Most people are suprised when they learn that private information is in all actuality, public. For example, if someone searches for your phone number on the web, they wouldn't normally stumble across information such as how much you paid in property taxes last year. However, things are changing with the proliferation of so-called "data aggregator" or "data broker" websites in the last year or two. These websites increasingly reveal more and more data about you that you want to keep private.
One of the main aggregator is Spokeo.com. Spokeo allows users to perform a basic search by simply typing in a name, email address, or phone number. Even on the free level, the search results gives information about that person's gender, approximate age, relationship status, approximate home value, and hobbies. Users who sign up for the paid version of Spokeo get access to information that might include a person's approximate income level, religion, IP addresses, ethnicity, and even the names of the other people in the household.
There is a positive side to this website in that you can opt out of Spokeo. Visit Spokeo Privacy and you'll find simple instructions on how to get your name off this site.
However, this only removes your information from this website alone, not other aggregators. After all, Spokeo didn't hack into your computer to get that info. The company either found it in a public database or got it from another data broker.
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