Identity fraud
With a name, address, date of birth and phone number, criminals can open accounts, apply for loans or take out subscriptions in your name. The more data is available, the more convincing the fraud.
Removing personal data from the internet: we take care of it
Search for your own name. What comes up?
For many people the answer is sobering. An old address. A phone number that stopped being correct years ago. A profile on a site where they never knowingly created an account. Results from data brokers showing name, city, age and sometimes a great deal more, publicly, without you ever having agreed to it.
That information is not there by accident. It has been actively collected, stored and published by parties with a commercial interest in it. And it is actively abused, by criminals who use personal data for identity fraud, phishing attacks and targeted scams.
We remove your personal data from the internet. From data brokers, people-search sites, search results and other sources. Thoroughly, lastingly and fully managed.
Your digital footprint
How does your data end up on the internet?
Most people have no idea how large their digital footprint is, or how it came about. It rarely starts with a single moment: it is the result of years of data collection across dozens of channels.
Data brokers and people-search sites
This is the largest and least known source. Data brokers are companies that collect personal data from public sources, commercial registers, social media and open records, then combine it and sell it on. Sites such as Whitepages, Spokeo and dozens of comparable services show that data publicly: name, address, age, relatives, phone number.
Social media and old profiles
A Facebook account from ten years ago, a LinkedIn profile with a former work address, a forum account with personal details in the bio. Information that was shared deliberately but is now outdated or unwanted.
Data breaches
When a platform is hacked and personal data leaks, that data sometimes also lands on publicly accessible sites, as proof of the breach or as part of a published dataset.
Company information and public registers
Business owners registered with a chamber of commerce have part of their details publicly accessible by default, home address included when that doubles as the registered address.
News articles, court records and other publications
Information that was published legitimately at the time but is no longer relevant or wanted.
The risks
Why is this a problem?
Personal data online is not only a privacy matter. It is a safety risk too.
Targeted phishing attacks
Criminals who know your name, employer and immediate colleagues can build convincing spear phishing attacks: personalised emails that are hard to tell from the real thing.
Stalking and intimidation
For anyone dealing with unwanted attention, a former partner, a threatening customer, someone making threats online, a public address is an immediate safety risk.
Reputation damage
Incorrect or outdated information that is publicly visible can damage your professional reputation, with customers, with prospective employers or with business partners who look you up.
Combination attacks
Individual details look harmless. But name + address + date of birth + employer + phone number is a combination that lets an attacker answer several verification questions, and so gain access to accounts, bank accounts or government portals.
Who it is for
Who is this service for?
Personal data removal is relevant for anyone who is visible online and wants control over that visibility. Think of anyone who has searched for their own name and was startled by what came up.
Business owners and directors
Their home address is publicly visible through commercial registers or data brokers, and they would rather keep it separate from their business presence.
People with a public profile
Managers, advisers and consultants who are regularly looked up by clients or contacts and want control over what those people see.
People dealing with unwanted attention
A threatening situation, a stalker, intimidation, where a public address or phone number is an immediate risk.
People after a data breach
Their personal data became public after a hack and they want that information actively removed.
Our approach
What we actually do for you
01
Mapping your digital footprint
We systematically establish what personal data about you can be found online, on which platforms, in which databases, in which search results. That gives you immediate insight into the size of the problem.
02
Removal requests with data brokers
We submit removal requests to every relevant data broker and people-search site, local and international alike. Each platform has its own procedure; we know them and follow them correctly.
03
Requests with search engines
Under the right to be forgotten, certain search results can be removed from Google and other search engines, even when the source page still holds the information. We submit the right requests and follow the procedure through.
04
Removal at specific sources
Beyond data brokers there are specific sources: people-search sites, forums, old profiles, where data has to be removed. We identify those sources and see the removal through.
05
Verification and reporting
Afterwards we verify that the removals went through and deliver a clear report. So you have it in writing, exactly what was done.
06
Continuous monitoring
Data can come back; data brokers refresh their databases regularly. On request we monitor your digital footprint continuously and deal with new listings straight away.
What's at stake?
This is what it looks like when it goes wrong
No technical jargon, just situations every business owner recognises.
Your personal details are abused
Without removing personal data from the internet
Your name, home address and phone number sit on an old forum and in several online directories. Criminals connect the dots and know exactly who you are, where you live and which company you run. You start receiving targeted phishing emails with your own address quoted in them, so they look credible. Your private phone rings with scammers posing as your bank. An employee is approached through a fake email that appears to come from you.
The damage
- Targeted attacks on you and your staff
- Personal intimidation and social engineering
- Financial loss through deception (€ 2,000 – € 8,000 on average)
- Stress and time lost dealing with fraud
- Hard to undo: information spreads across the internet
What would have prevented this?
Orange Warriors monitors which personal details of you and your key staff can be found online and submits removal requests to websites and data brokers. Less visibility means a smaller target.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about personal data removal
Do I have the right to have my data removed?
Yes. The GDPR gives everyone the right to request removal of personal data from organisations that process it. This right to be forgotten does have exceptions: not every request has to be granted. We assess case by case what is possible and submit the requests with the best chance of success.
Can you also remove information from Google?
Yes, in certain cases. Under the right to be forgotten, search results can be removed from Google even when the source page still holds the information. Google assesses each request individually. We know the criteria and make sure requests are submitted correctly.
What if the information comes back after removal?
That can happen, particularly with data brokers who refresh their databases from public sources. We offer continuous monitoring, where we spot new listings immediately and submit a fresh removal request.
How long does it take before data is removed?
That varies per platform. Some data brokers process requests within days. Others take weeks to months. Requests to search engines are usually assessed within a few weeks. We track progress and push for a result.
Can you also remove company details from public registers?
A commercial register is a public record, and most of the data in it is required by law to be public. For owners who want their home address out of such a register, specific procedures exist. We advise you on the options and handle the application.
Free digital footprint scan
Search for your own name. Then you will know whether you need this.
If you see something you would rather not have online, we help remove it and make sure it stays that way.