The DU Lounge
Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsHow to delete your email and phone number from Facebook
I run Malwarebytes (free edition) on all of my computers.
Even the FREE version has dug me out of some very deep holes I've found myself in over the years. Hence, I'd highly recommend Malwarebytes.
Today I received an email from them advising me how to delete information re: myself from Facebook and Instagram. I do not use either of these.
I also used the tool they reference and it found my telephone number (a landline) on either Facebook or Instagram. It seems Meta is the culprit!
If you wish to have your information removed, follow the instructions in the link below:
https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/personal/2022/11/how-to-delete-your-email-and-phone-number-from-facebook?utm_source=blueshift&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=b2c_pro_oth_20221107_promotional_weeklynewsletter_v1_166751797152
When you get to the page that the above link is on look for this:
Below are steps to remove your contact number or email address from all of Meta's apps.
1. Visit the contact info removal tool page.
2. You can then choose from three options: your mobile number, landline phone number, or email address. You can only pick one, so to remove all the above info from Meta, you must repeat these steps for each option.
For this example, we pick "mobile number."
It found me and another email address I use on yahoo.com. It also found a netzero.com address that I use.
I think a lot of people must be doing this right now as it seems to be hit and miss getting the code sent to you.
In my case, I managed to get my main email address OFF of Facebook/Instagram and that goes for my landline telephone number.
I realize some people really like and use Facebook but I am not one of them. I find it very disturbing to read about things posted on it, like pictures of my under the age of seven years old relatives!!!
You've got to be kind of dumb to post pictures of your little ones on Facebook IMO.
In any event, I hope this is of use for some of you out there that do not like being on these sites for some reason and I sure don't want anything to do with Meta!
Joinfortmill
(14,481 posts)CountAllVotes
(20,878 posts)What little privacy I do have, I value it!
Glad to be of help.
If it doesn't work right now, I think the "tool" may be on overload right now.
I got the most important things OFF of Facebook about an hour ago so keep trying. It did send me a confirmation code. When you type the code in it verifies that you are not on Facebook any longer.
I also checked the Instagram one as well. I don't use that one either.
yonder
(9,682 posts)Edit: this never Facebook user may be in the same boat as post #4
CountAllVotes
(20,878 posts)And I also considered the source which is Malwarebytes.
As I've stated, I have used them for many years on my computers.
I think Malwarebytes is good, very good.
They have literally saved me needing to start from scratch as they detect those ugly PUP viruses and get rid of them.
That tells me all I need to know and I've never had a problem with them because they are indeed FREE.
yonder
(9,682 posts)Ill probably give that sweep a go but when it comes down to it
.I have doubts anytime I'm asked to give up personal info.
Thanks again, in this case my curiosity will probably overcome my caution.
CountAllVotes
(20,878 posts)It may even be in the phone book (mine is under my late husband's name).
I figure someone that I know is on it and added it to their contact list and that is why they found me.
Telephone numbers are easy enough to find too.
As for the yahoo.com email address, I used that for my late husband. CreditKarma had this info. on him. I don't recall giving them the phone number however.
In any event, I do trust Malwarebytes without question.
If it was some place I'd never heard of I would likely not have done it.
It is not exactly secret info. I just didn't like finding out it was on Facebook! ACK!
Nictuku
(3,618 posts)I wasn't able to complete it however, for the following reasons:
I have never given any phone number to facebook (but I wanted to see if they had it somehow). The only way to proceed is for me to first give them my number! I didn't want to do that so I cancelled it. Oh well, it was worth a try.
CountAllVotes
(20,878 posts)It is because I trust the source.
TRUST means a lot to me!
Nictuku
(3,618 posts)CountAllVotes
(20,878 posts)And I sure don't like the idea that my email address and telephone number was found by Malwarebytes and it WAS REMOVED! Yippee!