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So you would recommend Optery? Some of the paid opt-out services seem to me to be essentially extortion schemes, want to make sure any service I use wouldn’t b

by rotexo 4y ago

So you would recommend Optery? Some of the paid opt-out services seem to me to be essentially extortion schemes, want to make sure any service I use wouldn’t be like that.

beyondd 4y ago
Extensive analysis of Optery and the topic of removing your personal info from the web on HN here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30605010 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30605010
- rotexo 4y ago
  Thanks, will have to read up on it.
- hanniabu 4y ago
  Are you still using those misleading scam tactics? And what's the purpose of the monthly membership if it works?!
  - varenc 4y ago
    The monthly subscription only make sense if you consider that new data brokers are popping up all the time and opting out is a constant process. That said, it seems like 90% of the value you get from a one-time usage, but of course they insist on a subscription. But my solution to that is to use a burner credit card number! Specifically from privacy.com. I just make a new card with a limit of $20 to ensure it can't be billed again next month. I should of course just cancel the subscription, but if I forget they can't charge me next month anyway. I highly recommend privacy.com or other burner card services.
varenc 4y ago
Just FYI, the parent commenter is the Founder of Optery! So I think they’d recommend it, though I appreciate their light touch. It does seem like Optery is the only legit offering in a sea of scammy opt-out services/schemes.
- gingerlime 4y ago
  how do you know which service to trust? honest question
gingerlime 4y ago
a shoutout to https://yourdigitalrights.org/ https://yourdigitalrights.org/ which is a nonprofit which tries to tackle this. I haven’t used it yet, and it feels rough around the edges. I donated however and talked to their founder and I think this model fits better than a commercial one. The way it’s built you don’t actually share any data with them. They essentially provide templates to make erasure requests and follow-ups easier.
- varenc 4y ago
  I love the idea, but they're horrible in practice. Provide very little help for most data brokers. And the opt out links are out of data for many sites.
  - yoaviram 4y ago
    Hi Varenc, I'm the founder of YourDigitalRights.org and I'd love to hear your specific feedback either here or via email (address is on the website). That would be greatly appreciated.
matthewbay 4y ago
I've used DeleteMe:https://joindeleteme.com/ https://joindeleteme.com/ and OneRep:https://onerep.com/ https://onerep.com/. Both have worked effectively - neither were extortion schemes

by rotexo 4y ago

So you would recommend Optery? Some of the paid opt-out services seem to me to be essentially extortion schemes, want to make sure any service I use wouldn’t be like that.

beyondd 4y ago

Extensive analysis of Optery and the topic of removing your personal info from the web on HN here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30605010 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30605010

rotexo 4y ago
Thanks, will have to read up on it.
hanniabu 4y ago
Are you still using those misleading scam tactics? And what's the purpose of the monthly membership if it works?!
- varenc 4y ago
  The monthly subscription only make sense if you consider that new data brokers are popping up all the time and opting out is a constant process. That said, it seems like 90% of the value you get from a one-time usage, but of course they insist on a subscription. But my solution to that is to use a burner credit card number! Specifically from privacy.com. I just make a new card with a limit of $20 to ensure it can't be billed again next month. I should of course just cancel the subscription, but if I forget they can't charge me next month anyway. I highly recommend privacy.com or other burner card services.

varenc 4y ago

Just FYI, the parent commenter is the Founder of Optery! So I think they’d recommend it, though I appreciate their light touch. It does seem like Optery is the only legit offering in a sea of scammy opt-out services/schemes.

gingerlime 4y ago
how do you know which service to trust? honest question

gingerlime 4y ago

a shoutout to https://yourdigitalrights.org/ https://yourdigitalrights.org/ which is a nonprofit which tries to tackle this. I haven’t used it yet, and it feels rough around the edges. I donated however and talked to their founder and I think this model fits better than a commercial one. The way it’s built you don’t actually share any data with them. They essentially provide templates to make erasure requests and follow-ups easier.

varenc 4y ago
I love the idea, but they're horrible in practice. Provide very little help for most data brokers. And the opt out links are out of data for many sites.
- yoaviram 4y ago
  Hi Varenc, I'm the founder of YourDigitalRights.org and I'd love to hear your specific feedback either here or via email (address is on the website). That would be greatly appreciated.

matthewbay 4y ago

I've used DeleteMe:https://joindeleteme.com/ https://joindeleteme.com/ and OneRep:https://onerep.com/ https://onerep.com/. Both have worked effectively - neither were extortion schemes