Background Alert Opt Out: Personal Information Removal Guide 2024

By Unzila Siddique

Unzila Siddique

Hi, I'm a part time content writer and full time SEO dabbling in the world of cybersecurity, one step at a time.

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2 February 2024
15 mins read

Table of Content

Table of Contents

Brace yourself for a scary digital tale: Background Alert presents an exciting new world where information about you is like a wrapped Christmas box that you can give away. You will find all your details right there – age, address and occupation – just like in the dreams of any detective. If that isn’t enough to convince you, just know that they have criminal records, arrests, and phone numbers too.

Are you escaping their clutches? It’s more complicated than that. It is as impossible as trying to remove Christmas lights from quicksand. They easily demand for identification to ‘confirm who you are’ they do it as though they are guarding against them.

Don’t fall into their psychological warfare. This is about your privacy, life, and narrative. By doing so it’s similar to David fighting Goliath a little bit; it is a war between Goliaths but you have the right to be your author.

Hence privacy becomes a luxury in the digital era. But we don’t go down without a fight first. We shape our story not Background Alert. Take up your pen again and tell us who you are.

Disclaimer: While this story is a work of fiction, its essence draws inspiration from the ever-evolving landscape of digital privacy and data brokerage.

Key Takeaways

Data from government records, public databases and other sources is compiled to produce comprehensive individual reports by an online service called Background Alert. Reports include personal information, criminal and court records, working and education history as well.
However, the information on such platforms is generally drawn from public records and can serve various purposes, including personnel checks or looking for old contacts.
But because of possible privacy implications, such platforms must be approached with caution. People should reflect on the consequences before putting their personal information out there for everyone to see.
Analyze the cancellation process of Background Alert to take back control over your information and limit interactions with data brokers.
See how PurePrivacy offers a reliable and speedy way of removing your data from the databases of data brokers, improving digital privacy.

Into the data mines: How does Background Alert collect your data?

As we live in this digital era, data collection is a constant prompt that life isn't as light and simple-minded as it may first appear. With their unrelenting data scrapings, business partnered relations with greedy big data brokers and constant monitoring of everything human on the planet, this deadly game of spy-data has too easily caught many unwary in its nets. It's not mere idle curiosity: Such work is a call to protect your online identity. Today information is king, and you've got to be on your toes. Even in the way they craft their online identity, people are constantly trying to increase what the Google will attribute as value for them. The digital trail you've chosen must be understood-not hidden data mining.

Data broker 101: Background Alert's information source

As a data broker, Background Alert connects up businessmen with one another within their own fields. This firm collects personal data from more than a billion Americans, then sells this information to businesses and advertising organizations.

The treasure trove: What data does Background Alert hold?

The extensive database of Background Alert contains data equating to consumer information and tenant listings. This includes such information as credit history, court records (including government documents), social security numbers and financial data.

Taking charge of your online privacy: Navigating data brokers

When it comes to your online privacy, understanding how data brokers work is key. Keep your digital world safe with these simple steps:

Learn how facts brokers perform: Take some time to understand what records agents do, the information they collect, and how they use it. Stay up to date on privateness rules to understand your rights.
Check privacy policies: Look closely at the app and carrier policies. Be cautious if they proportion your data with others, like facts agents.
Guard your information: Be careful about sharing private stuff online, especially on social media. Adjust privacy settings regularly.
Use opt-out picks: See if facts agents will let you choose out. If you could, do away with your data from their records.
Stay alert: Keep an eye on your online money owed and cash subjects. Check your credit reports regularly to capture any mistakes or unauthorized movements.
Spread the word: Tell friends and family about online privacy. Encourage them to maintain their data secure too.

In the year 2022, a total of 1,774 data breaches were reported, affecting around 422 million individuals, equating to an average of 4.8 breaches daily.

Alarmingly, a significant 33% of global consumers found themselves victim to a data breach. Within these breaches, 44% exposed sensitive customer details like names, email addresses, and passwords.

Interestingly, when comparing breaches in scenarios with and without remote work, breaches occurring in the context of remote work incurred an additional average cost of $1.07 million.

The timeframe for notification also raised concerns, as 11% of companies took up to six months to inform consumers about a breach, and an additional 5% waited an entire year before disclosing the breach's occurrence.

Opting-out methods: Strategies and alternatives

In a data-centric world, you have alternatives for opting out of services like Background Alert. Background Alert gives a manual decide-out on their website, taking about 7 days after coming into your details and confirming via e-mail. Alternatively, PurePrivacy's 'Remove My Data' sends requests to 130+ data brokers, confirming deletions in 30-60 days. Pick the method that fits you to regain control of your records and bolster your privacy.

Method 1: Background Alert opt-out- Choose privacy first

Step 1: How can I manually opt out of Background Alert?

Visit https://backgroundalert.com/optout/.
Once there, enter your first and last name, along with the state.
Hit the "Search" button.

Screenshot of Background Alert's official page where you enter information of the said person and search

Step 2: Look through the search results

Once the search results appear, select the one you want.
Hit "That's Me".

