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***jasonX***

'Optery' data removal service. Is it worth it?

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Optery is one of the most popular data removal service in the market, but how well does it protect your online privacy? Mr. Jon Sidor of Surfshark shares this comprehensive review to explore Optery’s strengths, weaknesses, and key features to help you decide if it meets your needs. (Note: Data accurate as of July 1, 2025).

Optery at a glance — pros and cons

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Optery has a clear user interface, free and paid plans, and comprehensive data removal reports. However, Optery’s free plan has limited functionality — its service is only available in the US, and removing your data can take up to a few months among others. But, overall, Optery has garnered a good reputation among users for its effectiveness and support. Whether you opt for the free or paid plan, the service aims to deliver a seamless experience in managing your presence on the web.

What is Optery?

Optery is a specialized data removal service that helps users wipe their personal information from data broker sites.

With Optery, people can significantly reduce their online footprint, lowering their risk of fraud and identity theft. The service scans the web for exposed data and submits opt-out requests to remove those details.

Optery offers several plans users can choose from. The free plan provides instructions for self-service opt-outs, while various paid plans remove data automatically. Higher tiers also boast broader data broker coverage, going up to 380+ data brokers covered on the 'Ultimate' plan.

Key features of Optery

Here are the basic features that make Optery appealing to so many users.

Manual guidance
Optery’s Free Basic plan highlights which brokers have your data and gives instructions on manually sending them opt-out requests. Even if you think a paid subscription suits you best, all users can transparently see where their data appears across different broker sites before committing to a plan. These free tools offered by Optery are useful and effective catered for budget-conscious users and those who prefer a DIY approach to data removal.

Automated opt-outs
Users with a paid plan receive a largely automated data removal experience with Optery. The service scans people search sites for your private information. If anything comes up, the Optery sends opt-out requests to specific data brokers and notifies you once your data is removed. This automated approach is convenient for users who want a streamlined way to preserve their online privacy.

Custom removals
Optery’s premium plan — the Ultimate plan — lets users customize removal requests for additional data broker profiles that aren’t already covered. The custom requests can be a great service for anyone dealing with unusual violations of their data privacy rights, but they might not be successful. It’s also worth noting that they can’t be accessed until 30 days after subscribing, which may inconvenience some users. This is one of the drawbacks that need to be considered.

Comprehensive scanning
All Optery plans, both free and paid, let users see where their personal data appears online. Transparently getting this info empowers you to make better-informed decisions if only a few data brokers have your data. However, if you see your personal details have been exposed by several people search sites, you’ll know a paid plan is likely your best bet. After removal, Optery continues to conduct monthly automated scans to ensure your data stays off the web.

Removal from search results
Optery can help you remove outdated personal information from Google search results. It uses Google’s free tool to achieve this, but letting Optery handle the process can be a major time-saver for users who aren’t tech-savvy. To take advantage of Optery’s outdated content removal tool, the user needs an 'Ultimate' plan subscription.

Optery pricing and plans

Along with a free tier for self-service data removal, Optery has three paid plans users can choose from. All are offered through monthly or yearly subscriptions, and you can take advantage of a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Most other leading data removal services offer the same coverage across all their plans, but this isn’t the case with Optery. A more expensive Optery subscription unlocks more data brokers, so you’ll need to choose the Ultimate plan to access Optery’s full coverage.

Apart from this, here are the other main features of Optery’s paid plans.

Optery’s data removal process

The data removal process with Optery includes a few simple steps.

Initial scans: Optery checks data broker sites to see if your personal information comes up online.
Opt-out requests: if Optery finds your details on a people finder site, it submits a request to remove this information on your behalf.
Follow-up scans: Optery conducts future scans to confirm whether or not your data has been removed. Once your information is removed, you’ll receive an in-depth report verifying the changes.
Continuous monitoring: Optery will keep scanning the affected data broker sites moving forward to make sure your details don’t return.

Note: The above steps are only for users with a paid plan. Anyone using Optery’s free tools can still get scan results, but they’ll need to manually contact data brokers to remove their private information.

