Last month I ran a full digital footprint scan on myself.

Here's what it found:

• 47 data broker sites actively listing my home address, phone number, and relatives

• 3 leaked credential sets from old breaches (one from 2016 I never knew about)

• My full employment history scraped from sources I never authorized

• Photos indexed from accounts I thought were private

The scariest part? None of this required a hack. It's all legal. Data brokers buy, scrape, and resell your info openly — and most people have no idea how exposed they are.

Here's what actually works:

1. Audit first. You can't remove what you haven't found. Run a scan covering data brokers, people-search sites, and breach databases.

2. Send opt-out requests. Most brokers are legally required to remove you if you ask. Automate where you can.

3. Monitor ongoing. New data surfaces constantly. A one-time cleanup isn't enough — set up monthly scans to catch new exposure early.

4. Lock down your active accounts. Unique emails, strong passwords, review app permissions. Most leaks start with bad hygiene on live accounts.

Your data is out there right now. The question is whether you're going to do something about it.

— TraceShield