While looking for a data removal service, you might come across two different types of removals: automated and custom. Both can help you remove yourself from data brokers and people-search sites, but you could get more use out of one over another.
According to OneRep, there are thousands of data brokers and people-finder sites, and many data removal services tout that they remove your data from hundreds of these sources. OneRep also said that some of the largest data brokerages are Experian, Equifax, Epsilon, Acxiom and CoreLogic, and many data removal services automatically cover at least one of them. If you want to remove your data from certain places, you'll need custom removals.
Here's how automated and custom removals differ, and which one might be right for you.
What are automated removals?
Automated removals are standard across data removal services. Rudzhan Naglev via Getty Images
Automated data removals are often the base-level option for data removal services. Every company I've seen offers automated removals by default. Some data removal services, like Aura, only perform automated removals.
With automated removals, a service will scan for information you've provided -- such as your name, address and date of birth -- across different brokers and people-finder sites. If the service finds your information on one of those sites, it will send a request to remove your data. You might receive a report indicating that your data was found and a removal request has been made.
Custom removals, on the other hand, are different and require some legwork on your part, but they can cover more data brokers and people-finder sites.
What are custom removals?
Custom removals can give you more coverage if you put in the work. Nadezhda Buravleva via Getty Images
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