0123
- Experian;
Opt-out by: Phone or Website; Phone: 1-888-567-8688; Website: http://www.experian.com/privacy/opting_out_preapproved_offers.html
- TransUnion Corp.;
Opt-out by: Email, Phone, or Mail; Phone: 1-888-567-8688; Website: http://www.transunion.com/corporate/business/datareporting/support/opt-out.page; Address:
TransUnion Name Removal Option P.O. Box 505 Woodlyn, PA 19094
- Fair Isaac Corporation;
Opt-out by: Email or Phone; Notes: While you may not have heard of Fair Isaac, you've definitely heard of credit scores. The scores are created by FICO from information from one of the three credit reporting agencies above. If you've used one of their products directly, they do keep a fair bit of data.; Email: [email protected]; Phone: 1-888-342-6336
- LexisNexis Group;
Opt-out by: Mail or Website (in some cases); Notes: LN isn't a credit reporting agency per se, but is maintaining a large amount of data that is frequently incorrect. To comply with the FCRA, they do allow people to obtain their own file, and to correct errors.; Obtain your information via mail: https://personalreports.lexisnexis.com/access_your_full_file_disclosure.jsp Pre-approved offer opt-out: http://www.lexisnexis.com/risk/prescreened-offers-optout/ Full opt-out online: Fully opting out of LexisNexis's system is only possible for people who are in physical danger or who've faced identity theft. Website: http://www.lexisnexis.com/privacy/for-consumers/opt-out-of-lexisnexis.aspx
Data Brokers
Spokeo.com Opt-out by: Website Website: http://www.spokeo.com/opt_out/new Notes: Find your profiles, and submit them via the web form. They will be removed within a few days.
PeekYou.com Opt-out by: Website Website: http://www.peekyou.com/about/contact/optout/index.php Notes: Find your profiles, and submit the unique ID from them to have them removed.
Pipl Website: https://pipl.com/help/remove/ Notes: Refuses to allow opt-outs. Frequently incorrect info aggregated from across the internet.
WhitePages.com Notes: To remove information, you must first make an account. Step-by-step instructions: https://support.whitepages.com/hc/en-us/articles/203263794-Remove-my-listing-from-Whitepages-
Epsilon Data Management, LLC Opt-out by: Email, Telephone, Mail Website: https://www.epsilon.com/en_US/for-consumer/marketing-data-summary-request.html Notes: Epsilon is one of the largest data brokers, and has bought up several smaller data brokers to obtain their databases (such as Abacus Corp). Opt-outs may take up to three months to process. Email: [email protected] (US), [email protected] (EU/EEA), [email protected] (Asia) Phone: 1-888-780-3869
Acxiom Corporation Opt-out by: Website or Phone Website: https://isapps.acxiom.com/optout/optout.aspx Email: [email protected] Phone: 1-877-774-2094
Intelius, Inc. Opt-out by: Website, Fax, or Mail Website: https://www.intelius.com/optout.php Notes: Intelius runs a number of "people finder" and "background check" websites. This opt-out form will apply to all of them. You must provide an ID (faxed, scanned, or mailed) to opt-out. Fax: 1-425-974-6194 Address:
Intelius Consumer Affairs P.O. Box 4145 Bellevue, WA 98009-4145
Ameridex Opt-out by: Email or Mail Website: http://ameridex.com/ Notes: Primarily public vital records (eg birth & death) Email: [email protected] Address:
Ameridex PO Box 193061 San Francisco, CA 94119-3051
BeenVerified Opt-out by: Website or Email ([email protected]) Website: http://www.beenverified.com/opt-out-instructions Notes: Profile removed within 24 hours via the website. Find profile: https://www.beenverified.com/f/optout/search
Harte-Hanks, Inc. Opt-out by: Email Website: http://www.hartehanks.com/privacy Notes: Ask how to have your personal information removed. For advertising data, see Digital Advertising Alliance below. Email: [email protected]
People Smart Opt-out by: Website, email, or mail Website: https://www.peoplesmart.com/optout-policy Notes: People Smart offers an API to companies, so opting out here may remove data from other sites. Look up your profile with no City&State to get all results. Can take 3-14 days to have data removed. Find profile: https://www.peoplesmart.com/optout-go Email: [email protected] Address:
People Smart Privacy Department P.O. Box 391146 Omaha, NE 68139
InfoPay EmailTracer Opt-out by: Fax or Mail Notes: They ask for a lot of info to opt-out. Only provide them with what you can see in their database (full name, address, and photo ID). Fax: 1-617-993-9946 Find profile: http://www.emailtracer.com Address:
EmailTracer Opt Out Compliance Dept. P.O. Box 990043 Boston, MA 02199
PeopleFinders.com Opt-out by: Website Website: http://www.peoplefinders.com/privacy.aspx Notes: Look up information and click "That's Me," then click "Opt out my info" on the next page. You may need to check in cities you used to live in to find your profile. Find profile: http://www.peoplefinders.com/manage
Peoplelookup.com Opt-out by: Using Intelius opt-out method above.
