How data brokers get your information

The short version

You never signed up with most of the companies that sell your data. Brokers assemble a profile from records you did generate elsewhere, then license it to advertisers, insurers, landlords, and anyone who pays.

Where the data comes from

• Public records — property deeds, voter files, court and marriage records, professional licenses.
• Commercial sources — warranty cards, loyalty programs, magazine subscriptions, and purchases resold as "marketing data."
• Online activity — cookies, mobile ad IDs, and app SDKs that report what you browse and where you go.
• Other brokers — the industry buys and re-sells each other's files, which is why the same address shows up on dozens of sites.

Why you have to opt out everywhere

There is no central "delete me" switch. Each broker holds its own copy, so a removal at one site does nothing at the next. That is the entire reason this index exists: the opt-out links, in one place, ordered so the quick, high-impact removals come first.

What opting out does — and doesn't — do

Opting out suppresses your listing and limits marketing use. It generally does not erase records a company is legally allowed to keep (for example, fraud-prevention data under permitted-use rules). Expect to re-check the highest-risk people-search sites every few months, because profiles can be rebuilt from fresh public records.

This guide is general information, not legal advice.