It seems incredible that anyone can legally create a business which involves scraping your personal data from the web and then selling it, yet here we are. There are literally hundreds of data brokers doing just this.

They also buy data from app developers, who use innocuous-sounding terms like “sharing data with selected partners” in their privacy polices. Fortunately, individuals and families can fight back this Cybersecurity Month.

Personal data bought and sold includes everything from your web-browsing habits and interests to your location history. The least-worst case is that your personal data is purchased by companies wanting to target you with ads. In the worst case, hackers gain access to that data, where it is made available to scammers and identity thieves.

You can fight back using what’s known as “takedown requests.” By law, data brokers have to remove your data if you tell them to.…