Genealogy Website may have your information on it
Note (copied from the Family Tree Now website and added to TWBTC’s post, June 20, 2021):
If you would like to optout of living people and other records please follow the below procedure exactly. Please read through all steps before starting.
It was brought to our attention that there is a genealogy website called Family Tree Now which might very well have information on it that you MAY NOT want there. The info might include your address, past addresses, family members, possibly your children, ages etc. I (TWBTC) went to the website and, indeed, my information was on the site. How it got there I do not know because I have never visited that site before, but I suspect that the information is drawn from various public cyberspace sources. I followed their opt-out instructions and my information was removed within 36 hours. I have rechecked the site several times since opt-outing and my information continues to be erased from the site.
Below are instructions on how to OPT-OUT. It will take up to 48 hours to have your information completely removed and you will also want to search former last names (maiden and married) as you may be listed twice. Here is the information on how to remove yourself from Family Tree Now.
Step #1: Go to Family Tree Now – Opt Out of Records and read carefully through the steps. After reading the steps, confirm you are not a robot with reCAPTCHA and then click on the green “Begin Opt Out Procedure” button.
Step #2: Fill out the form that comes up to search their records.
Step #3: Once the results come up click on the record to open it up and read it to be sure that it is you. If several options come up, look at all of them to find your records. Once you have found your record, click on the red “Opt Out This Record” button.
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- Posted in: blog news
- Tagged: protecting victims, safety, social networking
A Cry For Justice 
Thank you, Super Sleuth. This insight will help to protect our precious sisters and children who are forced to keep running for their basic safety.
Unfortunately, this website is only one of many. 😦
Personal information is out there available on many places with just a simple Google search. There is absolutely no privacy. Every organization, company, charity etc., is perfectly willing to sell or provide personal data on folks. It seems so unfair.
What you’ve written Song Of Joy is so true!
I wonder if this is going to be another selling point when the mark of the beast is enacted. Something like, “No more personal identity information on the WWW. Each person will now be able to carry all their own information in one of two safe places on their own person!”
It looks like info from credit reports. How I know, my name was associated with someone who had used my address and my social (without my permission). I opted out and it disappeared not long after. Thank you!
There are a lot of these websites out there that publish your personal information. It seems like keeping mine private is an ongoing battle as new sites keep popping up.
This is a good starting point if you want to remove your info from as many sites as possible:
Doxxing defense: Remove your personal info from data brokers [Internet Archive link]
Thank you. Did it twice, once for former married name and once for maiden name. Thank you very much.
This is a two-edged sword.
When opting out, you confirm your information.
Another company can use it.
The cycle continues.
See this article and its comments thread:
Spreading The Word on Removing Yourself From Background Check Sites: Part 1 [Internet Archive link] by Sarah A. Downey, attorney and privacy analyst.
Thank you for this, Law4All!. When I have the time, I will be opting out of all the data brokers that are listed in the article. This is another of those things we should all be taught yet nobody is. Awesome resource!
My comment was actually to the article Jessica provided….sorry!
Thank you for this information.
Readers may also want to make sure that their information is not listed on the ‘Spokeo’ or ‘Intellius’ or ‘DexKnows’ websites as well. Just a thought.
Thank you again for this information.
Thank you. I just opted out, and the process was thankfully easy and quick.
Thanks for the info, I opted out and it’s gone.
I would remind people, too, about all those “loyalty” cards…the points, “freebies”, “customer satisfaction surveys”, and specials supply a wealth of information about personal preferences and purchase habits.
Thanks for the heads up. I try to avoid loyalty programs because of tracking, but at times I have given my info. We need to be discerning in many, many ways. At times overwhelming when we come to the end of our day.
I had another area to steer clear of come to mind when I read your reply…
On cashing out, some stores might ask for a zip code / postal code / whatever it’s called where you live. Depending on the country in which you live, this can provide more than just demographic or advertising information. (Omitting some details for my protection.)
I hear you on the overwhelming, especially when it comes to computer operating system or application software. I spend a lot of time and effort turning off MicroSoft switches – they want way to much information about me!
At least I don’t have a cell ‘phone to add into the mix. Or a Smart TV. Or one of the Amazon toys being touted right now. Or one of those watch gizmos.
(I wonder how many who have never been victimized actually consider these things.)
There are times I do the equivalent of throwing my hands up in the air, managing what I can, and saying the equivalent of “oh well”…
I like the picture of throwing your hands up in the air. We can only accomplish so much in a day or a week. At the end of the day, allowing unfinished tasks to fly from open hands seems freeing.
Yes, Finding Answers, the whole cell phone / smart watches, and more are all fantastic technology for abusers. That pretty much every teen and adult here in the states has a camera, internet, cell phone, and Facebook live (and others exist), it’s like paradise for bullies, abusers, harassers, stalkers, and other wicked persons to cyberstalk you, take away any sense of privacy or safety you might have and help further their mobbing, voyeurism, stalking, harassing, etc.