Forbidden Skill #152: How to Keep Whitepages from Mining and Publishing Your Personal Data

How to Keep Whitepages from Mining and Publishing Your Personal Data

If you've ever Googled your name and been surprised—or alarmed—by how much personal information shows up, you're not alone. One of the biggest offenders? Whitepages.

Whitepages.com is a data aggregator that compiles names, addresses, phone numbers, relatives, and even property details, then makes it available to the public. In many cases, people never gave permission for their private details to be posted online. Fortunately, you can fight back.

Here’s how to keep Whitepages from mining and publishing your personal data—and how to minimize your future exposure.

Why Is Your Info on Whitepages?

Whitepages pulls information from:

• Public records (such as property deeds, voter registrations, and court filings)

• Marketing databases

• Utility records and telecom companies

• Subscription services and online forms

Once gathered, this data is sold or shared in detailed profiles that can include:

• Full name

• Age and date of birth

• Current and previous addresses

• Phone numbers

• Names of relatives and associates

• Property ownership details

Step-by-Step: How to Remove Your Info from Whitepages

1. Search for Your Profile

• Go to https://www.whitepages.com

• Enter your name and city/state

• Locate the listing that contains your personal details

2. Copy the Profile URL

• Click on your profile

• Copy the full web address (URL) from your browser — you’ll need it for the opt-out process

3. Opt Out of Whitepages Listings

• Visit: https://www.whitepages.com/suppression-requests

• Alternatively you can visit: https://www.whitepages.com/privacy/consumer-rights

• Paste the URL of your profile

• Follow the prompts to verify that you're the individual in the listing

• You may be asked to provide a phone number to receive a verification code. You do not have to use your real phone number — a VoIP number or burner phone can work.

Whitepages usually removes the listing within 24–48 hours. Make a note to check again in a few days to confirm.

Beware: Whitepages Premium Listings

Whitepages also maintains Premium listings — deeper reports behind a paywall. These include:

• Criminal records

• Financial info

• Email addresses

• Business affiliations

To remove Premium records:

Use steps 1 and 2, then send a request manual request through the help center using the premium URL listing:

https://support.whitepages.com/hc/en-us/requests/new

Prevent Future Listings

Opting out once is not always enough. Here's how to stay off Whitepages (and other data brokers):

1. Stop the Data at the Source

• Use a PO Box or commercial mail receiving agency (CMRA) instead of your home address

• Don’t use your real name or address for loyalty cards, magazine subscriptions, or online purchases

• Avoid using your real phone number when signing up for services—use a VoIP or alias line

2. Freeze Data Sharing with Key Services

• Opt out of data sharing with your utilities, ISP, and phone carrier

• Ask to set up accounts without providing a Social Security Number, which reduces downstream exposure

3. Use a Privacy Alias

• Establish alias names tied to trusts, LLCs, or virtual addresses for property records, contracts, and public-facing documents

Use Data Removal Services

Prior to companies like Optery, who uses automation to monitor and remove your private data, it would normally take me weeks to manually scrub client data from hundreds of permutations of online data broker sites. Not to mention, many data broker sites don’t allow representation so I had to coordinate a time for my clients to receive confirmation texts/calls or submit an Opt-Out request letter to a generic email address outsourced to a foreign country, which could take weeks if anyone actually gets it. Isn’t it amazing how the ones selling your data have the most privacy? This was not only time consuming for us, but very costly to clients.

That’s the nice thing about Optery, its affordable and recurring which allows you to quickly figure out if your data leak was a one-time deal or if it is continuous such as from DMV,bank marketing, cell phone spam, property records, ISP companies sharing data, etc. So check them out here: Optery

Whitepages is just one of many data brokers profiting from your personal information. While it may seem like a never-ending battle, proactive data scrubbing and regular monitoring make a huge difference.

By opting out, tightening your personal information flow, and creating layers of alias or entity protection, you reclaim control of your data — and your privacy.

Want help protecting your personal or family data from exposure? Follow me on IG and reach out to discuss your options for custom privacy and OPSEC strategies & training, including corporate/business training.

Thank you for visiting.

I specialize in corporate training and supplying security, privacy, and asset management products as well as private consultations and general custom group training for individuals, professionals, & businesses.

Find me on IG @ReadyResourceSupply

If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to message me, thank you!