It seems like there is barely a week which goes by without hearing about another data hacking issue.
The problem is you can’t simply switch off from the internet.
Our modern, digital world revolves around the internet. You need it to check your bank accounts, speak to friends, and even access work.
Unfortunately, virtually everything you do online requires you to sign up for an account and share basic information.
Combine this information with the freely-available information on social media and any interested party will have enough to steal your identity.
That is guaranteed to leave you with a headache.
Fortunately, there are some data privacy management services which can help you to protect your personal information and stay safe online.
Two of the best are Incogni and DeleteMe.
The question is, in a battle of Incogni vs DeleteMe, which comes out the winner?
Why Have Your Data Removed?
The amount of personal data online is scary. You may not realize it but data brokers will use bots to scrape information from various sources.
They can piece together a profile from your social media accounts. This can include your age, date of birth, and your hobbies.
Other online accounts will have your full name and address; possibly with some financial details.
Put all these pieces of information together and you have enough information to replicate a person’s identity.
With this, you’ll be able to take out finance in their name.
It can lead to a lot of stress for the victim as you need to reclaim your identity and convince financial institutions that you didn’t request or receive finance.
Alongside this, cybercriminals and scammers can use your data to place you in a difficult position, such as making inappropriate comments on your social media accounts.
They can even use data they find to blackmail you.
You need to be careful regarding what information you put online and who can access it.
Incogni Summary
Incogni is a purpose-built data tool designed to help you take back control of your personal information.
Before you can start using it you’ll need to create an account. For that, you’ll need an email address and to create a password.
You’ll then be given two subscription options.
The first is to sign up for a month at a time. You can stop the subscription at any time. This service costs $12.49 a month.
Alternatively, you can pay annually for a twelve-month contract. The cost is just $6.49 a month.
Once this is done you’ll need to add a few further details, including your name and date of birth.
This allows Incogni to locate which data brokers have your details and ask them to remove them.
Before they can start you’ll need to sign the power of attorney document.
It grants Incogni the power to request your data be removed from their servers.
As soon as you finish signing up, Incogni will get to work.
They will contact over 200 data brokers on your behalf and ask them to remove your data from their system.
As they have a limited power of attorney the data brokers are obliged to comply. However, they may ask for additional information.
You can follow Incogni’s progress by logging into your Incogni account and looking at the stats on the dashboard.
You’ll see the number of data requests sent, the number completed, how many are in progress, and the ones which have queries.
It’s also possible to go into the detail and see which data brokers have been contacted and how they have responded.
But for me, the best part of the Incogni service is the repeat requests. Provided you stay subscribed, they will send requests again in two-three months.
There is a good reason for this, data brokers are obliged to remove your data from their systems.
However, there is nothing stopping them from putting the data back on a month or two later.
DeleteMe Summary
DeleteMe is also a data removal service. They offer a similar service.
Again, you’ll need to create an account on their website before you can do anything else.
That means using a genuine email address and creating a password.
To create your account you’ll need to choose your protection level. The standard protection package covers one person for one year.
It’s billed annually at $129 a year, the equivalent of $10.75 a month.
Your subscription will automatically renew unless you cancel it.
They also offer a 1-year, 2-people option. Obviously, this allows two people to have their data removed.
It’s $229 a year, ($19.08 a month), and paid annually.
The saver option covers two people for two years at a cost of $349 for the two years, that’s the equivalent of $14.54 a month.
There is also a family plan at a cost of $329 for one year or $499 for two years.
Businesses can even try the business subscription. But, you’ll need to contact the team for a personalized quote.
DeleteMe has been in business since 2010 and is recognized as one of the best in the business.
Incogni Vs DeleteMe: Who Does It Better?
Both Incogni and DeleteMe have excellent reputations. In other words, either would be a good choice.
They also both comply with all the necessary rules and regulations, making both of them legitimate choices.
However, there are slight differences which help one to stand out from the other:
Time Established
DeleteMe is the clear winner in this category. It was established in 2010, Incogni is much younger, it first arrived on the market in 2022.
However, it’s worth noting that both businesses do an excellent job of contacting data brokers and chasing them up.
In this sense there is no real difference in the service they offer, regardless of the additional experience offered by DeleteMe.
