Navigating the Intricacies of Online Footprints and Privacy

Is it even possible to disappear from the internet? Wirecutter writer Max Eddy explains how he tried to do it, why it’s so hard, and what steps you can take to take control of the information that’s out there. Plus, some of the surprising sentimental hurdles he had to overcome during this project.  

Things we recommend:

• Find websites that have exposed your email in a data breach: Have I Been Pwned
• Find google results with your personal information in them: Google’s Results About You tool
• The best password manager: 1Password
• The best data removal service: DeleteMe
• Create masked emails using Apple’s tool or Google’s tool
• Automatically delete X posts using Cyd
• On Facebook, retroactively limit who can see your posts, prevent search engine and image search of your content or pull up a log of your interactions on the platform, which lets you delete comments that have become problematic with age.

Additional reading:

• I Tried, and Failed, to Disappear From the Internet
• 7 Simple Ways to Protect Your Digital Privacy
• The 2 Best Password Managers of 2025
• The 2 Best Two-Factor Authentication Apps of 2025

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The Wirecutter Show is executive produced by Rosie Guerin and produced by Abigail Keel.Engineering support from Maddy Masiello and Nick Pitman. Episodes are mixed by Catherine Anderson, Efim Shapiro, Rowan Niemisto, Sophia Lanman, and Sonia Herrero. Original music by Dan Powell, Marion Lozano, Elisheba Ittoop, and Diane Wong. Wirecutter’s deputy publisher and general manager is Cliff Levy. Ben Frumin is Wirecutter’s editor-in-chief. Hosted by Rosie Guerin, Caira Blackwell and Christine Cyr Clisset.

Find edited transcripts for each episode here: The Wirecutter Show Podcast