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'key takeaways

• Incogni is an automated data-removal service with an easy onboarding.
• It requires minimal technical knowledge to operate.
• A dedicated mobile app doesn't exist yet, but would be welcome.

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Ever heard ofIncogni ? The company, launched in 2021 by one of our favorite VPN providers,Surfshark , helps reduce the amount of information that data brokers and people-search websites collect about you.

Your Personally Identifiable Information (PII) is constantly being exposed, collected, traded, and sold, with many data brokers operating in a Wild West scenario with little legal or regulatory oversight. This doesn't mean, however, that trying to pry their hands away from your PII is a fruitless endeavor.

Also:Best data removal services: Wipe away your digital footprint and leave no trace

Dedicated data removal services are out there that can tackle data brokers on your behalf, forcing them to remove PII, and potentially stop data collection entirely. I've been testing Incogni for the past few weeks, and here's why it's quickly become one of my top choices for data removal services in 2025.

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Incogni

Incogni is a top-tier data removal service that takes the strain and challenges out of taking away your information from data brokers.

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How to set up and use Incogni

What you'll need:Setting up Incogni is incredibly easy and takes just minutes. While no mobile apps are currently available, they are in development and being actively worked on. Incogni told that iOS and Android apps will be available at launch.

1. Create an account

You sign up online and create an account. Choose your plan, and then you will need to submit some basic information -- to start with, your first and last name, and your email address, at a minimum.

Also: This infamous people search site is back after leaking 3 billion records - how to remove your data from it ASAP

However, to hone in the search, you can also choose to provide your middle name, date of birth, home addresses, and other email addresses connected to your identity. I would recommend you do so for the best results.

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2. Use the dashboard

You will then be shown a dashboard. The dashboard provides an overview of removal requests, including the number of requests sent, those currently in progress, and the total number of completed requests.

When you first sign up for Incogni, a number of requests will be automatically sent to data brokers. You can flip through graphs that display this information month-by-month to track Incogni's progress. As shown in the images below, you can see my data removal requests in June and August, compared.

Also: 5 simple ways to regain your data privacy online - starting today

Requests may be sent to the same data brokers frequently, as a removal might not be permanent -- there's little to stop data brokers from re-acquiring your data from other parties.

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3. The Incogni dashboard, expanded

Incogni provides more than just a graph. The company also estimates the 'time saved' if you submitted each data removal request manually, alongside an activity log of which data brokers have completed Incogni's removal requests, and when.

In addition, you will see something called a suppression list.

Also: Wiping your iPhone? Here's the easiest way to erase all personal data

"Brokers have added your information to their suppression list, which means they will never re-collect any personal information that could be associated with you," the company explains.

Now, not every data broker will operate a suppression list -- or add you to one without a fight -- and that's why, sometimes, data removal requests have to be frequently repeated.

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4. Let's talk custom removals

Custom removals are what they say  -- they grant you access to Incogni staff who will take on individual, custom requests for data removal that its customers make.

For example, if you find a website with your information that has not been included in Incogni's standard removal system, you can send the link to Incogni, and they will attempt to remove it for you. However, you will need to upgrade to Incogni Unlimited to access this service.

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5. Monthly reports

You do not need to access the Incogni dashboard to stay informed about the progress of your data removal journey. Instead, Incogni sends you monthly reports that summarize the progress of data removal requests, including the number of requests that have been completed and those that are still in progress.

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FAQs

How does Incogni work?

Incogni  is an excellent data removal service and one that I have tried myself and can recommend without reservation. It aims to tackle data removal requests at scale with the help of automation, backed by human, in-house staff specializing in data removal and privacy.

The data removal service focuses on disrupting the flow of consumer data -- including PII -- that ends up in the hands of data brokers, often without the consent of subjects. This information is then either exposed online for the world to see or sold to other organizations.

Also: 9 ways to delete yourself from the internet (and hide your identity online)

By combining automation and human oversight, Incogni targets both public and private data brokers, providing comprehensive coverage that includes over 420 public and private brokers, and more than 1,000 unique domains registered in response to custom data removal requests made by customers.

Incogni told that it completed over 90 million data removal requests last year and that the company's growth trajectory is likely to continue, with over 245 million data removal requests having been processed -- a figure confirmed by a recentDeloitte audit. Many new US customers have joined due to concerns surrounding a lack of adequate data privacy laws and current political tensions.

Data removal requests are automatically sent to data brokers once you have signed up for the service. You are given access to a dashboard that shows how many data brokers have been contacted, how many requests have been processed, and how many have been completed. Requests are automatically resent every 60 to 90 days.

"Automation allows us to have streamlined processes in place to not only submit data removal requests but also to process the received confirmations/responses of data brokers and make sure that our users are updated with the outcomes immediately," Incogni told . "The human oversight with our core functionality is focused on maintaining these systems and running double-checks on a daily basis to make sure that we're consistently getting our data removal requests processed by data brokers and have all the necessary confirmations."

Also: How to remove your personal info from Google Search - it's quick and easy

Geographically, Incogni covers all 50 US states and can also tackle data removal requests in the EU, UK, Northern Ireland, Canada, the Isle of Man, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.

Outside of reducing your PII exposure and digital footprint, the service also aims to help reduce your spam and robocalls. Cold-calling marketers, scammers, and robocalls can be infuriating as they take up your time, line, and attention, and many customers have reported fewer incidents since signing up, according to Incogni.

How much does Incogni cost?

So, let's talk about price. Surfshark's Incogni is one of the cheapest options available (although, admittedly, not by a huge margin), with one-year plans starting at$7.19 per month. The company is currently offering a55% off deal on annual plans for readers, with the code .

One thing to note, however, is that if you want to use the service for custom data removal requests, you will need to sign up for the Unlimited plan, which costs$13.49 per month -- and there are cheaper solutions out there for custom requests, such as those provided byDeleteMe .

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