Number Of Brokers Contacted
Incogni comes out as a clear winner for this.
DeleteMe approaches approximately 50 data brokers and asks them to remove your data. In contrast, Incogni contacts nearly 200.
Furthermore, Incogni has a development program which means they are constantly looking for new data brokers and including them on their system.
Best of all, if you are already a customer and Incogni collects a new data broker they will automatically send a request on your behalf.
Naturally, the more data brokers you contact and get to remove your data, the less you’ll be visible online.
That makes Incogni the clear winner of this stage.
Customer Support Offered
There isn’t much difference in the customer support offered. DeleteMe and Incogni both allow you to contact the support team via live chat or email.
You’ll find the teams are friendly, helpful, and surprisingly knowledgeable.
You’re almost certain to get a fast and accurate response or guidance.
There is no clear winner in this section.
Automatic Removal
Incogni contacts a lot more data brokers than DeleteMe. They also offer a follow-up service.
This means any data broker that removes your data is automatically monitored.
If your data reappears on their system the data removal request will be resent.
This is the most effective way to remove you and keep you off the data broker systems.
Sadly, Incogni is much better at this part of the service than DeleteMe which launches just one barrage of deletion requests every three months.
DeleteMe is generally effective but doesn’t offer the flexibility that Incogni does, they respond instantly to your data reappearing.
Visibility
Both systems have dashboards. You simply need to log into your account on the website and see how your data removal process is going.
The DeleteMe dashboard is more-expensive looking with several additional features.
It’s easy to use and smooth, inspiring confidence in the service.
In contrast, Incogni’s dashboard is a little more basic and less visually appealing.
But that’s just the appearance. In both cases the dashboard shows you how many removal requests have been sent and what status they are at.
In short, both systems make it easy to track the progress of your data removal requests.
Theory both verify that your data has been removed, helping to keep you and your data safe in this world.
Accessibility
Accessibility covers who can use the service. It’s not enough to be connected online.
DeleteMe is only available to US residents. That makes it an impossible option if you live outside the US.
In contrast, Incogni makes its service available to several locations, specifically the US, UK, and Europe.
If you’re living outside the US then Incogni isn’t just the best option, it’s one of the only reputable options available.
Cost
The costs for each service have been listed earlier in this guide. The bottom line is that Incogni is a clear winner.
Sign up with Incogni for a year and it works out at less than $7 a month.
In contrast, DeleteMe offers the same service for just under $11 a month.
As both services are effective, the clear winner on price is Incogni.
Things To Be Cautious Of
Using a data removal service is an excellent idea. It will eliminate your data on the web and dramatically reduce your risk of identity theft or anything similar.
There are several steps you can take to avoid your data falling into the wrong hands.
It’s important to be aware of the following:
Phishing
Phishing is one of the most common and simplest ways to get your personal details.
It involves sending you an email which looks like it is from an official source, such as your bank or even your data removal service.
Inside the email will be a request to take urgent action to secure your account.
However, when you click on the link to do so, you’ll find yourself looking at a page identical to your normal login screen.
Naturally, the screen is fake. When you input your username and password the cybercriminals see it, giving them access to all your information and finances.
Malware
A variant of phishing is to send you an email or encourage you to click on an online link.
You’ll be shown the contents of the link but, at the same time, malware or spyware will infect your device.
This will then record all your keystrokes and make it much easier for a hacker to obtain your personal details.
Fraud
It’s also possible that scammers will pretend to be legitimate businesses, such as Incogni or DeleteMe.
If you believe you are on the real site you’ll pass on information that the cybercriminals can use.
You’ll need to take steps to avoid these issues. The simplest approach is:
- Never give out your username and password to anyone
- Always type in the website yourself rather than clicking on a link
- Check the reputation of any business before you subscribe to their services
These simple steps will help to keep your data private, preventing you from losing your financial identity.
Summing Up
In the battle of Incogni Vs DeleteMe there is one clear winner, that’s Incogni.
It’s better priced, accessible to more people across the planet, includes automatic repeats for data removal, and contacts a significantly higher number of data brokers than DeleteMe.
I’ve tried both and am happy they both work. However, my personal choice would be Incogni, they simply offer a more attractive deal.
You can sign up and try them today to see for yourself.