Google your name
Google your name. Here’s what to look for, and what to do.
It’s worth doing every so often, the way an employer, a client or a landlord would. Most of what you find will be fine. For anything that isn’t, there’s usually someone you can ask.
How to search like someone else would
- Use a private or incognito window, so your own history doesn’t change the results.
- Search your full name, then add your suburb or city, your job, and your business name.
- Check the Images and News tabs, not just the main results.
- Try old names and common misspellings.
- Look at the first two pages. Most people don’t go further.
What to look for
- Old news stories that leave out what happened next
- People-search sites listing your address, phone or relatives
- Accounts pretending to be you
- Court or tribunal records, or copies of them
- Reviews about you or your business
- Photos posted without your OK
- Results about someone else with your name
What to do with what you find
Save the link and a dated screenshot of anything that worries you. Then pick what it is in the free check. You’ll get a plan that says who decides, what to ask for, and the official forms. You send everything yourself.
Google’s own “Results about you” tool can also alert you to new results showing your contact details, where it’s available.
What did you find?
An old news storyOut of date, wrong or missing what happened nextA people-search siteYour address, phone, age or relatives listedA fake profileSomeone pretending to be youA court or tribunal recordA judgment, case listing or a copy of oneA reviewAbout you or your businessPhotos of youPictures posted without your OKSomething else, or I’m not sure