this post was submitted on 06 Aug 2024
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Privacy

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Services for removing your data from public databases (lemmy.world)
submitted 3 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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Last year I did a major fuckup and bought a .us domain without noticing that they don't support WhoIs privacy, so my name number and address became part of the public WhoIs database scrapes. Since then my spam texts and calls have vastly multiplied. I'm realistic about the fact that the damage is done and it'll always exist out there, but I would happily pay some money to a service that sends takedown requests for the data in the public databases like LexisNexis etc. to lessen the damage. Do you know of any services that do this somewhat reliably? Or even a guide or something about doing this manually?

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago

ars posted this article today: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/08/its-not-worth-paying-to-be-removed-from-people-finder-sites-study-says/

takeaways:

  1. the paid automated options don't work very well
  2. easyoptouts had the best success rate at (only) 65%
  3. claims connections between the data sites and removal sites -- i certainly saw a few ads on the sites but nothing points any fingers at any of the services mentioned in the comments here.

i ended up using kanary and optery in the free tier and doing the removals manually. but to follow up on my OP, there's no service i've seen that goes any deeper than what comes up on google, which is disappointing. there are larger, private databases (such as lexisnexis) which was hoping to be able to get out of.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago

What those service did is sending out-out request enmassed for you.

Whether your data deteted is depend on those receive and honor the request.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

I made the same mistake. I have been using DeleteMe, I think it helped some but it's definitely no silver bullet.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

that is 9$ down the drain.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago

... what is?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Try the Hogo mobile app - they will do some of these for you for free every month or pay a month and do removals on all the sites they cover, then discontinue.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

The info can be reposted after so you have to resubmit continuously.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 months ago

Oh yeah, valid point!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

Www.easyoptouts.com $20/year

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 months ago (3 children)

anyone else have experience with this one?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago

I use it and haven’t had any issues with it.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago

I’ve used it for myself and family. The guy who made it was on reddit saying how ridiculously priced the alternative services were which is why he made easyoptouts.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 months ago

I haven't but 20 bucks is 20 bucks.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 months ago

I personally use Kanary because it seemed better than Privacy Bee and it was cheaper than Optery. Though I do believe Optery is most likely the best overall, Kanary seemed to be the best for the price.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 3 months ago (2 children)

I’ve used Optery since they posted on Hacker News a few years ago. Really satisfied with them - I get quarterly reports that show screenshots of my information being found on a site, then the same site and search not showing results after they’ve finished the takedown. The spot checks I’ve done myself show the same. Can’t find me by phone number, name, etc.

They have different tiered plans and over time I’ve upgraded my account to the top one for a few hundred per year just for extra peace of mind and to support them. Their plans range from $3.99/mo to $24.99/mo.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

Checking them out, thanks. I kinda wish there was a different pricing model than a subscription for this kind of service.

edit; after signing up i can actually see within the free tier that there's a "buy custom scan" option which might allow more piecemeal payments, gonna look into it

[–] [email protected] 6 points 3 months ago (1 children)

This is one of the places where subscription makes sense, as they’re providing continual service. Although a one-time “clean it all up” followed by either a cheaper monthly plan or a retainer makes sense.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I see the logic if I was continually making potential leaks (I guess we all are), but for trying to clean up a specific thing like my case, I suppose I can just buy one month.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 months ago (1 children)

The problem is that a single leak spreads in ripples. You get it all taken down, but someone sells your data anyway, and it propagates to a whole new set of places. So then you need to get it all removed again. And invariably someone will sell your info AGAIN, and so you go through it during that round too. Eventually it fades out, but that can take years.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 months ago

Yeah true. I think what I'm looking for is a reasonable cost/benefit/time investment, like maybe I'll order a Kanary scan once a year and manually opt them all out. I did kanary this afternoon and the vast majority only had my voter registration info, but a few had attached my cell number which might be from the WhoIs data. If I can slow the spread of that for <$20/year I'll feel satisfied.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Optery does alright, i think.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 months ago

I’m sure there are better by now, but I’ve been satisfied overall

[–] [email protected] 13 points 3 months ago (1 children)

https://lemmy.ml/comment/10310949

A comment on a thread about a similar topic from a while back. Looks like it might have some useful information for you.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 months ago

very cool thanks