The Wirecutter Show Can You Really Disappear Online?
40 snips
Jun 25, 2025 
Max Eddy, a Wirecutter writer specializing in privacy and security, discusses the daunting quest to disappear online. He shares his personal journey and the emotional challenges of erasing digital footprints. Listeners learn about tools to check for data breaches and ways to manage their online presence more effectively. The conversation highlights the complexities of deleting social media accounts and offers practical strategies to mitigate unwanted visibility. Max emphasizes the importance of protective measures in an increasingly interconnected world.
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Discovering Old LiveJournal Posts
- Max found about 200 LiveJournal posts from his past and was surprised by the volume and content.
- Revisiting these old posts was disorienting and showed how much he had changed since then.
Start with Google & Password Manager
- Start by Googling yourself using name, address, phone number, and email variations.
- Use your password manager and Have I Been Pwned to find forgotten or breached accounts.
Check Breaches on Have I Been Pwned
- Use Have I Been Pwned free service to see if your email is in known data breaches.
- Change passwords if they were exposed and take steps to protect your personal info.
