• 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remove the link(s) from Google's cache on an expedited basis, you can submit the old link to your profile into Google's outdated content tool here: https://search.google.com/search-console/remove-outdated-content This is not something we currently provide with our plans, but we're strongly considering adSome readers

• 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. After upgrading, Optery starts its automated opt out processing and within about 1 week you'll start to see many of the profiles disappear and for the new statuses to be updated in your dashboard. In our experience, customers typically see that more than half of their exposedPopular

• 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 private 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 not shared with any data brokers. If you are submitting opt out requests to data brokersFew readers

• 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"Few readers

• If I use Optery, will that increase my phone or email spam?

  We have no evidence or reason to believe using Optery will lead to more phone or email spam. And we want to clarify the lengths we go to to prevent this from happening. On the contrary, most Optery customers report their phone and email spam is reduced dramatically after using an Optery paid subscription as their phone and email are taken out of circulation at data brokers. However, Optery will not completely eliminate phone or email spam as the data brokers Optery removes from are just one sFew readers

• Will Optery remove other people's profiles if they display my personal information too?

  Unfortunately some data brokers may display your personal information on other people's profiles, most commonly on the profiles of your family members. Per Section 6, subsection (iii) in the Optery Terms of Service, Removal Services will be provided for data broker profiles primarily representing you and will not be provided for data broker profiles primarily representing someone other than you.Few readers

• If I purchased a subscription from a data broker’s site, how does it affect my removals?

  If you previously purchased a subscription with a data broker, Optery cannot remove your profile as it now must be managed by you. You will need to retrieve your login information and log back into your data broker account to delete or hide your profile. Unfortunately, Optery is not able to do this for you.Few readers

• Does Optery submit state-specific data rights requests (e.g. CCPA, CPRA, CPA, CTDPA, UCPA, VCDPA)?

  Optery processes opt out and removal requests for 240+ data brokers, and we use a variety of methods to execute these opt out and removal requests. For example, we do often use the CCPA opt out procedures for California residents, but not always. In some cases it is necessary for us to utilize a CCPA opt out procedure for California residents and in other cases it is not necessary. It depends on the data broker. Also, data broker opt out procedures change frequently, so it is a fairly dynamic anFew readers

• As a new customer, why has my removals progress stalled?

  New Optery customers that scrutinize their dashboard and opt out progress are often very impressed with a large amount of opt out and removal activity happening in the first 1 - 2 weeks of their subscription, and then are surprised to see things stall with relatively little progress from around week 3 - 4. In this post, we explain why this happens and what to expect in the first month. Optery's approach is a combination of automated opt out bot + human privacy agents for quality assurance andFew readers

• 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 permiSome readers

• 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.Some readers

• 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.Few readers

• 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.Few readers