Short answer: to do a privacy check, look at yourself the way a stranger would, search your own name, use each platform's "View As public" tool, and check what shows up. You will usually find more exposed than you expected. Here is a step-by-step self-audit and how to lock down what you find.
Step 1: Search yourself
Search your full name (in quotes), plus your name with your city, school or employer, in Google and an image search. Do it in a private/incognito window so your own login does not skew results. Note every profile, photo, phone number or address that appears, that is what strangers see.
Step 2: Use "View As Public" on your profiles
- Facebook: profile > three dots > View As to see your profile as the public does.
- Instagram / others: check whether your account is public and what a non-follower can see.
- LinkedIn: view your public profile and adjust what is visible.
Anything you would not hand to a stranger, lock down.
Step 3: Do a Google privacy check-up
Google's Privacy Check-up and Security Check-up walk you through what Google stores and shares, and let you tighten it. Also check "Results about you" if available, to find and request removal of your personal info from Search.
Step 4: Lock down the exposures you found
| Exposure | Fix |
|---|---|
| Public phone/email | Set to private in each profile |
| Old accounts you forgot | Delete or lock them |
| Info on data-broker sites | Use their opt-out/removal forms |
| Photos you did not post | Untag / request removal |
The non-obvious tip: your weakest profile defines your privacy
You can lock Facebook down perfectly, but a forgotten old forum account, a public Venmo feed, or a data-broker listing can leak the same details. Privacy is only as strong as your most-exposed profile. When you self-audit, hunt specifically for the old and forgotten accounts, they are where most surprising personal info leaks from.
Frequently asked questions
How do I see what strangers can find about me online?
Search your name in an incognito window (with your city, school, employer), do an image search, and use each platform's View As Public tool to see your profiles as others do.
How do I check my Google privacy?
Use Google's Privacy Check-up and Security Check-up, and the 'Results about you' tool to find and request removal of your personal info from Search.
How do I remove my info from data-broker sites?
Find your listing on the broker's site and use their opt-out or removal form. Several services and guides list the major brokers and their opt-out links.
Why does privacy depend on my weakest profile?
A single forgotten old account or public feed can leak the same details you hid elsewhere. Privacy is only as strong as your most-exposed profile.
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