Privacy Guides

Step-by-step instructions to take back your privacy. No paywalls.

Guide hub by family

Exclusive split of the 9 guide cards on this hub by editorial tag.

State-law private-action cut

Exclusive cut of the 19-row comprehensive privacy-law lookup table. Catalog count, not legal advice.

California DELETE Act & DROP Portal

Featured

Complete guide to using California's upcoming DROP portal for one-click data broker removal. Free, government-backed, covering 500+ brokers.

Incogni vs DeleteMe vs Optery

Comparison

Side-by-side comparison of the three most popular data removal services. Pricing, broker coverage, features, pros and cons, and who each is best for.

Data Broker Opt-Out Guide

Essential

Step-by-step instructions for removing yourself from 12+ major data brokers. Direct links, difficulty ratings, and time estimates.

VPN Buyer's Guide

Comparison

Honest comparison of the best VPNs for privacy. NordVPN, Surfshark, ProtonVPN, Mullvad, and ExpressVPN compared on logging, jurisdiction, and price.

Paid Services vs DIY Comparison

Decision Guide

Should you pay $100-200/year or do it yourself? An honest breakdown of costs, time, and when each approach makes sense.

Your CCPA Privacy Rights

Legal

Everything California consumers need to know about CCPA/CPRA rights, what you can request, how to file, and which companies must comply.

Password Security Guide

Essential

Stop reusing passwords. Compare password managers (1Password, Bitwarden, NordPass, Dashlane) and set up proper credential security.

Email Privacy Guide

Essential

How data brokers find you through email and how to stop them. Compare email aliasing services and set up anonymous forwarding.

Social Media Privacy Settings (2026)

New

Platform-by-platform privacy settings for Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, Twitter/X, and Google. Updated for 2026.

Individual Broker Opt-Out Guides

Step-by-step removal guides for the most popular data brokers.

Spokeo

Medium

Email verification · 5 min

Whitepages

Medium

Phone verification · 10 min

BeenVerified

Easy

Straightforward process · 5 min

Intelius

Medium

Also covers ZabaSearch · 5-10 min

MyLife

Hard

Phone-only removal · 15-20 min

Radaris

Hard

Account may be required · 15-20 min

TruePeopleSearch

Easy

Email verification · 5 min

FastPeopleSearch

Easy

No email required · 5 min

PeopleFinders

Medium

Also covers Publicrecords.com · 10 min

USPhoneBook

Easy

Removal link on listing page · 5 min

Not Sure Where to Start?

Take our 2-minute Privacy Audit. Answer a few questions and get a personalized action plan based on your risk level.

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Privacy Tools

Privacy Audit
8-question assessment with a personalized action plan based on your risk level.
Opt-Out Tracker
Track your data broker removal requests with 45-day follow-up reminders.
Broker Database
Search 100+ data brokers with direct opt-out links and difficulty ratings.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I remove my personal information from data brokers?
Start with our Data Broker Opt-Out Guide, which walks you through removing yourself from the 12 highest-priority brokers. Each broker has its own opt-out process, and our guides provide direct links, step-by-step instructions, and difficulty ratings to help you prioritize.
What is the California DELETE Act?
The California DELETE Act (SB 362) creates a single portal called DROP where California residents can submit one request to have their data deleted from all registered data brokers at once. The portal launches August 2026. Our California DROP Guide has full details on how to use it.
Should I pay for a data removal service or do it myself?
It depends on your time and budget. DIY is free but requires 2-4 hours initially plus periodic follow-ups. Paid services like DeleteMe or Incogni cost $100-200 per year but handle everything automatically. Our Paid vs DIY Comparison guide breaks down the trade-offs honestly.
Do I need a VPN for privacy?
A VPN protects your internet connection from surveillance and your ISP, but it does not remove data that brokers already have about you. If your concern is data brokers, start with opt-outs first. If you also want browsing privacy, our VPN Buyer's Guide compares the top options.
How often do I need to re-submit data broker opt-outs?
Data brokers can re-acquire your information from public records and other sources. We recommend checking and re-submitting opt-outs every 6-12 months. The Opt-Out Tracker tool helps you monitor your requests and know when it is time to follow up.

How these guides are made

Each guide is written from the primary sources that govern privacy in the US, the text of state privacy laws (CCPA/CPRA and equivalents), the official opt-out and verification processes published by each data broker, and the documented features of the tools we compare. We test opt-out flows ourselves and link directly to each broker’s own removal page.

Privacy law and broker processes change often. We note the “last updated” date on each guide and revise when a law takes effect, a portal launches, or a broker changes its opt-out flow. Where a figure is cited, the source is named inline.

Download the listed-broker catalog extract cited on this page: privacyfix-broker-catalog.csv (CC0). Method notes live on /statistics and /methodology.

This page is compiled by PrivacyFix's editorial process from each broker's public opt-out documentation and firsthand opt-out testing, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of July 2026. Primary sources: California Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA) and FTC enforcement actions.