Optery’s data broker coverage

Online data removal from Optery usually includes people search sites, marketing brokers, and B2B lead generation brokers. The sites left out of its scans tend to be risk mitigation, recruitment, and financial information brokers. Optery’s services are limited to US residents and US-based data brokers. According to the Optery website, here is how many data broker sites are covered under Optery’s different plans.

A free account with Optery gets you scans of an undisclosed number of sites, but no removals are included. For full protection across 640+ data broker sites on its Ultimate plan, Optery claims you need to activate a feature called Expanded Reach.

The thing is, this number isn’t exactly accurate.

According to Optery, Expanded Reach includes data brokers that “do not yet meet Optery’s rigorous removal verification standards.” Some have stopped complying with removals, have gone out of business, or are only relevant to residents of a specific state or region. In sum, while Optery’s coverage is extensive, you have to take its reported figures with a grain of salt.

Quote:“Optery highlights the number of people search sites it covers and uses it as a main selling point, but what also matters is the quality of those sites.

A closer look shows that many of these sites are small data brokers that operate only within specific states or focus on niche information, like criminal or property records.”

– Povilas Reinotas, Data Removal Platform Lead at Incogni

Optery data privacy compliance and policies

Optery’s privacy policy is completely transparent about how it handles your sensitive information. It’s a trustworthy service that doesn’t sell or misuse user data.

In the US, Optery adheres to the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), and the service follows the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Both of these regulations give individual users the legal right to request data removal, access private information, and limit how other bodies share it.

When it comes to other regulations, Optery doesn’t adhere to Canada’s Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), and its compliance with measures like the CPA, UCPA, VCDPA, and CTDPA isn’t specified.

Optery reporting and monitoring

Optery gives users detailed opt-out progress and exposure reports, so you won’t have to guess about the status of your removal requests. These in-depth overviews share where user data has been found across hundreds of data broker sites, offering Optery customers full transparency throughout the entire deletion process.

Note that this ongoing monitoring is only available on a paid plan, and different plans offer different levels of insight. For instance, the Core plan provides basic exposure risk reporting, but the Extended plan is needed to access removal reports with screenshots every 90 days or so.

While it’s not ideal for this kind of monitoring to be reserved for top-tier plans, periodic scans are vital for any removal tool. Some of your data may reappear, so it’s good for a tool to offer long-term peace of mind instead of a quick fix.

Optery vs. Incogni

For more context, it’s helpful to take a closer look at Optery vs. Incogni, another leading data removal service. Although the two may appear similar on the surface, they differ significantly in several areas.

1. Automation
Optery’s higher-tier plans let users enjoy more automation. The Free Basic plan guides you in how to send out manual opt-out requests, while paid plans will automate much of this process.

In contrast, Incogni allows more automation for customers on all of its plans. In most cases, Incogni starts sending out data removal requests on your behalf after you sign up — all you have to do is track its progress.

Like Optery, Incogni offers custom removal requests, which involve users working with a dedicated privacy specialist. These are best suited for data brokers not covered by the automated service.

2. Coverage
Optery’s coverage depends on your chosen plan. Users can get removals from 110+, 275+, or 385+ data brokers on a paid plan. The free plan, however, doesn’t automatically delete your info from any sites.

Incogni monitors over 270 people search sites for all of its plans. Based on numbers alone, it’s hard to say whether Incogni or Optery provides better coverage. It’s worth noting, though, that Incogni continuously prunes its broker list to ensure its total is never misrepresented.

Moreover, Incogni can cover more kinds of sites from the start. It can automatically remove data from risk mitigation, recruitment, and financial information brokers, none of which are covered by Optery.

Geographic reach scores Incogni another point. While Optery is only available in the US, Incogni serves users in 34 countries, including the US, the UK, Canada, EU member states, Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.

3. Ease of use
According to customer reviews on Trustpilot, Optery’s dashboard is clear and user-friendly. Users can customize many settings without giving up transparency into how their information is deleted.

Incogni is also a great choice for users looking for an intuitive tool. Its dashboard is more streamlined, making it easy for users to get comprehensive data removal in just a few clicks.

