Mozilla — the company behind the privacy-friendly Mozilla Firefox browser — has launched a paid service that can automatically remove personal information from data broker sites and platforms selling and distributing users’ personal information.
“This could include information like your name, current and previous home addresses, and phone numbers. It could also go another layer deeper with information like family member names, criminal history, your kids’ school district, and even your hobbies,” Mozilla said in a Tuesday blog post, announcing the launch.
This Monitor Plus version of Mozilla’s existing Monitor service allows users to add this additional layer of privacy beyond its basic free scans. For a discounted annual fee of $107.88, or $8.99 per month — $13.99 a month otherwise — Monitor Plus will remove personal data from the grasps of data brokers and follow up with surveillance.
“Now, with Monitor Plus, we’ll help people take back their exposed data from data broker sites that are trying to sell it,” Tony Amaral-Cinotto, product manager of Mozilla Monitor, said in the blog post.
For example, the tool tells users if their LinkedIn password was exposed and when, and suggests steps to resolve the issue. It can work to remove this information if told to do so, with most requests processed within 7-14 days. When this is not possible automatically, the tool offers steps on how to do this manually.
Mozilla Monitor Plus will initially only be available to U.S. customers, and requires a Mozilla account.
Monitor Plus Database Checks Over 190 Data Broker Sites
By simply entering an email address, Mozilla Monitor Plus scans a database of known breaches to see if user data is at risk. “Monitor Plus will let you know once your personal information has been removed from more than 190+ data broker sites, twice the number of other competitors,” Mozilla explained.
Monitor Plus promises to be an indispensable tool in shedding light on the prevalence of data exposure, appealing to a diverse audience from everyday internet users to those facing heightened risk of cyber threats. This utility is supported by a 2023 NordVPN study, which disclosed that the majority of payment card details found on the dark web — the hidden corner of the internet — are attributed to U.S. citizens, a consequence of hacks, leaks, or data breaches.
Not only is there financial data about millions of people on the dark web, but everything from names, emails, and physical addresses, too.
Furthermore, Mozilla said over 10 million people already use its free Mozilla Monitor worldwide. The introduction of this premium version should particularly resonate with young adults aged 18-24 “who want to learn more about the types of information that companies have about them,” the blog post said — citing Cisco’s 2023 Consumer Privacy Survey.
Best Practices to Protect Your Online Presence
In addition to utilizing data protection services like Mozilla Monitor and Monitor Plus, we recommend you adopt these general security practices to fortify your cyber hygiene:
- Most importantly, do not overshare personal information about yourself online to begin with.
- Avoid using common passwords, as well as reusing passwords across sites. Consider using a password manager to keep track of them.
- Adding an extra layer of security with Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) can significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized account access.
- Recognize the signs of phishing attempts to avoid giving out personal information to fraudulent sources.
- Keeping your operating system, browsers, and apps automatically updated ensures you have the latest security patches.
Companies are now collecting more data than ever, according to Mozilla. As such, many netizens are interested in data removal services.
You can also use NordVPN, our premier internet anonymization solution, featuring a virtual private network (VPN) with integrated dark web monitoring.
Additionally, enhance your security with NordPass, which includes a Data Breach Scanner specifically designed for monitoring your financial data.
Mozilla Monitor Plus Walkthrough
If you want to see if your data is exposed, you can conduct a one-time free scan right now with the free version of Mozilla Monitor.
Here’s a video of Mozilla Monitor Plus in action:
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