If you thought that your phone number was secure and hard to find, think again. Go ahead and do a little experiment by typing your full name into Google or any other search engine that you like. What sites show up hosting information about you? You might be shocked to discover just how easy it is to find your phone number, along with other personal details that you might want to keep private.
What can you do if your personal number shows up in Google search results? Check out the tips below to learn about a few ways to keep your personal information private.
Remove Yourself from People Search Websites
People search websites are databases where you can find a host of information on just about anyone. They don’t ask you if you want them to display your personal details, such as your phone number and other contact info, but they will instead just go ahead and do it. So, when you perform a search of your name on Google, many of these databases are likely to show up.
While it can be frustrating to see that these websites are displaying your phone number and other information for all to see, there is some good news: you can opt out and have your information taken down. For instance, you can view the Spokeo opt out instructions to get an idea of what needs to be done to have your info taken down quickly.
Probably the most well-known of these sites is Whitepages, so your information is likely on there right now, unless you have already gone through the process to opt out of Whitepages.
Keep in mind that you’ll need to contact each of these sites to opt out. So, if you’re on FastPeopleSearch, you’ll need to find the FastPeopleSearch removal instructions.
Also Read: The Beginner’s Guide to the Reverse Phone Lookup
Remove Your Phone Number from Your Social Media Accounts
If your social media accounts, such as your Facebook account, are public or they show up in Google search results, you will want to take steps to make sure your personal details are kept private. And this might include removing your phone number. To do that, all you have to do is go to your account settings and remove your phone number, while also removing it from your profile so no one will be able to see it.
Remove Your Phone Number from Your Google Account
Finally, if you have an account with Google and you provided them with your phone number in the past, you might have changed your mind about letting them have access to that information. If that is the case, you can simply follow their instructions to remove your phone number quickly and easily from that account. There are separate instructions that you can follow based on the device that you are using, whether you are on an Android device, Apple device, or a computer.
Also Read: How to Easily Have Your iPhone Unlocked?
Once you have worked through the steps above, perform another search on Google to see what information appears with your name. If your phone number still shows up on certain websites, take appropriate action to make accounts private, disable accounts, or contact websites directly to tell them that you don’t want them displaying your information. Before you know it, you’ll have regained control over where your phone number can be found.