4. Extras
Apart from its standard service, Optery lets users enjoy a handful of added features, namely:

Manual opt-out instructions: free users and those dealing with brokers that aren’t automatically covered get guidance to remove their private data themselves;
CSV exports: users can download removal reports in the CSV format for easy reviewing, storing, and sharing;
Family member protection: you can add other household members to your plan to extend personal data removal to partners and children.

That said, Incogni is included in the Surfshark One+ cybersecurity bundle, so users also get access to:

VPN (Virtual Private Network): a VPN encrypts online traffic and masks your IP (Internet Protocol) address to increase internet privacy and security;
Antivirus: software that protects your devices from malware and infected files;
Alternative ID: a tool that generates a new email address to help you keep unwanted messages out of your primary inbox;
Alert: a solution that pings you when your private data gets leaked online;
Search: a private search engine that shows you purely organic results without ads or trackers.

Price

Remember, Optery offers a free plan along with three paid plans for monthly and yearly subscriptions. The Core plan starts at $3.25/mo with a yearly subscription, while the Unlimited plan costs as much as $24.99/mo if you choose to get it for a single month. Meanwhile, you can get Incogni as a part of the Surfshark One+ bundle at the following prices:

Note: Incogni is a paid service and does not offer a free plan and free report.

Incogni’s 24-month subscription offers the best value at $3.99/mo. While Optery’s Core plan starts at only $3.25/mo, note that you’ll have access to limited features. At this price point, Optery users miss out on custom removals, privacy specialists, and scans of hundreds of data brokers.

At $3.99/mo, Incogni users still get comprehensive coverage. Backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, the 24-month plan lets you access the full Surfshark One+ suite, including Surfshark VPN, Antivirus, Alternative ID, Alert, and Search.

Bonus: Check out our Incogni review for a full breakdown of its features, pricing, and benefits.

The added value of Surfshark and Incogni

Incogni is a highly effective data removal tool, but its true potential is unlocked when it’s used together with the rest of the Surfshark One+ bundle. By coupling Incogni with other cybersecurity tools like a VPN and antivirus software, users can create a safer online ecosystem for themselves, their data, and their devices. Surfshark provides a comprehensive approach to online privacy, making it an attractive option for anyone seeking all-around internet protection.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT OPTERY

Does Optery really work?
Yes, Optery is effective at requesting the removal of your personal information from data broker websites. For users on a paid subscription, it scans hundreds of sites and sends opt-out requests on their behalf, helping reduce their digital footprint and protect online privacy.
How long does it take for Optery to work?
Optery typically begins submitting opt-out requests within days of activation, and initial results can be seen within one or two weeks. However, complete removal from all supported sites may take up a few months, but this partially depends on how responsive each data broker is.
How much is Optery per month?
Optery’s monthly price depends on the chosen plan and the subscription length. The lowest monthly price is $3.25 for the Core plan on an annual subscription. The most expensive option is a one-month subscription to the Ultimate plan, which costs $24.99.

Key takeaway: Is Optery worth it?

Optery is a reputable data removal service, but users need to pay for its expensive Ultimate plan to tap into everything it can do. The price, along with Optery’s focus on the US market, may make the tool inaccessible to many users.

If you’re looking for streamlined removal, international coverage, and more straightforward pricing, Incogni might be a better choice. Incogni and the rest of the Surfshark One+ package are powerful alternative solutions that will enhance your online privacy.

MORE Info HERE

Data and info derived / lifted from Surfshark with permission

***jasonX*** · 18 July 25, 02:23

Surfshark Quaterly Updates

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Surfshark fans! Here is a 'round-up' of the quarterly updates for Surfshark VPN! From a public DNS (Domain Name System) server launch to new app updates, we have a lot to share. Read on below!

Surfshark's no-tracking policy was verified again

Deloitte, one of the Big Four auditing firms, confirmed that our systems and internal processes align with our privacy policy — we don’t collect or monitor your activity. We are committed to maintaining this transparency and trust and plan to continue these independent checks regularly. For more information, please visit our blog post on no-logs policy verification.
Surfshark launched their public DNS servers

We just launched a new addition to our online security-boosting tools — public DNS servers! The best part? You don’t need an active Surfshark subscription to use them. It’s a free-for-all service that you can simply configure on your device.

