Maple Grove Report

Maple Grove Report

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ZDNET’s key takeaways

  • Personal data is widely collected and sold by data brokers, mostly without our knowledge.
  • Manual takedowns are impractical, which is where data removal services come in. 
  • These services can remove huge amounts of sensitive information from the internet.

There’s an uncomfortable amount of our personal information floating around the internet, much of it collected by data brokers. Phone numbers, home addresses, and email addresses are just the tip of the iceberg that these companies collect, package, and sell. 

Much of this information comes from social media platforms, apps, and online services that routinely gather user data, and then feeds into a sprawling ecosystem that profits off knowing everything about you. In some other cases, those details come from major breaches.

Also: Your router may be vulnerable to Russian hackers, FBI warns: 5 steps to take now

Don’t want it out there? Sure, it’s possible to remove this information yourself by contacting data brokers directly and requesting its removal. But the sheer number of them makes this a cumbersome task. There isn’t a clear starting point or easy way to know how far your data has spread.

This is where data removal services come in.

MacBook Air M5

Kerry Wan/ZDNET

These services scan the far-off corners of the internet, searching for your information. When they find something tied to you, they can get it taken down. 

Over the past month, I’ve personally tested two of the most notable names in this space: PrivacyBee and DeleteMe. I can say with confidence that these services are well worth it — especially if you’ve been caught in multiple data breaches as I have. These services aren’t just helpful; they are a powerful response to a flawed system.

So, allow me to make the case for data removal services. I’ll explain why they’re worth paying for and who stands to benefit from them.

Why data removal services are worth it

1. They remove a lot of information at once

Manually scrubbing your data from the web is essentially impossible; an automated solution can remove a lot of information at once. In my experience, I’ve seen them take down my name, phone number (both current and former), and even information about relatives I haven’t spoken to in years. Some can dig pretty far back. I was shocked to see my old childhood house resurface in a recent scan.

Also: How a burner email can protect your inbox – setting one up one is easy and free

Once your information is found, the platform contacts the data brokers hosting it and submits a removal request on your behalf. This process can take a few days. Most brokers comply without much resistance, although there are occasional refusals. When that happens, the service will continue pushing until the data is successfully taken down.

2. They save you an enormous amount of time

According to the Electronic Privacy Information Center, there are thousands of data brokers operating in the US. They “buy, aggregate, disclose, and sell billions of data elements,” with almost no oversight or regulation. You can contact many of these brokers yourself and opt-out of data collection. But manually contacting potentially thousands of websites is not an option. 

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Cesar Cadenas/ZDNET

This is where data removal services come in. For example, PrivacyBee has a feature that shows how much work it saves for you. At the time of this writing, the platform had contacted over 1,000 data brokers and more than 180,000 custom sites. It saved me about four days straight of manual searching and requesting.

3. They provide ongoing monitoring

An underrated benefit of these data removal services is the ongoing monitoring they provide. Even if your data is removed, there’s always a chance it’ll reappear. Brokers constantly buy, sell, and republish information, so your details can resurface months, if not weeks, later. 

Companies like DeleteMe account for this by continuously monitoring the internet and resubmitting removal requests if sensitive information resurfaces. I realized after a while that the ongoing surveillance is the most valuable part of the service — this is what you’re really paying for.

Are there any limitations with data removal services?

As effective as data removal services are, they do have their limitations. For example, they won’t touch public records. DeleteMe states on its support page that real estate records, business licenses, voter registrations, and “certain court records” are off-limits to them. Another limitation is information that has found its way to the dark web.

Also: ‘Job seekers have to be detectives’: 3 signs that listing is a scam

The dark web is outside the reach of removal services, but that doesn’t mean data that ends up there gets ignored. Some platforms, like PrivacyBee, monitor data leaks and breaches, keeping tabs on stolen data wherever it may go, including the dark web. If that stolen data ever shows up on a surface web data broker, the removal service will quickly send a takedown request before it circulates further.

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Cesar Cadenas/ZDNET

Who should purchase a data removal service?

Data removal services make the most sense for high-visibility people. I’m talking about content creators, business executives, and anyone with a decently large public profile. If you’re at risk of harassment or doxxing, or maybe you want to minimize how easily people can find your information, these services will help a lot.

Also: I love AirTags, but this alternative slips right in my wallet and solves their biggest flaw

They’re also a good option for people — like me — whose information has been leaked. My data has been exposed eight different times, so I’m a good example of someone who needed a service. On the other hand, if you maintain a low profile online, you may find a data removal service to be unnecessary. 

What are some recommended data removal services?

I strongly suggest PrivacyBee. I enjoyed how thorough it was during testing, unearthing old phone numbers, distant relatives, and the address of my childhood home. The service stays actively involved throughout the process, checking in for clarification when needed, sending regular updates directly to your email, and offering neat extras, such as dark web monitoring.

Also: The best data removal services: Expert tested and reviewed

For other options, be sure to check out ZDNET’s roundup of the best data removal services. There are 10 services listed in that guide, so you have plenty of choices depending on your needs and budget. 

