Hack of the day: Remove your phone number from Google search

'The Times of India' brings you 'Hack of the Day'—a new weekday series of quick, practical solutions to everyday hassles. Each hack is designed to save you time, money or stress, using tools and features within your reach—from government websites to everyday apps. In simple terms, it's simple fixes for smarter living.'In today’s hyper-connected world, personal information can spread across the internet faster than you realize. A simple Google search might reveal your phone number, home address, or email address to strangers, leaving you vulnerable to unwanted calls, spam, or even identity risks. Thankfully, Google now offers a built-in privacy safeguard called the Results about you tool. This feature allows you to monitor search results for sensitive personal details and request their removal directly from Google’s index. By using this tool, you can reduce the chances of strangers stumbling upon your private information, giving you more control over your digital footprint. It doesn’t erase the data from the original website — that requires contacting the site owner — but it does ensure that your details won’t appear in Google Search results. For anyone concerned about online privacy, this hack is a quick and effective way to reclaim control over what the world sees when they search your name.Open Google SearchStart by accessing Google’s dedicated privacy tool.Go to Google Search → Results about youAdd personal detailsTell Google what information to monitor.Review Search resultsGoogle will show you where your information appears.Request removalPrivacy ProtectionSubmit a removal request for sensitive results.Monitor alertsStay updated if new results appear.Removing your number or address from Google Search doesn’t erase it from the original website. To fully remove the data, you’ll need to contact the site owner directly.