Our privacy-focused DNS service adds a layer of protection and, thanks to our global infrastructure, ensures stable speeds. Visit this page to learn more about our public DNS.

Note: DNS service shouldn’t be used instead of a VPN (Virtual Private Network) and doesn’t provide the same security level.
Surfshark introduced a new technology — Everlink

Everlink is a patented self-healing VPN infrastructure that keeps you connected during server maintenance, ensuring uninterrupted security. It’s available on iOS, macOS, Windows, Android, and Linux, and is automatically on when using the WireGuard connection protocol.
Surfshark added more dedicated IP locations

We expanded the location list of our dedicated IP by adding seven new locations worldwide! Our new additions include servers in:
- Turkey — Istanbul;
- Poland — Warsaw;
- US — Las Vegas;
- US — Denver;
- US — New York;
- Brazil — Sao Paulo;
- Singapore — Singapore.
With these locations onboard, Surfshark now offer 20 options to choose from. Check out this blog post about Surfshark's dedicated IP update.
Surfshark Antivirus now scans external devices

Surfshark Antivirus (available in Surfshark One and Surfshark One+) also got boosted with a new feature — external storage scans. This feature is enabled by default and protects all your USB and other external storage drives. User's can turn off the feature in our app’s Antivirus tab to save time and device resources using trusted external media.
New quick connect option for Android

Surfshark added a last-used location option to our quick connect feature and a few bug fixes for smoother surfing!
Our macOS app now has Bypasser

Bypasser, Surfshark's split-tunneling feature, is now available on macOS. It allows you to select websites and apps to bypass the VPN. In addition to that, the macOS pause VPN function now supports IKEv2 and OpenVPN protocols. Several improvements and fixes for enhanced stability have also been included.
Use Bypasser on iOS without opening the app

Users can now add new websites to Bypasser directly from your browser of choice. Click on 'Share' and then select 'Add to Bypasser' to allow websites to bypass the VPN connection. Minor improvements and bug fixes were also added for an even better experience.
Bugfixes for our Windows app

Surfshark improved the Windows app startup performance for a faster and smoother experience, focused on performance tweaks, and fixed a few bugs.

See latest video of the quarterly updates below.

Surfshark Updates June 2025

MORE Info HERE

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***jasonX***

Surfshark Apps Version Updates

Windows App Changelog - Surfshark 5.16.1 (03-06-2025)

What's new:

Upgraded our OpenVPN to the newest 2.5.0 version with the latest security and bug fixes.
Added a few visual fixes, app improvements, and bug fixes for even smoother surfing.

macOS App Changelog - Surfshark 4.21.1 (18-07-2025)

What's new:

This release includes various app performance improvements to better your Surfshark experience.

iOS App Changelog - Surfshark 3.25.0 (23-07-2025)

What's new:

Made behind-the-scenes improvements to alternative number for an even smoother experience.
Resolved minor bugs and made improvements for better stability and performance.

Android App Changelog - Surfshark 3.18.1 (28-07-2025) / 3.18.0 (21-07-2025)

What's new:

Made improvements to Alternative Number for an even smoother experience.
A few bug fixes, as always â€” boosting overall stability and performance behind the scenes.

Data and info derived / lifted from Surfshark Customer Support with permission

***jasonX*** · 12 August 25, 05:09

FastTrack: Surfshark’s route optimization solution

FastTrack is an innovative solution created by Surfshark which continuously evaluates different routes in real-time. When network conditions changes, Surfshark monitors connection speed across our entire network, thus identifying the most efficient paths available at any moment. FastTrack adjusts the path to ensure the user's data always travels along the most optimized and stable pathways, resulting in better internet performance and speed.

FastTrack, a true real-time VPN route optimization for enhanced internet performance!