ZDNET contributing writer Charlie Osborne wrote the roundup, and she ranked Incogni as the top pick. It’s a well-rounded service that targets hundreds of data brokers, actively reduces spam calls, and even offers a mobile app for on-the-go management.





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Gboard is arguably the best virtual keyboard of all time, so it’s no surprise that it comes pre-installed on most Android phones. While many people use it every single day, most treat it as a simple, basic typing tool rather than the productivity powerhouse it actually is.

Even if you’ve been using Gboard for years and explored its options, there’s still a good chance you don’t know all the power-user hacks it hides under the hood. Here are a few advanced tricks that will not only save time on your phone but also make it a lot more convenient and enjoyable!

Type with just one hand using One-Handed Mode

Thumb typing at its finest

One-handed typing is nothing new; in fact, it’s one of the core Gboard features. And even though the app makes it very easy to switch to one-handed mode, the vast majority of people never use it because they forget or don’t know it exists.

To enable it, just tap the four-square grid icon to open the features menu, then tap One-handed. The keyboard will shift slightly to the left or right—you can swap sides by tapping the or > icon. There’s also an option to resize the one-handed keyboard if it’s too small for your preferences.

If you’re in a rush and need to type while holding something in your other hand, like a grocery bag, this feature makes typing with just one thumb a lot easier.

Search and translate without leaving the keyboard

Translating text has never been easier

Google has made language translation on our phones progressively easier with each new Android and Google app update, with Gboard being one of the core apps to get phenomenal Google Translate integration.

If you’re chatting with someone who speaks a different language, like an international business partner or Airbnb host, this is extremely handy. It means you no longer have to switch between a translation app and your chat, as the whole conversation can be handled directly through Gboard.

You can access Translate by opening the features menu and tapping Translate.

A translation strip opens above the keyboard, and from there, you can set which language you’re translating from and to, then simply type your message. Like magic, the translated text will appear in your text bar in a second, while the translation strip displays your original text.

Copy more than just one thing with Clipboard history

Access a whole library of copied text and screenshots

Gboard’s Clipboard is a real time-saver. If you’re familiar with Clipboard History on Windows PCs, you’ll easily recognize the value this feature brings. In essence, the clipboard shows a history of your recently copied text and screenshots, rather than just the last item you get when you paste.

This lets you store and access multiple snippets of text, even if you don’t need them immediately. It’s an incredibly useful and versatile feature, and I honestly can’t imagine using my phone without it—the key is remembering to use it.

You can access it by opening the features menu and tapping Clipboard. Since it’s so useful and something you’ll likely use all the time, I strongly recommend setting it to appear in the suggestions bar automatically by tapping, dragging, and dropping the Clipboard into the suggestion strip at the top of Gboard.

Keyboard clipboard on a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 next to an S Pen and earbuds.


Android’s clipboard history is one of its best hidden features

Another lesser-known super power that’s visible in plain sight.

Glide typing is better than you think

Slide like you’ve never slid before

Glide (aka slide) typing is an incredible alternative to thumb typing. Even though it’s not the fastest method for those of us who have mastered thumb typing, many people find glide typing more comfortable and convenient.

If the last time you tried glide typing was in 2013, when SwiftKey was making headlines, and you hated it, you should give the feature another shot. Thanks to more accurate predictions, machine learning, and various other enhancements like the flick gesture, Gboard’s Glide typing proves to be a worthy solution for tired thumbs and quick texting on the go.

You can enable Glide typing by heading over to Gboard settings, scrolling down to Glide typing, and toggling Glide Typing on. Just like that, you can use your finger to glide across the keyboard from key to key to form words.

Recover accidentally deleted text using the hidden Undo and Redo buttons

I bet you didn’t know your phone had Ctrl+Z too

Undo and Redo are easily the most useful tools in modern computing. They’ve saved me hundreds of hours of otherwise lost work over the years on my PC, and I can’t believe how long it took me to realize that Gboard has this feature too.

You’re probably already familiar with how Undo and Redo work, but in case you need a refresher, Undo reverses your last action (e.g., if you deleted a word, Undo can bring it back), while Redo restores it if you tapped Undo by mistake and want to reverse it.

You can access Undo (and, by extension, Redo) in the features menu, and just like the Clipboard, it’s another one of those buttons you’re going to use so much that you should consider placing it in the quick access options.


Customize your Gboard to make it truly your own

This article has highlighted some of the coolest features in Gboard that you might not be using, but trust me when I say that we’re barely scratching the surface here. Gboard is a great keyboard in its “stock” settings, but since it’s so incredibly customizable, you should learn to take advantage of it. I encourage you to dive into Gboard settings and go through each option to see what’s available.

Google Gboard illustration with keyboard layout and floating emojis around.


Android’s Gboard Has Tons of Hidden Tricks You Probably Aren’t Using

Let’s step up your typing game!



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