Summary: The web has a very long memory. Removal is nearly impossible. Avoid posting sensitive information in any way that can be seen publicly.
It was unwise of me to take part and put in my name in some guestbooks. I'd like to remove my information from the search results of the major search engines: Google, Yahoo and so forth. I tried in vain to contact the webmasters of those sites. I'm becoming fussier about that and it's getting more awkward as far as my profession is concerned. Would you please assist me in dealing with this problem?
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Search engines are amazing. They've collected and indexed billions of pages of information out on the internet. And while we think of Google, Yahoo, MSN and other "name brand" search engines, the reality is that there are hundred of search engines that could all be indexing pages on the web.
Getting into the search engines is not terribly difficult. Getting out? The news is not good.
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I'll be blunt: In my opinion, it's a lost cause. The search engines do have opportunities for webmasters to remove specific pages from the search results. However, it a) does have to be a page or an entire site, and b) they'll only do it at the request of the owner of the site.
On top of that there are many services and sites which take additional cached snapshots of web pages for historical records. Google, for example, often allows you to view a cached copy of a page, even if that page is no longer on line. The internet archive, archive.org, is another example of a site that keeps archive copies of web pages for historical archiving purposes.
So if you've left your information in a guest book, or a blog's comment form, and the search engines have scanned it ... you're pretty much out of luck.
Now, you can certainly contact all the webmasters of all the sites that you've left your information on, and ask them to remove what you posted. If they listen and do what you want (there's no guarantee there either), then eventually those pages will be updated on most of the search engines. I say most, because there's also no guarantee that all the search engines will update, or when. Once you're there, you might be there for a long, long time.
So ultimately I don't have an answer or an approach for you, other than to avoid things such as those guest books in the future.
Related:
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Ask Leo! - Why shouldn't I post my email address in a public forum?
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Ask Leo! - How do I get rid of all this SPAM?!?!
Article C2450 - October 30, 2005
I have been researching with all of the companies that have been in the business of cleaning names on search engines but only one of them had really removed my name from the SE's and my negative link was published at ROR(rip-of-report) and many I have contacted and hired but only http://www.reputationengineer.com/ removed it and cleared my name within the first 2 months of the 6 months contract. And had a clear profile online with applying with companies have been a breeze with no problems.
Posted by: Jennifer Haley at May 11, 2009 1:57 AMJennifer, reputation Engineer is a ripoff and you might be fraud too - how could they have done what you are saying they have done if they only registered their website 6 days ago?! LOL and their website just sucks...
http://www.networksolutions.com/whois-search/reputationengineer.com
Do your homework people!
Posted by: Elmer at May 11, 2009 9:26 AMI agree with what Joanne said, I also used the http://Reputation-Technologies.com and I would strongly recommend them. Like what Leo said, there really is no answer to removing your name from google. But the next best thing is to at least get the negative stuff about you off the first search results page of Google and into the succeeding pages where it they will be less noticeable. This is what http://Reputation-Technologies.com did for me so I'm pretty sure they can help you guys out too.
Posted by: Harry at October 15, 2009 10:15 AMI was checking-out some of the earlier comments. I read that mike mentioned www.cleanmy.name which i used. since he hasn't used this service, i would like him to know that it is not only inexpensive but also effective. The package I took was the $49/mo.
Posted by: Candice at October 15, 2009 11:26 AMI agree with what Joanne posted above. I've had great experience with Zallas Technologies and I can certainly vouch that they have their stuff together. They aren't really expensive, their prices are actually fair. Results can be seen in a few weeks up to 6 months.
Posted by: Athena at October 15, 2009 1:11 PMMy loser ex-boyfriend wrote some bad stuff about me after I dumped him. When I googled my name, all these stupid lies about me on the blogs he made came up. Well I wanted to delete my name from Google so I went to http://www.cleanmy.name I had to spend money because of that idiot but thankfully the cleanmy.name guys were successful
Posted by: Ginger at October 16, 2009 7:40 AM@Ginger...i tried that link to http://www.cleanmy.name/ you gave and it mentions GoogleNameCleaner on the homepage. do you know if it's the same service?
Posted by: drew at October 16, 2009 9:30 AMI need some help ....please.
Posted by: craig loisy at October 17, 2009 8:22 PMThere is an news story that my name is involved from 2006 and when my name is entered into a search box it comes right up. I have moved away and landed a wonderful job.
Today someone from work searched my name and it came up.....this will destroy me if the owners of the company get a lead on this.....please help.
Hi Craig looks like you need to remove your name from Google search pretty quick. I would recommend you to Zallas Technologies, they're fast and effective as Ive found out from my experience from them. Here's the link to their website
Posted by: Gregory at October 18, 2009 3:19 AMhttp://www.zallas.com/remove-bad-search-engine-results-bad-press.html
18-Oct-2009