Zaba-daba-don't

So there's this site, Zabasearch, which is moderately creepy in that it offers -- free! for anyone! -- a pretty accurate history of where you've lived and what your phone numbers have been.

Yes, it obtained the data through legal means. The really interesting thing, I think, is in how it manages to associate all the data from disparate sources and create a profile of you. But the chances of learning how it does that are only slightly larger than the chances of finding a straightforward explanation for how you get your data off the site.

And now you'll have new reason to want your data off the site: Zabasearch is offering a blog feature that allows other people to make comments about you -- and you have no control over all the items that will be associated with your name. Also, they're mulling adding the ability to add satellite map data to your listing, so people can get maps to your house without the bother of going to another site. ("Search Site to Add Free Blogs," SFChron, Aug 26, 05)

So would you like to know how to get off Zabasearch? I bet you would!

It's not too hard.

Send a request in writing to: ZabaTools, P.O. Box 45210, Omaha, NE 68145.

The letter must include  e-mail address, full name, address, phone number and year of birth. And all the data you'd like expunged. Here's a sample letter, courtesy of Pineapple Girl. I bolded all the information you'll have to change yourself.

August 16, 2005

ZabaTools
P.O. Box 45210
Omaha, NE 68145

Dear ZabaTools:

I am writing to request deletion of my records in ZabaSearch.

1. My email address is anyone@anywhere.com.

2. My full name is Ann O. Nymous.

3. The addresses of the records I wish to delete are:

456 Recent St., Archetypia, VA
123 Childhood Ln, Hometown, VA

4. The phone numbers of the records I wish to delete are:

540-555-1212
703-555-1212

5. Year of birth = 1990

6. I am requesting deletion of these two records.

7. Please see my date and signature below.

Yours truly,

And then just sign and date it. Good luck!

Comments

[Beth]

You know, I think this is a great argument for not having a listed phone number. Because I am not in Zabasearch. There are a million people with my first and last name, but none of them are me. I have never had a listed phone number in my life, and that seems to be the secret.

[mindy]

It seems to think that I'm married to my brother, as it lists me at two of his former addresses -- but doesn't have my current one, since I don't have a land line anymore.

[Josh]

heh. it seems to think I'm 60 years old and living at my old address.

I'm feeling younger all the time!

[Zhyndra]

An unlisted phone number is not the secret - both my mother and uncle have never been listed, but are on zabasearch. Not only that, but my mother's physical address is there, and she has never used it for mail. I should be able to figure out whether there is a secret to staying off of it, since I am not on it with my current name or current married name, but am listed with a name that is not current.

[Self]

You said: The letter must include e-mail address, full name, address, phone ...

MUST?!?! Says WHO??!!
Just write to those arrogant a-holes and tell them to remove the information they have that you want removed, and DO NOT GIVE THEM ANY MORE INFO than they already have.

[Lisa]

Hey, Self, thanks for the advice. Please check back with the site and let me know how that strategy worked out for you.

[Robert H Lafleur]

please take my name and all my personal information about me off your file thank you

[Frank Castle]

Another thing that people dont realize if you own property, that address will show up in public records and then all they have to do is go to the property search website and the rest is pretty easy. thx for the comments.