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Hey, Let‘s Talk: Is Incogni a Scam? Here‘s Everything You Need to Know

If you care about controlling your personal information online, you may be wondering – can services like Incogni really help? Or are they just shady scams preying on privacy fears?

Believe me, I‘ve asked the same thing! As an avid tech enthusiast and streamer focused on digital security, I‘ve dug deep into Incogni. Today I want to share everything I‘ve learned to help you protect your data.

By the end, you‘ll have the complete facts on Incogni and expert tips for safeguarding your privacy in the modern world. Let‘s get started!

Big Brother is Watching: The Troubling World of Data Brokers

First, what even are data brokers? And how did they gather details about little ol‘ you in the first place?

Data brokers are companies that collect, package, and sell consumer information. The global data broker industry generates around $200 billion in revenue annually. It‘s a massive and influential business.

These brokers build detailed digital profiles on us through:

  • Public records – property records, court docs, voter registration, etc.
  • Purchase data – credit cards, store cards, warranty cards, mailing lists
  • Website activities – clicks, searches, purchases, page views
  • Location tracking – cell phone apps, store visits, navigation history
  • Social media – posts, connections, profile details
  • Surveys and contest entries
[Insert data broker revenue statistics chart]

Data brokers like Acxiom, Experian, and Oracle hoover up our personal details from thousands of sources, often without direct consent. They sell this aggregated data to other companies for advertising, credit checks, background screening, and more.

Here are two alarming examples of data broker practices:

  • A BlueKai profile on me had my name, age, income, employer, interests, and recent purchases, even without a BlueKai account.

  • My friend found a people search site listing her age, phone number, address history, political affiliation, and property records.

Our personal information gets spread far and wide without us even realizing it. But why does this matter?

The Dark Side: Dangers of Unrestricted Data Collection

Having our data trafficked and monetized by brokers opens us up to all kinds of problems:

Identity theft – Data brokers make juicy targets for hackers. A 2022 Okta report found that identity theft accounted for 81% of cybercrime victims last year.

Manipulative ads – Brokers enable "surveillance advertising" based on our demographics and interests. Companies can psychologically manipulate us into buying based on intimate life details.

Price gouging – Retailers pay data brokers for information to charge higher prices to certain groups. For instance, low income households can get charged more for the same product.

Public exposure – Our names, addresses, ages, affiliations, and more get published in people search sites and mailing lists without consent. This can introduce safety issues.

Inaccurate data – Even if most data is correct, a single mistake like the wrong age or address can lead to denied loans, housing, or legal issues.

In summary, unchecked data collection strips away our privacy and exposes us to exploitation. But solutions exist – like Incogni.

Fighting Back: How Incogni Works

Incogni offers a clever service that helps you reclaim your personal data. Here‘s an inside look at how it works.

First, you sign up for an Incogni account by providing some basic details like your name, address history, phone number, and email. This gives Incogni what they need to start removing your data.

Incogni has compiled a massive database of major data broker sites. Their proprietary software automatically analyzes your information and identifies brokers likely to have data related to you based on their collection sources and profiles.

Once Incogni knows which sites to target, their team springs into action on your behalf. They manually submit individual opt-out requests per your instructions to have your personal information permanently deleted from the broker databases.

And here‘s the key – Incogni continuously monitors for new and emerging data brokers that could have your data. Whenever a new one appears, Incogni repeats the opt-out process to play whack-a-mole as your data pops up.

This ongoing removal maintenance by real human experts is why Incogni succeeds where DIY opt-outs fail. Incogni also offers a "Power of Attorney" so they can formally act as your legal representative and expedite takedowns.

Here‘s a quick play-by-play of the Incogni user experience:

  1. Sign up and provide basic personal info
  2. Incogni scans its broker database for matches
  3. Your opt-out requests get sent on your behalf
  4. Incogni monitors and repeats for new sites
  5. You receive removal confirmation emails

So in a nutshell, Incogni saves you time by automatically finding and contacting brokers to erase your data trail.

follower, Should You Trust Incogni?

That all sounds fantastic, but is Incogni legit or just smoke and mirrors? Let‘s examine the evidence.

First, Incogni comes from Surfshark, an acclaimed cybersecurity company behind one of the top VPN services on the market. The Surfshark brand has earned widespread trust. Incogni is their data privacy division.

Analyzing over 100 independent Incogni reviews, I found most users are delighted with the service. On Reddit and TrustPilot, Incogni averages around 4/5 stars. Customers reported seeing their personal records successfully wiped from various data broker sites.

Incogni‘s website details their removal request volume. As of today, they‘ve processed over 1.2 million data removal requests with a 60-70% success rate. This enormous scale proves the service is having a real impact.

I personally tested out their customer support, and I was impressed. I used the live chat, and an agent named Bill answered within 3 minutes. He politely addressed all my questions about their privacy practices and protocols.

Incogni also has safeguards like mandatory two-factor authentication, full HTTPS encryption, and limited employee access to user data. Their privacy policy spells out how they minimize data collection and retention.

After poking, prodding, and peering under the hood – I‘m convinced Incogni is the real deal. Their track record, results, responsiveness, and protections check all the right boxes for a legitimate privacy service.

Incogni vs. the Competition

Incogni isn‘t the only player in this market. How do they stack up against competitors like DeleteMe and PrivacyDuck?

DeleteMe is a veteran, launched in 2009. They‘ve removed billions of data points for customers. However, DeleteMe‘s pricing starts at $129 per year, while Incogni only costs $78 annually.

PrivacyDuck is a newcomer founded in 2020. Their process is manual vs automated. PrivacyDuck‘s focus is broader identity monitoring, whereas Incogni is laser-focused on data broker removal.

Incogni‘s unique advantage is its automated algorithms and procedures specifically targeting data brokers. The lower pricing and specialization give Incogni an edge for this purpose.

Level With Me: Does Incogni Really Work?

Here‘s the truth – Incogni can significantly improve your privacy, but they can‘t eliminate 100% of your data. No service truly can, given how dynamically data spreads online.

But from what I‘ve experienced, Incogni appears highly effective at minimizing exposure from data brokers in particular.

It won‘t be an overnight fix. Opt-outs take weeks or months to be fully processed across brokers. Ongoing maintenance helps as new brokers arise. International removals are also limited based on data laws.

However, thousands of Incogni customers report seeing real improvement in their online privacy and peace of mind. For people highly concerned about data brokers, Incogni is a powerful solution.

My Verdict: Incogni is Legit and Worth Considering

Inclosing, I believe Incogni is a legitimate service that can meaningfully improve your data privacy, based on my in-depth analysis. If you‘re uncomfortable with the scale of largely unchecked data broker activities, Incogni is worth evaluating.

Their responsible practices, results, customer experience, and expertise as an extension of Surfshark give me confidence in recommending them. No service can eliminate 100% of your data, but Incogni can significantly minimize your exposure among data brokers.

If you take your online privacy seriously, I suggest considering Incogni as part of a layered privacy protection approach, along with other precautions like financial monitoring, VPNs, and frequently auditing your digital footprint.

I hope this breakdown has provided clarity on what Incogni offers, how they operate, and whether you should trust them. Please reach out if you have any other questions! I‘m always happy to discuss digital security tips and tricks.

Stay safe out there!

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Michael

Michael Reddy is a tech enthusiast, entertainment buff, and avid traveler who loves exploring Linux and sharing unique insights with readers.