Basics of internet speed and latency.
The quality and safety of your internet connection can make or break anybody's internet experience. Virtual private networks (VPNs) have long been a trusted tool for online security, but Surfshark, has taken it a step further to provide the most efficient service possible for all users. Internet speed determines how much data you can send or receive per second, while latency measures how quickly data travels between two points. The quicker the response time — the better.

Together, these factors dictate how smoothly your internet connection supports various online activities.

Surfshark FastTrack

How does it all work?
The FastTrack solution is built on Surfshark Nexus, a unique multi-server routing system that connects users to an entire network of servers rather than a single VPN tunnel, enhancing security and stability. At the heart of this system is Surfshark's globally distributed probes, which function like messengers. They check the speeds and latency from their perspective and return this information.

Surfshark actively tests multiple path combinations using Nexus to identify the most efficient routes. Collecting and analyzing real-time speed data ensures that user traffic is directed along the optimal paths, delivering the best possible performance for everyone.

Why does it matter?
Even with the best internet quality, network performance gets worse the longer the path is. For example, connecting from Miami to Detroit, you will probably maintain fast internet speeds. However, they will most likely drop when connecting from Miami to Sydney.

The FastTrack solution optimizes both speed and a consistent, high-quality connection. By actively managing user routes, we enhance connectivity and overall user experience.

For example, due to the layout of global network infrastructure, a data packet traveling from one city to another may be routed through multiple cities, countries, or even across continents and under oceans, if those paths offer less congestion or faster transmission speeds.

By actively optimizing these data paths and leveraging the most efficient routes, we can maximize connection speed. This optimization ensures that users consistently experience the best possible network performance, regardless of their physical location.

How to use it
At the moment, the solution will only be released for macOS devices. If you’re using macOS with the latest Surfshark app, all you have to do is connect to one of three key locations (Sydney, Seattle, or Vancouver), and our system automatically evaluates and selects the best possible routes for your connection.

Surfshark's routing solution works automatically when users connect through the Surfshark app, operating behind the scenes to ensure the user's data travels along the most efficient paths.

Currently, Surfshark has implemented this optimization in three key locations: Sydney (Australia), Vancouver (Canada), and Seattle (the US), so users can expect better VPN performance — with speed increases up to 70% — when connecting to servers located in these cities. Users can identify the optimized locations by looking for the FastTrack icon next to Sydney, Seattle, and Vancouver in the server list.

MORE Info HERE

Data and info derived / lifted from Surfshark with permission

***jasonX*** · 12 August 25, 12:25

How to stop pop-up ads: tips, tricks, and recommendations

Advertisements..ADS..Without a doubt, everybody hates ads especially those ads that instantly pops-up when you are busy doing something or just watching a video in YouTube, Vimeo, etc. Pop-up ads are one of the most frustrating parts of surfing the web. They attack almost instantly as soon as you start reading an article or watching a video, blocking your view and forcing you to engage. There is of course a 'close button'. But usually it's microscopic or fake / opens another pop-ad!

The good news is that stopping pop-up ads is easier than you might think. Built-in browser settings, ad blockers, and security tools can eliminate most interruptions before they reach your screen. Mr. Alek Furgal of Surfshark shares us a guide covering how to block pop-ups on every major device and browser. Read on below.

What are pop-up ads?
Pop-up ads are marketing messages that appear on your screen while browsing a website. They take the form of interface elements, displayed over the content you’re trying to view or opening in new windows.

Pop-ups grab attention by blocking the content you’re trying to view. Some serve legitimate purposes, like newsletter signups or important notifications, but most are intrusive marketing attempts that disrupt your browsing experience.

These ads don’t just annoy — they slow down your device, increase data consumption, and sometimes expose you to malware. Pop-ups may redirect you to suspicious websites or trick you into downloading unwanted software. On mobile devices, accidental taps can trigger unwanted app installations or subscription signups.

Despite these risks, pop-up ads aren’t going anywhere. Virtue Market Research reports that pop-ups increase website conversions by 40%, constantly driving business demand higher. With results like that, website owners aren’t giving them up.

This is why learning to block pop-ups is so important and you will be able to focus on the content you actually want to see without constant interruptions. Blocking pop-ups delivers measurable benefits:

Faster page loading
Reduced data usage
Improved mobile battery life
Better security.

