How Secure are People Search Companies?
Check out the securities for people search services before you use them. For example, Veromi uses cookies to protect customers.

Cookies are short pieces of data used by Web servers to help identify Web users. Here is how Veromi uses cookies to your advantage:

• Stores your user-ID during your visit
• Keeps track of reports you have ordered
• Keeps track of updates to those reports you have ordered
• Detects potential fraud or misuse of its system

Some Internet users fear that cookies will be used to collect personally identifiable information about them. If you fear this, thoroughly read a company's security policy. Veromi specifically tells its customers that it will not use cookies for this purpose.

How to Protect Your Own Information
Are you someone who doesn't want to be found in a people search? Are you ticked off that your information is posted on public and private databases? 

Here is where your information is filed along with some tips for "opting out" (getting your name, address and phone number erased) of their databases, courtesy of peoplesearch.com:

• The three major credit bureaus -- Experian, Equifax, and Trans Union. To remove yourself from the credit bureaus, call this number and follow the prompts: 1-888-567-8688. You should also contact each of the bureaus separately to further secure your information.
• Public records such as property records, voter registries and civil suits. There may be no realistic way of removing your information from public record sources, except to lobby for legislation that limits access to those records.
• Data provider companies who supply names to the before-mentioned places. Data providers compile information from a variety of sources. While it may be impossible to track down each and every provider, you can limit their access to your current information. The best way to do so is by contacting the credit bureaus.
• White page listings. You can contact each of the following companies, telling them that you wish to opt out of their records databases, which are PeopleFinders.com; Whitepages.com; InfoSpace.com and Bigfoot.com.