> At a Glance
> – Google and Apple let you blur your house on street-view maps
> – Whitepages, social profiles and old shopping accounts still expose addresses
> – A PO box or virtual mailbox can replace your real address for most services
> – Why it matters: A visible home address aids burglars, identity thieves and junk-mailers
A quick search of your name can reveal exactly where you live. Banks, advertisers and data brokers trade this information daily, but you can fight back.
Hide Your House on Map Apps
Google Maps and Apple’s Look Around photograph every street, but you can opt out.
- Open Google Maps on a desktop, enter your address and click Report a Problem to blur the image
- Email [email protected] with your address and a description to blur Apple’s Look Around
Scrub Search Results and Social Media
Google will remove your address from search if it isn’t on a government or news site.
Steps inside your Google Account:
- Data & Privacy → History Settings → My Activity → Other Activity → Results About You → Get Started
- Set an alert and hit Remove Result whenever your address appears
Also audit every social profile-Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter-and delete any mention of your street or house photos.
Delete Data Broker Listings
Whitepages is the largest public address database.
- Visit the Whitepages Suppression Request page
- Paste your profile URL and submit the opt-out form
- Repeat for other brokers as you find them
Replace Your Address for Deliveries
A PO box costs $15-$30 depending on size and location and can be used instead of your home address for almost any shipment.
Virtual mailboxes go further:
- Services like Anytime Mailbox, PostScan Mail or iPostal1 receive, scan and forward mail online
- Plans run $10-$20 per month
- Ideal for travelers or anyone wanting a real street address without revealing their home
Lock Down Smart-Home Gear
Cameras, doorbells and thermostats often demand your address for mapping or weather features.
- Choose local-storage cameras that skip cloud accounts
- If you must share a location, enter your PO box or a nearby intersection
- Professional monitoring services may insist on a real address-balance security needs with privacy
Key Takeaways
- Blurring your home on Google and Apple Maps takes minutes
- Delete old shopping, political and contest accounts that stored your address
- A PO box or virtual mailbox substitutes for your real address on most forms
- Regularly Google yourself and file removal requests for any new exposures
Start with one tactic today and you’ll quickly reduce the digital trail leading to your front door.