PeopleSearchNow.com Opt-out by: Mail Website: http://www.peoplesearchnow.com/privacy Notes: They require people to fill out a form: http://www.peoplesearchnow.com/Opt%20Out%20Request%20Form_PSN.docx Address:
Opt-Out/PeopleSearchNow.com 1821 Q Street Sacramento, CA 95811
Phone Detective Opt-out by: Website Website: https://www.phonedetective.com/PD.aspx?_act=OptOut Notes: Quickly remove one's phone number. Email: [email protected]
PrivateEye Opt-out by: Website or Mail Website: http://www.privateeye.com/Help/default.aspx?from=hys0359866156&piid=03#RemoveFromRecords Notes: Because this is several services, they mistakenly (?) direct visitors to People Finders to find/remove info. Find/remove profile: http://www.peoplefinders.com/manage Address:
Opt-Out/PrivateEye.com 1821 Q Street Sacramento, CA 95811
PublicBackgroundChecks.com Opt-out by: Mail Website: http://www.publicbackgroundchecks.com/privacypolicy.aspx Notes: They ask for a lot of info to opt-out. Only provide them with what you can see in their database (full name, address, and photo ID). Address:
Public Background Checks 305 5th Avenue S, Suite 201 La Crosse, WI 54601
PublicRecordsNOW Opt-out by: Mail Website: http://www.publicrecordsnow.com/static/view/privacy Notes: They ask for a lot of info to opt-out. Only provide them with what you can see in their database (full name, address, and photo ID). Address:
Opt-Out/PublicRecordsNow 1821 Q Street Sacramento, CA 95811
USA People Search Opt-out by: Website Website: https://www.usa-people-search.com/manage/ Notes: Search database, find yourself, then select that record for removal.
US Search.com Opt-out by: Mail or Fax Website: http://www.ussearch.com/consumer/ala/landing.do?did=590 Notes: You must provide a copy of your ID and a letter with your name, address, and date of birth to opt out. Fax: 1-425-974-6194 Address:
Intelius Consumer Affairs P.O. Box 4145 Bellevue, WA 98009-4145
Veromi.net Opt-out by: Mail Website: http://www.veromi.net/privacy.aspx Notes: They ask for a laundry list of personal info to process an opt-out. It's a good idea to find records and include the links in your request. Address:
Opt-Out/Veromi.net 1821 Q Street Sacramento, CA 95811
Westlaw (Thompson Reuters Corp.) Opt-out by: Mail Notes: They only allow opt-out for people who are in physical danger, are a judge or public official, or are a victim of identity theft.
ZABA Inc. Opt-out by: Fax Website: http://www.zabasearch.com/privacy.php Notes: Include a copy of your ID with your request. Fax: 1-425-974-6194
Online Marketing
Digital marketing firms also conduct monitoring and correlation of user data. This is most noticeable with "retargeting," the phenomena where ads seem to follow you around the internet. Opting out won't keep ads from displaying, but helps limit retargeting and self-reinforcing ad cycles.
