how can I clean up my digital dirt, things i posted on the internet that may come back to haunt me?

Question

eg usenet newsgroups in my real name (didn't realise my real name would be shown at the time.)

My name is unusual and if you put my name in search, the forums come up that I posted in, in 2000

I want it gone as I am looking for work and I don't want my reputation ruined, I want a professional image.

The newsgroups are nothing too shocking, mostly about usual things teens like to talk about (I was 18) and general chatting but i want it gone.

What can I do???

Answer 1

nada ... unfortunately once you let the genie out of the bottle ... you can't put it back in.

Answer 2

Change your name & move to another country, leaving everything you own, and everyone you know, behind. It's a small step to take when you've put 'on line' that you don't believe in god. Or perhaps you've said that there is a great deal of evidence that completely disproves the official 9/11 nonesence. Or Bush = Hitler.

Answer 3

It probably would be very hard to get forum posts removed. But if you can find a way of contacting the webmaster on the forum he/she might be nice and remove you account/posts.

Answer 4

Maybe you are making it mean too much? Who really cares what you wrote 7 years ago - you said it was not anything more than the usual stuff.

Answer 5

Try writing the webmaster and politely explain your situation. They may agree to remove the entries. Although you can always deny its you. There's gotta be at least one other person in the English speaking world who has your name.

Answer 6

contact the newsgroup to request to delete your trail from the past!! other than that you can manually go to each of them and select to delete the post or comment or topic or whatever it is :-D

Answer 7

To Bad. You should have given that some thought in 2000.

Answer 8

I heard that once it's on the internet, It's there to stay forever.

Answer 9

Change your name miss!

Answer 10

Go to the end of the Internet and use your backspace key.

Answer 11

nothing you can do