Oh — yesterday I remembered that I had opted out of data-broker stuff several years ago, with two different services 🤣

There hasn't, anyway, been much data to begin with — also no ad ID from either Apple or Google. #compartmentalization #dataretention

#OptedOut #DataBrokers #PrivacyWins #TookAction 😂✅ #diday #didit #already xD #UnpluTrump #FCKBigTech

#Incogni #DeleteMe #Optery #Aura

Trying to protect my shit!

A few years ago, I bought a one-year subscription to Incogni, and about 18 months ago, I did the same with DeleteMe. Services like these want you to stay subscribed indefinitely. Their pitch is that data brokers are constantly scraping new sources, purchasing new datasets, and reshuffling what they store – so even if they remove your information today, there’s a good chance it will reappear tomorrow. I switched between providers because I assumed each one had different partnerships and coverage, and hopping between them might help knock my information off the widest range of lists.

When my DeleteMe subscription expired in August, it didn’t take long before my information started bubbling back up in searches. The data-broker ecosystem is a bit like whack-a-mole: you push down your profile in one place, and it pops up somewhere else. I figured I’d revisit Incogni for another round, until I realized there’s now a third option in this space.

That service is Optery. Out of curiosity, I signed up to see how well the previous two subscriptions did. Optery scanned the sources they monitor – 386 datasets in total – and found me in 132 of them. That was after a full year with each of the other two providers. It was a good reminder that no matter who you use, none of these services are a one-and-done solution.

To be clear, this isn’t an advertisement for any of these companies. In my experience, they’re all broadly similar in what they promise and how they operate. I’m also not arguing that everyone needs one of these subscriptions. But I do appreciate the peace of mind that comes with knowing you can’t just Google my name and immediately find my phone number. In a world where personal data spreads faster than ever, even partial control feels worth something.

#DeleteMe #Incogni #Optery

Incogni vs. Optery: Which Data Removal Service Comes Out on Top?

If your info appears on a people-search site, you can request its removal—but chances are, that's just the tip of the iceberg. For broader data removal, services like Incogni or Optery can help. I compare both to determine which is best.

https://www.pcmag.com/comparisons/incogni-vs-optery-which-data-removal-service-comes-out-on-top

#incogni #vs #optery #pcmag

DeleteMe vs. Optery: Which Cleans Up Your Digital Footprint Better?

If you want to reclaim your privacy from data brokers, you’ll need expert help from a data removal service. DeleteMe is a long-standing leader in the field, while Optery is a rising competitor gaining momentum. I’ve reviewed both to help you decide which is the right fit for you.

https://www.pcmag.com/comparisons/deleteme-vs-optery-which-cleans-up-your-digital-footprint-better

#deleteme #vs #optery #pcmag

Optery scrubs your personal information from data broker sites or gives you tools to clean it up yourself for free, and uniquely detailed reporting confirms your info was removed.

https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/optery

#optery #personalDataRemoval #pcmag #identity #privacy

#Privacy Service #Optery Faces Backlash After Plan to Send #OpenAI User Data

https://www.404media.co/privacy-service-optery-faces-backlash-after-plan-to-send-openai-user-data/

#Privacy Service #Optery Faces Backlash After Plan to Send #OpenAI #UserData

https://www.404media.co/privacy-service-optery-faces-backlash-after-plan-to-send-openai-user-data/

PSA: Unfortunately, we no longer recommend #Optery as a data removal service, following their decision today to not only implement #OpenAI, but to do so for a feature that is not at all essential to their core service.

The fact that they see no issue with sharing the personal information you pay them to delete from the internet with one of the largest data scrapers in recent history indicates a critical lapse in judgement.

Full announcement and more info: https://discuss.privacyguides.net/t/removal-psa-optery-now-sends-data-to-openai/20995

After fighting a decades long losing battle to maximize my #privacy, I've finally enlisted a service called #Optery to remove personal info from the internet.
It seems like a fools errand to try to deal directly with 100's of scammy data vendors, only to see that info come back online in short order.

So far they removed 31 entries in a day. Worth the $25, imo. We'll see how much progress they make with the remaining 200 vendors hawking my address, email and phone number, friends, family, neighbors, credit score, work address, birth date, etc etc.

I'm under no illusions of being "invisible" on the web or that I'll be able to claw back all my data. I just want a smaller foot print. It looks like Optery can help a little with one small piece of a much bigger problem. I'll settle for that for the time being.