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Opt Outs & Removals
How opt outs and removals work and what to expect.
My profile was removed from a data broker, but the link is still showing up in Google, Bing, Yahoo, or DuckDuckGo?
After a profile has been removed from a data broker, the link still may appear in Google's cached results for a few weeks before it ages out of their cache and is deleted. If you'd like to remove the link(s) from Google's cache on an expedited basis, you can submit the old link to your profile into Google's outdated content tool here: https://search.google.com/search-console/remove-outdated-content This is not something we currently provide with our plans, but we're strongly considering ad
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After upgrading, how long does it take for my profiles to be removed?
Unfortunately, removing you from hundreds of data brokers does not happen instantaneously, or even overnight. Some data brokers process removals within 24 hours, but others take several weeks, or even months to comply. The answer to this question also varies heavily depending on the data broker. For example, The California Consumer Privacy Act, also known as the CCPA - the most strict privacy law in the U.S. - actually gives data brokers a 45 day grace period to comply with an opt out reque
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Does Optery share the email address or phone number I provide with the data brokers when opting me out?
No. Optery does not share the email address or phone number you provide with data brokers when opting you out. Most data brokers require an email address to process an opt out request. With an Optery paid plan, we autogenerate custom email addresses for your opt out submissions that we manage for you behind-the-scenes, so your inbox is spared and to be clear: your personal email address is never shared with any data brokers. If you are submitting opt out requests to data brokers on yo
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How can I verify the profiles Optery says have been removed, have actually been removed?
Optery provides more "proof" and visibility of removals than any other tool on the market. Many people create a Free Basic account with Optery to double-check their own work opting out, or the work of our competitors, before switching over to our paid service. We find, on average, 20 - 40 profiles exposed that our competitors have missed. You can verify profiles have been removed in a few different ways. In most cases, you can click the links labeled "Removed" under the "Link to Profile"
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When my data is removed from a data broker, is this permanent?
Unfortunately, after removing your data from a data broker, this is generally not permanent. The answer to this question also varies heavily depending on the data broker. Every data broker honors opt outs a little bit differently. Some data brokers honor opt outs indefinitely, but others require annual effort to ensure your name and personal info stays removed. For example, The California Consumer Privacy Act, also known as the CCPA - the most strict privacy law in the U.S. - actually permi
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How do I report an exposed profile or removals issue that Optery has incorrectly marked "Removed / Not Found"?
If you find an exposed profile that Optery has incorrectly marked "Removed / Not Found", please navigate to the Removals Issues screen and submit the URL, a screenshot and any additional information that would be helpful for us to investigate.
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Does Optery remove information from the Dark Web?
Optery does not remove information from the Dark Web and does not provide Dark Web scanning or reporting either.
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In My Removals Progress Update, What's the Difference Between "Pending" and "In Progress"?
In your Account Notification Preferences you can configure your Data Broker Removal Status Updates to be delivered Weekly, Monthly, or Never. Each Removals Progress Update contains the following statuses. Removed Not Found, Pending, In Progress, Total Covered.
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