ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (WHAT THE TECH?) — Google probably knows a lot more about you than you realize and that information is available to just about anyone with a computer or phone.

All they have to do is Google your name. You can find many websites publishing your name, address, email address, birth date, phone numbers and photos of every house you’ve ever lived in.

If that’s TMI, and it should be, Google will delete some of it for you.

Websites like TruePeople Search, Family Tree Now, and US Phone Book list public information available at courthouses. Anyone with an internet connection can use those sites to see all of that information instantly. That information is gold for scammers and all they have to do is Google your name.

But you can ask Google to remove your information. You’ll need to do this from a phone or mobile device.

Go to Google.com and tap your photo or account, and then settings and look for “results about you.” Follow the directions and enter your name, phone number, street address and email address. Google will then “Google” that information. If it finds you anywhere, it will, it’ll give you the opportunity to remove it from search. You’ll get an email when they’ve finished, usually a few days, for your review.

You’ll find your information on those people search sites. Select them, and Google will remove that website from search results. This doesn’t remove the information from those sites.

You can ask each of those websites to hide your information. It can take a while but they’ll remove your info.

Scammers don’t need help finding us. Removing your information from Google search is a good step and protecting your privacy.

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