Privacy glossary

Updated September 2026 · 3 min read

Short answer

The words you will see most when protecting your privacy online, explained without jargon.

Terms

Data broker: a company that collects personal information from many sources and sells or shares it.
People-search site: a website that publishes profiles of people, often with addresses, phone numbers, relatives and age.
Opt-out: a request asking a site to remove your information or stop selling it.
Personal information: details that identify you, such as your name, address, phone number, email or date of birth.
Public records: government records such as property deeds, court filings and some licenses, which data brokers often draw on.
Doxxing: publishing someone's private information, such as a home address, to expose or threaten them.
Two-step verification: a second check, such as a code on your phone, needed to sign in to an account.
Phishing: a message pretending to be from a trusted company to trick you into giving away information or money.

That is how scammers find you. Safe Shepherd removes you and keeps watching for you to reappear.

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