Is Whitepages Safe?

If you use or plan to use Whitepages, you need to know: Is Whitepages safe? 

Below, we explain whether Whitepages is: 

• Safe to use. 
• Good for privacy. 

We also look at some steps you can take to improve both your safety and privacy when using this online directory service. 

What Is Whitepages?

Whitepages is an online directory service that provides a wide range of information about individuals and businesses in the United States. 

Originally designed as a digital version of traditional phone books, Whitepages has grown into a platform where users can search for contact details, addresses, and other background information about individuals. 

The service is used for purposes like reconnecting with old contacts, verifying identities, and conducting background checks.

One of Whitepages’ key features is its people search function, which allows users to find individuals by name, phone number, address, or email. 

The platform offers details such as current and previous addresses, phone numbers, and even relatives. 

Whitepages also provides a reverse phone lookup service, enabling users to identify unknown callers by entering a phone number and background checks. 

Is Whitepages Safe?

Whitepages is generally considered safe to use in the sense that it is a legitimate and well-established service. 

Millions of people use it for various purposes, such as reconnecting with old contacts, verifying identities, and conducting background checks. 

In its privacy policy, Whitepages says it uses “commercially reasonable precautions to protect the information we collect.”

The information provided by Whitepages is gathered from various public sources, which means it might not always be up-to-date or accurate. Users should be cautious about relying solely on this information, particularly for critical decisions like hiring or tenant screening.

While it is up to the users how the information gathered from Whitepages is used, it should be noted that it could potentially be used for illegal activities such as harassment, stalking, and so on.

In mid-2016, Whitepages was breached, and 17 million account records, including email addresses, SHA1- or bcrypt-hashed passwords, and first and last names, were put up for sale on the dark web in 2019. 

Is Whitepages Private?

No, Whitepages is not generally considered good for privacy, primarily because it aggregates and makes publicly available a large amount of personal information, such as names, addresses, phone numbers, and even information about relatives.

Whether they use the service or not, Whitepages collects information about individuals from public records, social media, and other publicly available sources and creates detailed profiles. 

While this data is legally accessible, Whitepages makes it easy for anyone to find personal details about an individual with just a few clicks. 

Whitepages lets individuals request the removal of their personal information, but the process needs to be repeated regularly because data brokers tend to relist people’s information when they collect more of it. 

Whitepages’ privacy policy states that the company may share collected data with third parties for various purposes, including marketing. 

Whitepages’ privacy policy has not yet been evaluated by external review sites such as the Common Sense Privacy Program or Terms of Service; Didn’t Read. 

How to Improve Your Safety and Privacy On Whitepages

Follow the steps below for a more private and secure experience while using Whitepages. 

• Request removal. Visit the Whitepages opt-out page and follow the instructions to remove your personal information from their database. You will need to verify your identity and confirm the details you wish to remove.
• Monitor regularly. Whitepages may re-add your information as they update their database. Periodically check the site to ensure your data has not reappeared, and repeat the opt-out process if necessary.
• Limit public sharing of personal information. Review your social media settings to ensure your profiles are set to private. Avoid sharing personal details like your address, phone number, or email publicly, as Whitepages and similar sites often scrape this information.
• Be cautious with public records. Be mindful when engaging in activities that might lead to your information being added to public records, such as registering to vote or filing legal documents. Consider what information you are comfortable making public.
• Use a P.O. Box for your mailing address. Instead of using your home address, consider using a P.O. Box or a virtual mailing address for official correspondence. This can help keep your home address out of public records Whitepages might scrape.
• Use a Google Voice number. Protect your personal phone number by using a Google Voice number or another virtual phone service for situations where you must provide one. This reduces the likelihood of data brokers like Whitepages listing your real number.
• Check similar sites. Regularly check other people search websites and opt out of them as well. Sites like Spokeo, MyLife, and Intelius may also have your information. Opting out of these sites enhances your overall privacy.
• Consider privacy services. If managing opt-outs across multiple sites is overwhelming, consider using a data broker removal service like DeleteMe. These services can handle the removal of your data from multiple sites at once, simplifying the process.
• Limit information shared online. Be cautious about where and how you share your personal information online. Avoid filling out unnecessary forms or surveys or participating in online activities that require personal data unless absolutely necessary.