This is not only an issue of personal privacy but also safety. Many organisations sell address data to brokers, who then distribute their contents to advertisers, identity thieves, or even burglars. Here's the step-by-step process of how to delete your home address off the web.
Share Your Address Only When Necessary
Keep your address private by limiting how often you give out your home address. Share it only when you must, like when opening a bank account or registering to vote. You can use an alternate address elsewhere, for example, when signing up for a gym membership or getting deliveries. That little change makes a big difference to the privacy of your home address online.
Mask Your Address in Mapping Apps
Online maps usually have very clear street views of your home. Thankfully, apps such as Google Maps and Apple Maps can blur your home for privacy. For Google Maps, enter your address, go to Report a Problem, then the areas you'd like to blur. For Apple Maps, write to their team at mapsimagecollection@apple.com, with details of your home, and they will handle it.
Remove Your Address from Search Results
You have the right to request its removal, if it appears on a search engine. Google offers users the ability to track and control personal information online. One can visit their Google Account and navigate to the Results About You section to set alerts and even request removal of the address from certain search results. Remember that Google could retain content from government or business sites.
Know your Social Media Profiles
Review your social media profiles for those instances where you published your house address. Never post a photo with your street or house number. Periodically update your privacy setting to restrict access to your information.
Opt Out from Whitepages
Whitepages is the biggest collection of addresses online. To remove yourself from it, visit their Suppression Request page, search for your profile, and make a suppression request for removal of it. You can easily do this in a few minutes.
Cleaning Up Unused Accounts
Most websites and services save your address whenever you sign up. Accounts you don't use anymore—like old shopping sites or subscription services—and delete them or request that your data be erased. That's fewer chances of a leak or misuse. You could also use a Post Office Box as an alternative.
The use of a post office box can make certain that one private home address does not have to be revealed. You can apply through USPS to lease a box for as low as $15 monthly online. This address could be used for deliveries or other accounts; it conceals your place of residency.
Use a Virtual Mailbox
Added to that is the security factor - virtual mailboxes have a secure option. They scan and forward your mail and allow you to access it online. It's thus comfortable for a frequent traveller, thus anyone who wants to avoid physical mail at his doorstep.
Securing Your Address with a VPN
Finally, make use of a virtual private network (VPN) to encrypt your internet data. Also, keep the physical location private. It conceals where you are physically based as you go online. Many browsers also have this built-in VPN option for additional security as well.
Removing your home address from the internet may take some effort, but the peace of mind it brings is worth it. By following these steps, you can protect your privacy and stay safer in an increasingly connected world.
