Mozilla has launched a new paid subscription service called Mozilla Monitor Plus, which offers privacy monitoring and data removal from over 190 sites where brokers sell information gathered from online sources. The service, priced at $8.99 per month, aims to automatically remove users' information when found, partnering with a company called Onerep to perform scans and takedown requests. Basic Monitor members will receive a free scan and one-time removal sweep, while Plus members will have continual monthly data broker scans. Mozilla's reputation as a privacy-first subsidiary of the open-source nonprofit Mozilla Foundation adds credibility to the service.
Google offers a "Remove this result" feature that allows users to scrub their personal information, such as phone numbers, email addresses, and home addresses, from appearing in Google Search results. By following a few steps, users can request the removal of specific information associated with their name. However, it's important to note that this feature only removes the information from Google Search and not from the entire internet or specific websites. The feature is currently in beta, and users can monitor the status of their removal requests through their Google Account.
Maintaining control over your online persona is crucial in today's digital world. Google, being the heart and soul of internet presence, can reveal more about you than you'd like. However, Google now allows users to request the removal of sensitive and personally identifiable information from search results. To further reduce online exposure, modify social media settings, delete old accounts, contact data-collection sites for removal, delete website comments, and blur your house on Google and Apple Maps. It's also important to maintain good digital hygiene by using antivirus software, identity theft protection, strong passwords, and 2-factor authentication. While erasing your digital footprint completely is nearly impossible, taking these steps can make it harder for unwanted elements to find you and protect your online privacy.
Reddit users have discovered that the site removed their chat history prior to January 1, 2023, without warning. A changelog update from June mentioned feature updates to chats but buried the reference to data removal at the bottom. Users who lost years' worth of conversations expressed frustration and sought ways to recover the chats. An admin explained that legacy chats were being migrated to a new platform, with only 2023 data being transferred. Reddit offered a data export option, but some users reported missing chats in their downloads. The incident occurred amidst other significant changes on Reddit, including the removal of popular third-party apps and a revolt by moderators.
Reddit is removing all chats and messages from before 2023 as part of its transition to a new chat architecture, leaving users unable to access their old conversations. While there may be a way to recover some of the messages through a data request, many users are unhappy with the lack of direct notification from Reddit. This move comes amidst a broader backlash from users and moderators over new policies and the phasing out of the existing coin system used to recognize exceptional contributors.
Safeguarding personal information online has become a paramount concern, but there are effective ways to remove personal information from the internet. Users can conduct a thorough search of their name across various search engines and social media platforms and request that websites remove their information. Alternatively, users can reach out to a data removal service like Incogni, which offers an automated personal information removal service that will send out wave after wave of opt-out requests on their behalf. Incogni restarts the whole process every three months to keep users' data out of circulation.
