Incogni is a service created by “Surfshark” that removes personal information from data brokers’ databases. Data brokers collect and sell personal data, often without informed consent, leading to privacy concerns.
The service is especially helpful in countries like the US, UK, EU, Switzerland, and Canada, where regulations such as the CCPA, UK-GDPR, and GDPR are in effect.
How Incogni Works:
- Account Creation: Users create an account and specify the personal data they want removed.
- Permission: Incogni acts on behalf of the user to contact data brokers and request the removal of their personal data.
- Automated Process: Incogni handles all interactions, including follow-ups and rejected claims, ensuring quick and effective data removal.
Types of Data Brokers:
Incogni deals with various kinds of data brokers, such as:
- People Search Sites: Compile profiles with personal details and make them available online.
- Marketing Data Brokers: Track online behavior for marketing purposes.
- Recruitment Data Brokers: Offer data for background checks and HR purposes.
- Risk Mitigation Brokers: Provide background reports for investment and business purposes.
- Financial Information Brokers: Sell financial information to credit companies or banks.
Service Features:
- Time to Remove Profiles: Removal times vary depending on the broker but typically range from 24 hours to 14 days.
- Data Reappearance: Incogni performs periodic checks to ensure that data does not reappear in databases.
- Widest Coverage: Incogni covers the US, UK, EU, Switzerland, and Canada, with broader market reach compared to similar services.
Why Subscribe to Incogni:
- It saves time, as it can take up to 300 hours for an individual to remove their personal data from brokers manually.
- Incogni continues to monitor and remove users’ data to ensure it stays off the market.
- Their yearly subscription includes a 50% discount and saves users years of manual work.
FAQ:
How does Incogni know where my data is?
- Incogni uses a list of known data brokers who collect and process personal data. They send removal requests to these brokers on the user’s behalf.
How long does it take for data to be removed?
- The removal process can take from 24 hours to several weeks. Some brokers respond quickly, while others may take longer.
Will my data be collected again?
- While it’s possible that data brokers may reacquire some information, Incogni continuously monitors and sends new removal requests to ensure your data stays off their databases.
Do I need to interact with the data brokers?
- No, Incogni handles all communications with the data brokers. The user just needs to give Incogni permission to act on their behalf.
How do I know my data has been removed?
- Incogni provides regular updates on the progress of data removal requests, including notifications when a data broker confirms the deletion.
What if the broker refuses to delete my data?
- Incogni handles rejections and will follow up with data brokers to address issues or reprocess the request if necessary.
How many data brokers does Incogni contact?
- Incogni has a list of hundreds of data brokers, and the list is constantly growing. The service continues to add more brokers to ensure comprehensive data removal.
How often does Incogni check if my data is back online?
- Incogni performs regular checks to ensure data is not repopulated in brokers’ databases, maintaining long-term privacy.
