There’s a scene from the television show “Parks and Recreation” that most people can probably sympathize with. One of the characters is browsing the internet and is surprised to discover that a website knows his full name. When a colleague explains how “cookies” collect and store information about you on the internet, the character takes his computer and dumps it in the trash. Problem solved, right?

If only it were that easy! These days, a truly shocking amount of our personal data is accessible online. Not just our names, but also our home addresses, phone numbers, financial information, and court records. If you enter your name into a search engine, you’re likely to find a variety of websites hosting—and selling—all this information and more.

I’m sure you’re wondering: “why is all my personal information online?” The explanation is that shadowy, largely unregulated companies called “data brokers” have created an entire industry out of collecting and selling your information to third parties.

There are thousands of businesses and individuals interested in acquiring your information for all sorts of reasons. Maybe they want to add your name to spam or robocall lists so they can hit you with targeted advertisements. Maybe they want help deciding whether to approve your loan or insurance application. Or maybe they’re snooping around your personal business so that they can try to hack your accounts.

Either way, data brokers don’t discriminate. They’ll sell your information to anyone. So, what can you do about it?

The first step is to identify all the data brokers that are currently selling your information. PupErase is proud to offer a free comprehensive search that will provide you with an overview. Equipped with that information, you can contact each data broker directly and have your information removed. They’re legally obligated to comply.

If that sounds like a lot of work, well, it is. And unfortunately, data brokers aren’t always immediately responsive to your first request—sometimes you have to follow up repeatedly. It can take a lot of time.

But don’t worry, PupErase has you covered. If you want your information removed from the internet but don’t want the hassle of dealing with data brokers directly, upgrade to our PupGuard service. We’ll tackle the data brokers on your behalf, and you can rest easy knowing that we won’t quit until your information is completely erased.