Hack of the day: How to remove personal information from Google Search

'The Times of India' brings you 'Hack of the Day'—a new weekday series of quick, practical solutions to everyday hassles. Each hack is designed to save you time, money or stress, using tools and features within your reach—from government websites to everyday apps. In simple terms, it's simple fixes for smarter living.Personal information such as phone numbers, email addresses, home addresses, banking details, and government-issued ID numbers can sometimes appear in online search results.

This information may be published on websites, data broker platforms, public records pages, or other online sources, making it easier for scammers, spammers, and cybercriminals to access it.While removing all information from the internet can be difficult, Google offers tools that let users identify where their personal information appears and request its removal from Google Search results. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to reduce your online footprint and remove personal information from search results.

Why this Google Search feature matters

Exposed personal information online can increase the risk of identity theft, phishing, financial fraud, spam calls, and unwanted contact.Google’s removal tools help users find where their personally identifiable information (PII) appears online and request the removal of certain types of sensitive information from Search results. While this does not delete the content from the original website, it can make it harder for others to find through Google Search.

How to check if your personal information appears online

Before requesting removal, it’s important to identify whether your information appears in Google Search.

Step 1: Open Google’s Results About You page

Sign in to your Google account and visit the Results About You page.

Step 2: Add the information you want Google to monitor

Enter details such as:* Phone numbers* Email addresses* Home addresses

Step 3: Choose how you want to receive alerts

Google allows you to receive:* Email notifications* Google app notifications

Step 4: Wait for Google’s scan

Google will scan Search results and generate a report showing where your information appears online.You can revisit the page later to review findings and monitor future alerts.

How to remove personal information directly from Google Search

Google now allows users to submit removal requests directly from Search results. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how you can ask the company to remove your personal information from Google Search:

Step 1: Find the search result containing your information

Open Google Search and locate the result displaying your personal information.

Step 2: Open the options menu

Click or tap the three-dot menu next to the search result.

Step 3: Select “Remove result”

Choose the option to remove the result from Google Search.

Step 4: Select the reason

Google may ask why you want the result removed.Common reasons include:* Personal information is visible* Illegal content is involved* The search result is outdated

Step 5: Submit the request

Complete the process and submit your removal request.Google may notify you if action is taken.

How to remove sensitive information from Google Search

Google accepts requests involving certain categories of sensitive information.These may include:* Government ID numbers* Bank account details* Credit card information* Login credentials and passwords* Personal signatures* Medical records* Explicit content linked to your identity* Non-consensual AI-generated or deepfake explicit content

Step 1: Open Google’s personal content removal page

Go to Google’s support page to check and remove your personal content

Step 2: Select the relevant category

Choose the type of information you want removed.

Step 3: Provide the required details

Here are some of the things that you need to submit:* The webpage URL* Search result links* Description of the issue* Supporting evidence if requested

Step 4: Submit the request

Google will review the information and may contact you if additional details are required.

How to contact the website owner

Removing content from Google Search does not automatically remove it from the internet.If the information is still published on the original website:

Step 1:

Locate the website’s contact page or support email.

Step 2:

Request removal or modification of the content.

Step 3:

Keep a record of your communication.Google may ask whether you attempted to contact the website before processing some requests.

How to remove outdated search results

Sometimes information has already been removed from a website, but continues to appear in Google Search due to cached data.

Step 1:

Open Google’s Remove Outdated Content tool.

Step 2:

Paste the URL containing the outdated information.

Step 3:

Submit the request for review.Google will update its index if the content has already been removed or changed.

How to remove outdated images from the Google Search Images section

Sometimes images still appear in Google Images even after they have been deleted from a website. To delete old images from Google Search, do the following: Section: Images.

Step 1:

First, you have to locate the image on Google Images.

Step 2:

Copy the image URL that appears in the address bar when you click the image.

Step 3:

Submit the image through Google’s content removal tools.

Users can submit multiple image URLs if necessary.

How to report illegal or harmful content

Google maintains separate reporting systems for content that may violate laws or policies. Examples include:* Child sexual abuse material (CSAM)* Intellectual property infringement* Fraudulent content* Other illegal materialIt's very important for users to report such cases through Google’s legal content removal channels. Otherwise, there can be serious consequences.

What happens after you submit a request

After submitting a removal request:

Step 1:

Google sends a confirmation email acknowledging receipt.

Step 2:

The company reviews the request and may ask for additional information.

Step 3:

Google evaluates whether the content qualifies for removal.

Step 4:

You receive a notification if the request is approved or denied.It’s important to remember that approval is not guaranteed, as Google balances privacy concerns with information that may be considered publicly relevant.

Things to keep in mind

Before you go ahead and make Google requests to remove your data, it's important to keep the below points in mind:* Removing information from Google Search does not remove it from the original website.* Data may still appear on other search engines.* Some websites may require direct contact for content removal.* Users should remember that complete removal from the internet is often difficult because search engines index information rather than create it.* It's always easier for users who regularly monitor their personal information to identify new exposures before they spread.Users who spend a few minutes reviewing their online presence can help reduce privacy risks and make sensitive information harder to find on the internet. While complete removal from the internet is rarely possible, Google’s removal tools can help users take greater control over their personal information online.