I have to tell you this story. When my college-bound son moved to Los Angeles, he asked me for the house number of a place I rented in the area 28 years ago for two months. I laughed because I couldn’t remember it. Then, I was shocked!

About five minutes later, he texted me a link to a free people search site that showed that house number, along with every other address where I ever lived, my current address, links to my relatives, their ages, my age, and even my personal cellphone number. All this data was not behind a paywall. It took just a search of my name, and bam — privacy was gone.

That’s when I started an initiative on my site to list the exact steps to remove your data from these creepy people search sites. These sites often hide the steps. Don’t worry, we did the heavy lifting for you.

Tap or click for a list of 13 creepy sites that probably has your phone number, addresses, age, relatives, and more, along with steps to remove your info. I bet you’ll be surprised at what you see online about you that’s free for the taking. Be sure to bookmark this page so you can reference it later, too.

A safer online life is just a few minutes away. Follow this list, then pat yourself on the back for taking care of your digital self.

As convenient as Google Maps and Apple Maps are, it’s unnerving when your house and address number are visible to anyone on the internet. Here’s a secret. You can request a privacy blur over pictures of your home.

Here is how to submit a request to Google:

For Apple Maps, you must email MapsImageCollection@apple.com and:

MAPS TIPS: Get more out of Google Maps with these 10 smart tips

Spyware is malicious software that works quietly in the background, tracking almost everything you do. These sneaky downloads leave digital clues if you know what to look for.

Task Manager on a Windows PC and Activity Monitor on a Mac can give you an overview of everything happening on your machine.

Look through the list. If you see a name you don’t recognize, search for it online to see what turns up. Sometimes, these programs and background processes are legitimate and of no concern, even if you don’t know the name at first glance.

To close out an app or process, right-click and hit End task. Check again later to see if it is working again.

Double-click to close out a program or process, then hit Quit.

Tap or click for more signs someone is snooping on your computer.

Leaving your computer unlocked invites anyone to come along and snoop. If your laptop is stolen or lost, it could also land you in an awful spot.

Lock yours with a robust and unique password. That means no repeats! Since you need to enter this password each time you open your computer, it needs to be something you can remember.

If your computer allows you to unlock it with biometrics, like your fingerprint, that’s an even easier solution. Otherwise, use the same password guidelines for any online accounts:

When setting up a Mac, you’re prompted to create a login password. Here’s how to set your password to unlock your computer:

Extensions let you customize your browser and add powerful features. But not all extensions are helpful. Some track you across the internet, eat up your computer’s resources, and worse.

How can you tell what’s safe? Google Chrome assigns a “Featured” badge to extensions that follow Google’s “technical best practices and meet a high standard of user experience and design.” Hey, at least it’s something.

A sure sign an extension is bad news? You have no recollection of downloading it, so delete it.

It’s also helpful to search the web for a phrase like, “Is (the extension you’re using) safe to use?” See what pops up, and pay special attention to any security warnings.

Here’s how to remove an extension from Chrome:

Use Safari on a Mac? Here’s how to remove an extension:

Don’t stop there. Tap or click for 9 more ways to make Chrome safer.

My popular podcast is called “Kim Komando Today.” It’s a solid 30 minutes of tech news, tips, and callers with tech questions like you from all over the country. Search for it wherever you get your podcasts. For your convenience, hit the link below for a recent episode.

Get ready for electric police chases, thanks to Ford’s police partnership. I’ve got all the details, plus the inside scoop on leaked Amazon documents. It looks like we’re getting another Prime Day. Also, you can now wear smart scarves to keep cool. My advice: Wear one while you watch Netflix’s true crime story on John McAfee. It’s a wild ride.

Check out my podcast “Kim Komando Today” on Apple, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player.

Listen to the podcast here or wherever you get your podcasts. Just search for my last name, “Komando.”

What digital lifestyle questions do you have? Call Kim’s national radio show and tap or click here to find it on your local radio station. You can listen to or watch The Kim Komando Show on your phone, tablet, television or computer. Or tap or click here for Kim’s free podcasts.

Get even more know-how in the Komando Community! Here, you can enjoy The Kim Komando Show on your schedule, read Kim's eBooks for free, ask your tech questions in the Forum — and so much more.