Network Advertising Initiative (NAI): http://www.networkadvertising.org/choices/#completed Opt-out by: Website checklist Notes: Allows people to opt-out of several ad networks at once.
Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA) Opt-out by: Website checklist Website: www.aboutads.info/choices/ Notes: Allows people to opt-out of several ad networks at once.
Google Ads Opt-out by: Website settings Website: https://www.google.com/settings/u/0/ads/authenticated?hl=en Notes: Partial opt-out. Must be logged into Google account to adjust settings. This would seem to be most useful to regular Google or Chrome users.
Oracle / Eloqua / BlueKai / DataLogix Holdings: Opt-out by: Website settings or Mail "Marketing Cloud": Must be conducted on each browser you want protected, since it's done via cookies. Website: https://www.oracle.com/marketingcloud/opt-status.html "Offline Data": To remove offline data, you must send a letter with a copy of photo ID. Address:
Chief Privacy Officer, Oracle 10 Van de Graaff Drive Burlington, MA 01803
Direct Marketers
If you get a lot of junk mail, opting out of these will help a bit. These databases are also frequently traded, so if you're trying to keep your home address off the internet, it can be a good idea to opt-out.
Direct Marketing Association Opt-out by: Website Website: https://dmachoice.thedma.org/register.php Notes: Many companies use this database to automatically remove people who don't want to receive flyers, etc.
Dun & Bradstreet Corp. Website: http://www.dnb.com/utility-pages/privacy-policy.html Phone: 1-800-234-3867 Email (US): [email protected] (opt-out) or [email protected] (inquiry) Email (EU): [email protected] or [email protected] Notes: They collect data on businesses and individuals, then sell/provide to third-parties. DNB is a *very* large organization -- most businesses in the US have a DNB number, and a company's DNB file acts as sort of credit report for business-to-business lending/services.
Cox Target Media (Valpak coupons) Opt-out by: Website Website: https://www.valpak.com/coupons/show/mailinglistsuppression Notes: Fill in address to be removed from mailing lists.
Infogroup Inc. Opt-out by: Email, Phone, Fax, or Mail Website: https://www.infousa.com/infogroup-consumer-choice-and-resource-center/ Notes: You must provide a copy of your ID and a letter with your name, address, and date of birth to opt out. Email: [email protected] Phone: 1-800-794-1404 Fax: 1-402-836-3993 Address:
Infogroup Attn: Content Feedback 1020 E 1st St Papillion, NE 68046
Meredith Corporation Opt-out by: Website or Mail Website: http://www.meredith.com/offlinePrivacy.html Address:
Meredith Corporation Opt-out Postal: Attn Circulation 1716 Locust Street Des Moines, Iowa 50309
Merkle, Inc. Opt-out by: Use DMA opt-out method. They remove data that matches DMA opt-out records. Website: http://www.merkleinc.com/privacy
Reader's Digest (and other Trusted Media brands) Opt-out by: Email, Phone, or Mail Website: http://tmbi.com/privacy-policy/ Notes: They distribute snail-mail ads, telemarketing calls, and sell personal info to advertisers. Email: [email protected] Phone: 1-877-342-4775 Address:
Trusted Media Brands, Inc. PO Box 6095 Harlan, IA 51593
Suarez Corporation Industries Opt-out by: Email, Phone, or Mail Website: http://www.suarez.com/privacy-policy/ Notes: Direct mail marketer Email: [email protected] Phone: 330-494-4282 Address:
7800 Whipple Ave N.W. North Canton, OH 44720
Valassis Communications / RedPlum Opt-out by: Website Website: http://www.valassis.com/ Notes: Junk mail; coupons and flyers. Website: https://www.redplum.com/tools/redplum-postal-addremove.html