How Do Data Brokers Get My Information?

Data brokers seem to know everything about you — your address, relatives, phone number, even your buying habits. They build that profile from dozens of sources, most of which you never knowingly agreed to. Here's how it works.

Public records

The foundation of every broker profile: property deeds, voter registrations, court records, marriage and bankruptcy filings, and business licenses.

Online activity and purchases

Cookies, app trackers, loyalty programs and online forms feed brokers your browsing, location and shopping behavior, which they tie back to your identity.

Other brokers and breaches

Brokers buy and trade data with each other, and they scoop up information leaked in data breaches — which is why one wrong listing spreads everywhere.

How to opt out

You can break the chain by removing yourself from the brokers that publish your profile.

Run a free scan to find which brokers list you.
Submit opt-outs using our /remove-from guides and re-check quarterly.

Frequently asked questions

Is it legal for data brokers to collect my information?

In most of the U.S., yes. There's no federal law banning the practice, though states like California (CCPA) give you the right to opt out and request deletion.

Can I stop data brokers from collecting my information?

You can't stop collection entirely, but you can opt out of each broker so they remove your published profile. Because they re-collect from public records, this needs to be repeated periodically.