Screenshot of the results post search on Background Alert

Step 3: Submit your request

In the next step, provide the email address.
Click "NEXT".

Screenshot of the request you need to send for opt out post submission of your email

Step 4: Confirm your identity

You'll be required to upload an image of your ID for confirmation
Click "NEXT" to proceed.

Screenshot of identity confirmation on Background Alert to process the opt out

Step 5: Request received

Screenshot of the request received post performing an opt out on Background Alert

Step 6: Email confirmation

An email confirmation will be sent to you once your request has been approved.
And you’re done!

Screenshot of the confirmation of request post opt out on Background Alert

Duration of this exercise: 10 - 15 minutes

Method 2: Seamless Background Alert opt-out via PurePrivacy

PurePrivacy is a great tool for erasing data and keeping your personal details safe. The problem? Too much tracking and recording of what you do online can harm your privacy. This is how PurePrivacy can help:

PurePrivacy's Remove My Data feature combats this threat. Users provide basic details, and PurePrivacy sends data removal requests to 130+ data brokers. While verification isn't guaranteed, it confirms deletion from publicly accessible databases.
PurePrivacy offers a dashboard displaying data brokers and their collected information, with risk scores. Users can track removal requests, communicate with brokers, and receive weekly reports. Removal time varies, typically 30-60 days.

Steps to Opt-Out Using PurePrivacy

From web app:

● Visit the PurePrivacy website.

● Sign up to PurePrivacy.

● Create your profile.

● Provide us your consent.

● Once you allow authorization the opt out process will begin. Pure Privacy automatically starts the monitoring & opt out process for your information. First ask them if they have your data or not. If they have simply opted out of data on behalf of you. This all process was done within a short period of time. Also Send a weekly email summary that combines and summarizes the activity related to removing data.

From Mobile App (Android & IOS):

● Launch PurePrivacy mobile app.

● Signup or Login to your account.

● Enter Details to create your profile.

● Allow us your express authorization to start the opt out process.

● Once you allow authorization the opt out process will begin. Pure Privacy automatically starts the monitoring & opt out process for your information. First ask them if they have your data or not. If they have simply opted out of data on behalf of you. This all process was done within a short period of time. Also Send a weekly email summary that combines and summarizes the activity related to removing data.

Manual vs. automated data removal: Background Alert and PurePrivacy compared

Opting out manually from Background Alert

Go to the website BackgroundAlert.com.
Select the option 'Remove My Information'.
Perform a search using your name and address.
Choose 'This is me' next to your entry.
Provide your email address.
Submit your identification.
Click on the verification link in your email. After confirming, please allow approximately one week for your request to take effect.

PurePrivacy

Launch the app (10 seconds)
Create a profile (10 seconds)
Give consent (10 seconds)

Despite keeping the numbers well hidden, one analysis calculated that there was around a 4% increase in revenue for the advertising platform when cookies were available. Although this is billions of dollars for some of the biggest companies, it shows how little our data is worth on the internet and suggests it may not be impossible to move away from some data collection.

After the Snowden reports were released, 34%of adults who had heard about it (30% of the total adult population) took steps to protect their personal data. However, 54% of adults thought it would be difficult to protect their data, so there need to be more privacy laws to protect the less tech-savvy customers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Background Alert legit?

Background Alert is an online service that compiles public records and information about individuals. While it can provide background information, its legitimacy can vary. It's recommended to thoroughly research reviews, ratings, and their website's credibility before using their services.
How do I remove my info from Background Alert?

Navigate to backgroundalert.com, access the footer, and click on "Remove my info." Complete the opt-out form with your first name, last name, and state. Identify your listing in the search results and supply a valid email address.
Is Background Alert free of cost?

Unfortunately, it's not offered for free, and the fees differ depending on the plan you select. For more details, please visit their official website at backgroundalert.com.
How long does it take to opt out of Background Alert?

Once your opt-out information is verified, the process typically concludes within a span of 7 days.
Are there any potential privacy concerns when using Background Alert?

Yes, using services like Background Alert raises privacy concerns, as it collects and compiles public information about individuals. Before using such services, consider the potential impact on your personal privacy and whether the benefits outweigh the risks. Always review their privacy policies and terms of use.

Conclusion

This article talks about the tough task of evading Background Alert, a heavy hitter in the data broker world. It illustrates the vast quantity of its data and the obstacles to opt out. It brings up the strange twist of ID verification. With a focus on empowerment, it tells people to regain control of their story. Practical and efficient ways to opt out with PurePrivacy are provided in an easy-to-follow guide. The advantages and drawbacks of using this tool are described, shedding importance of protecting personal data. This writing explains the issues and answers in data privacy in our modern online world.

Simplify your online presence today
With PurePrivacy, make sure all your personal data remains safe without a hassle!

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References

https://www.cloudwards.net/data-privacy-statistics/
https://www.cloudwards.net/prism-snowden-and-government-surveillance/
https://www.resmo.com/blog/data-privacy-statistics#:~:text=According%20to%20CISCO%20Data%20Privacy,90%25%20in%20the%20previous%20year.