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https://github.com/yaelwrites/Big-Ass-Data-Broker-Opt-Out-List https://github.com/yaelwrites/Big-Ass-Data-Broker-Opt-Out-Li... It's a pain to do, but it really

https://github.com/yaelwrites/Big-Ass-Data-Broker-Opt-Out-List https://github.com/yaelwrites/Big-Ass-Data-Broker-Opt-Out-Li... It's a pain to do, but it really helps to opt out of data broker lists. I have a reminder to do this once per year, and only the "diff" of my life updates show up (e.g. address reappears because I moved, changed voter registration as a result, etc). There are also services you can pay to do this, but they are usually priced extremely high or are straight up scams (i.e. they'll take your PII and then scam you with it). It's better to just do it yourself so you know there's no middlemen to be forced to trust.

jrhomie 5y ago
I tried this about a year ago but it was pretty futile. The issue is that data brokers repopulate your info every ~6-8 weeks. It's designed to be nearly impossible to keep up with. This bothered me so much that I actually started a company to solve the problem of continuous opt-out from data brokers. I think we’re priced pretty reasonably given how important this stuff is ($99/yr). As far as trust goes, we went through YC W21 (as RoundRobin) and I’m happy to answer any questions people have. www.crowdshield.com
- hash872 5y ago
  I remove myself from data broker websites as a hobby, and I don't find it futile at all. They haven't repopulated my data whatsoever, and they actually take GPDR/CCPA threats pretty seriously. (Sometimes you do need to email the executives directly- fun fact, you can just look them up on other data broker sites!) I've removed myself from every one, for free, with a minimal time commitment. You may just be plugging your company, no offense
  - jdoss 5y ago
    I am glad they posted. I'd rather spend my time not removing myself from these sites as I have other things I'd rather be doing.
    - _huayra_ 5y ago
      Yes I'm so glad this guy posted, as I think removing myself from brokers is somehow less fun than doing my taxes, bordering on trying to negotiate a car deal during 'rona times!
- akeck 5y ago
  Is it strictly 99/person/year? Or is there a family or couple option?
- crispyambulance 5y ago
  I think it's a good idea, but there's more than just "trust" to consider. Here's the question: Does crowdshield pay these data-brokers some kind of "discount rate" to delete stuff? Data-broker companies are very slimy and to be able to do this in bulk, I think, would require paying off these low-lifes or perhaps some kind of legal threat. I am inclined to suspect that the data-brokers would merely temporarily remove names for crowdshield and then just bring them back after some time interval. That way both the data-brokers and crowdshield "get paid" over and over again. Is that how it works?
crispyambulance 5y ago
I was able to do it with a particularly annoying bottom-feeding data-broker, "mylife.com". Their latest scheme was to assign people a bullshit "reputation score". I found this really offensive and it made me angry enough to try to get my name out of their database. Some youtube video showed how to do it. It required a frustrating ~15 minute phone call (the number is somewhere on their website) to an Indian call center where they tried to upsell me a dozen times or so. But I was polite and persistent and asked to have my name removed over and over. That was almost 2 years ago. It seems to have worked. My name doesn't show up anymore if I search on mylife and no mylife pages appear on google searches for me. I still do get emails EVERY DAY from these MF'ers. It's just bullshit about how there's a "negative" item in my reputation and that "7 people are looking at my reputation". AFAIK, it's just automated junk, because my name doesn't come up any more on mylife.

jrhomie 5y ago

I tried this about a year ago but it was pretty futile. The issue is that data brokers repopulate your info every ~6-8 weeks. It's designed to be nearly impossible to keep up with. This bothered me so much that I actually started a company to solve the problem of continuous opt-out from data brokers. I think we’re priced pretty reasonably given how important this stuff is ($99/yr). As far as trust goes, we went through YC W21 (as RoundRobin) and I’m happy to answer any questions people have. www.crowdshield.com

hash872 5y ago
I remove myself from data broker websites as a hobby, and I don't find it futile at all. They haven't repopulated my data whatsoever, and they actually take GPDR/CCPA threats pretty seriously. (Sometimes you do need to email the executives directly- fun fact, you can just look them up on other data broker sites!) I've removed myself from every one, for free, with a minimal time commitment. You may just be plugging your company, no offense
- jdoss 5y ago
  I am glad they posted. I'd rather spend my time not removing myself from these sites as I have other things I'd rather be doing.
  - _huayra_ 5y ago
    Yes I'm so glad this guy posted, as I think removing myself from brokers is somehow less fun than doing my taxes, bordering on trying to negotiate a car deal during 'rona times!
akeck 5y ago
Is it strictly 99/person/year? Or is there a family or couple option?
crispyambulance 5y ago
I think it's a good idea, but there's more than just "trust" to consider. Here's the question: Does crowdshield pay these data-brokers some kind of "discount rate" to delete stuff? Data-broker companies are very slimy and to be able to do this in bulk, I think, would require paying off these low-lifes or perhaps some kind of legal threat. I am inclined to suspect that the data-brokers would merely temporarily remove names for crowdshield and then just bring them back after some time interval. That way both the data-brokers and crowdshield "get paid" over and over again. Is that how it works?

crispyambulance 5y ago

I was able to do it with a particularly annoying bottom-feeding data-broker, "mylife.com". Their latest scheme was to assign people a bullshit "reputation score". I found this really offensive and it made me angry enough to try to get my name out of their database. Some youtube video showed how to do it. It required a frustrating ~15 minute phone call (the number is somewhere on their website) to an Indian call center where they tried to upsell me a dozen times or so. But I was polite and persistent and asked to have my name removed over and over. That was almost 2 years ago. It seems to have worked. My name doesn't show up anymore if I search on mylife and no mylife pages appear on google searches for me. I still do get emails EVERY DAY from these MF'ers. It's just bullshit about how there's a "negative" item in my reputation and that "7 people are looking at my reputation". AFAIK, it's just automated junk, because my name doesn't come up any more on mylife.