• Where can I see the Activity History for my account?

  Optery is committed to transparency regarding the work we're doing on your account. We're continually adding data brokers, performing scans and removals, and much more. As part of our effort to ensure transparency, we've introduced a new feature that allows you to track progress on your account over time. This new Activity History feature provides insights into your data broker removal progress. We aim to expand this feature to include additional details, such as plan upgrades and downgrades, faPopular

• How do Custom Scans work?

  Background By default Optery provides full initial scans and Exposure Reports for all new users, and then fresh scans and Exposure Reports to Free Basic users quarterly. For paying customers Optery provides automated scans and removals monthly, but does not send any subsequent Exposure Reports, and instead sends Removals Reports quarterly. Reports Optery Provides by Default For reference, this is what Optery plans provide by default: Free Basic: Exposure Report typically witPopular

• Does Optery Remove Multiple Exposed Profiles From A Single Data Broker?

  Optery's cutting-edge technology can uncover multiple hidden online profiles associated with a single individual within a single data broker's database. Our patented search engine employs a sophisticated scanning and matching algorithm to identify these distinct profiles. This allows Optery to determine the exact number of user profiles belonging to the same individual within a single data broker's system. Optery iteratively performs opt-out requests for multiple exposed user profiles, effectiveFew readers

• What if a "View" link leads to an empty or not found page?

  Clicking through and visiting the "View" links in your Dashboard is the first thing a new user should do after creating an account with Optery. These links direct you to our best initial attempt at finding pages about you at data brokers. Along with your first Exposure Report, this is a quick way to see how many data brokers are exposing your information online. The "View" links are not intended to be perfect matches for your profile. Results will vary for each user, depending on yourPopular

• Do I have to confirm "Yes, that's me" or "No, I'm not there" for each of my profile links on the Dashboard?

  No - you do not need to confirm your profiles by selecting "Yes, that's me" or "No, I'm not there" for each of your profiles. This is an optional step that helps Optery improve its profile matching algorithms, but is completely optional and not required.Few readers

• How does Expanded Reach work?

  Optery's standard subscription plans (i.e. Core, Extended, Ultimate) are differentiated in the personal data removal industry with (a) automated direct opt out submissions via APIs and web forms, (b) verified removals with before-and-after screenshot pairs for proof-of-work verification, and for Extended and Ultimate, (c) a "humans + machines" approach combining the industry's most advanced opt out automation and artificial intelligence (AI) with expert human privacy agents to maximize removalsPopular

• Why has my removals progress gone backwards, stalled or declined?

  Because of this approach, and some common reasons below, sometimes your removals progress will go backwards or decline on a month over month basis.Few readers

• How does the Postpone Scan feature work for new signups

  Utilizing the "Postpone Scan" feature now allows you to delay your initial Free Exposure Scan for up to 24 hours to give you more time to add your optional profile information.Some readers

• What does the "Plan Coverage" column mean in the Dashboard?

  The "Plan Coverage" column displays the Paid Plan subscription required for Optery to submit removal requests on your behalf to the corresponding data broker.Few readers

• What does the "Exposure Risk" column mean in the Dashboard?

  The Exposure Risk column appears in the All Sites data broker table and is available on Paid Plans. It reflects the visibility of your profile information at a given data broker, in other words, whether your data is currently exposed there. The three values you'll see Search in Process: Optery is still searching this data broker for your profile. Adding more detail on your Manage Profile page helps us search more thoroughly. Personal Info Found Exposed: Your profile was found at thFew readers

• How Does Optery's Google and Bing Search Results Scan Work?

  When performing data broker removals, the two best tools for finding profiles that need to be removed are: (a) the free Optery Exposure Report and (b) Searches for your name, email address, phone number, and home address using major search engines like Google and Bing. Optery now automatically scans both Google and Bing (including DuckDuckGo) search results, and incorporates the resulting screenshots in your Optery Dashboard and Exposure Reports. This feature helps you, and us, find more expoFew readers

• What does the "Link to Profile" column mean in the Dashboard?

  The Link to Profile column in your Dashboard shows whether Optery has a public-facing URL for a profile found during a scan. It tells you three things at a glance: whether a profile was found, whether we can link directly to it, and whether a linked profile has since been removed. Clicking through the View links in this column is the first thing a new user should do after creating an account. Along with your first Exposure Report, it's the fastest way to see how many data brokers are exFew readers

• Why don't the “How Exposed Are You” and “Protection Progress & Status” numbers match?

  Your Dashboard shows two separate graphs: "How Exposed Are You?" and "Protection Progress & Status." Customers sometimes expect these numbers to line up, but they won't, and that's by design. "How Exposed Are You?" tracks what we've found during your scans. "Protection Progress & Status" tracks what's happened to those profiles during removal. Different processes, different statuses, different numbers. What "How Exposed Are You?" tracks This graph reflects your scan results: **Matched ProFew readers

• What are "Autogenerated Profile Links" under "show more" in the Dashboard?

  The first link displayed is the same as the "View" link in the "Link to Profile" column of the Dashboard. If you provide more information in your "Manage Profile" page, we will generate additional links for you to explore. For example, if there are different variations of your name, such as an abbreviation (e.g. Samuel and Sam, or Kristine and Kris), or if you have a Maiden name, you can input those name variations in your "Manage Profile" page, along with past cities you've lived in, and thFew readers

• What is "Type of Data Broker" under "show more" in the Dashboard?

  Denotes the type of data broker. There are many different types, e.g. People Search, Email, Phone Number, Marketing, etcFew readers

• What is "Displays Names of Family Members" under "show more" in the Dashboard?

  Indicates whether the data broker displays the names of family members in its profiles. This can be a especially jarring to see the names and profiles of parents, siblings, and children also exposed.Few readers

• What is "Privacy Opt Out Support Email" under "show more" in the Dashboard?

  This is the privacy support email address we have on file for each data broker. Many data brokers will accept removal requests via their Privacy Opt Out Support URL, or you can email them and they will provide you with instructions for opting out. IMPORTANT: whenever contacting a data broker (whether by email, postal mail, or web form), we highly recommend using a disposable email address, and NOT using your own primary email address. Data brokers are known to add you to their marketingFew readers

• What is "Primary Opt Out URL" under "show more" in the Dashboard?

  Primary Opt Out URL is the link each data broker provides for submitting opt-out requests directly. You'll find it under "show more" on that broker's row in your data broker table. It's what you'd use to submit a removal request yourself, outside of Optery. Protect your email before you use it Use a disposable email address when contacting a data broker, whether by email, postal mail, or web fFew readers

• My screenshot images and thumbnails are all now missing or not found

  In very rare cases some Optery customers with very old accounts may suddenly lose visibility to their screenshots and thumbnails. If this happens to your account, clear your Optery cookies and the issue should be resolved.Few readers

• What does the "Removals Pending" tab mean in the Dashboard?

  Removals Pending is one of four tabs, alongside All Sites, Removals in Progress, and Removals Completed, that filter the same data broker table by Removal Status. It's available on Paid Plans and shows every data broker where Optery hasn't yet submitted a removal request. Why a broker might be stuck here A data broker can sit in Removals Pending longer thFew readers

• What does the "Removals in Progress" tab mean in the Dashboard?

  The Removals in Progress tab is available on Paid Plans. It shows every data broker where Optery has submitted a removal request on your behalf, along with the current status of that request in the Removal Status column.Few readers

• What does the "Removal Status" column mean in the Dashboard?

  The “Removal Status” column only applies to users on a Paid Plan. This column reflects the status of Optery's removal requests to data brokers on your behalf. For users on a Paid Plan, here are the different statuses you might see: Submitted: we have submitted your removal request to the data broker. Acknowledged: the data broker has acknowledged our removal request submission. Removed: we have confirmed the data broker has removed your profile. Not Found: we have confirmed that yoFew readers

• What does the "Removal Completed" tab mean in the Dashboard?

  The Removals Completed tab is available on Paid Plans and filters your data broker table down to sites where the Removal Status is either Removed or Not Found. These are the data brokers Optery considers resolved for now. What you'll see Each row shows a Removal Status of either: Removed: Optery successfully removed your profile from this data broker. Not Found: Optery searched this data broker and didn't find a matching profile. Note that the Exposure Risk column in thisFew readers

• How to switch between light and dark theme?

  Optery provides a way to switch between light and dark themes. Users can now switch between light and dark theme by accessing your profile menu.Few readers