Different types of pop-up ads
Understanding the different types of pop-ups can help you identify the problem and choose the best blocking method.

Overlay ads appear directly on top of webpages, usually with a small X button in the corner. These range from legitimate marketing offers to malicious content and represent the most common pop-up type;
New window pop-ups open in separate browser windows or tabs. Once dominant in the early internet era, they’re now mainly used by websites with questionable advertising practices;
Redirect ads hijack your entire browser to display advertising pages. These activate when you click anywhere on a webpage — not just obvious advertisements — making them particularly sneaky;
Notification spam appears as browser notifications even when you’re not browsing. These pop-ups persist on your desktop or mobile device until you manually dismiss them;
Mobile app pop-ups appear within mobile apps and prove especially intrusive because smaller screens make them harder to close.

Why am I suddenly getting pop-up ads?
If you’ve noticed more pop-ups lately, several factors could be responsible:

You’re visiting aggressive websites that generate revenue primarily through advertising. These sites bombard visitors with pop-ups to maximize earnings;
Your device picked up adware or malware when you downloaded free software from untrusted sources or clicked suspicious links. Malicious software hijacks your browser, changes settings without permission, and displays ads regardless of which websites you visit;
Your browser or operating system is outdated and lacks current security features and pop-up blocking capabilities. This makes you an easier target for intrusive advertising;
You installed a problematic browser extension that displays ads, collects browsing data, or redirects searches to generate revenue. While many extensions are legitimate, some aren’t.

General ways to block pop-up ads
Before diving into device-specific instructions, let’s cover some universal strategies that work across all platforms and browsers.

Ajusting browser settings
The first line of defense is adjusting your browser settings. Every modern browser includes built-in pop-up blocking features, though they’re not always enabled by default. These settings can typically be found in the privacy or security sections of your browser preferences.
Using ad blockers
Using ad blocker tools or extensions is another highly effective approach. These tools work by filtering out advertising content before it reaches your browser, preventing pop-ups from appearing in the first place. Popular options include uBlock Origin, AdBlock Plus, and Surfshark’s Clean Web.
Keeping your software up to date
Keeping your browsers and apps updated is crucial for maintaining strong pop-up protection. Updates often include improved security features and better ad-blocking capabilities. Set up automatic updates whenever possible to ensure you’re always protected with the latest defenses.
Stay vigilant
Avoiding suspicious websites is perhaps the most important preventive measure. Be cautious when visiting unfamiliar sites, especially those offering free downloads, adult content, or too good to be true deals. These sites are often designed to bombard visitors with pop-ups and may contain malware.
Get a cybersecurity suite
Consider using a service like Surfshark, which offers Clean Web functionality with all its plans. This feature blocks ads, trackers, and malware at the network level, protecting all your devices and browsers simultaneously.

5 ways to stop pop-ups before they start
Preventing pop-up ads beats dealing with them after they start appearing. These proactive steps minimize your exposure to intrusive advertising:

1. Visit only reputable websites. Stick to well-known sites whenever possible. When you must visit unfamiliar websites, check the URL and look for HTTPS encryption.
2. Download from official sources. Use the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, or developers’ official websites. Third-party sites often bundle adware with legitimate software.
3. Don’t click suspicious links in emails, social media posts, or text messages from unknown senders. These links may lead to sites designed to display pop-ups or install malware.
4. Read installation screens carefully. Many free programs include optional add-ons or toolbars that display ads. Choose Custom or Advanced installation options so you can deselect unwanted extras.
5. Keep software updated. Updates include security patches that protect against new malware and adware.

How to stop pop-up ads on Android

Android devices are particularly susceptible to pop-up ads because of the platform’s open nature and the variety of available browsers. Here’s how to protect your Android device from intrusive advertising.

1. Adjusting browser settings

For Chrome on Android:

Start by opening the Chrome app and tapping the three dots in the top-right corner. Select Settings from the menu, then type Pop-ups and redirects into the search bar. Check the box next to Don’t allow sites to send pop-ups or use redirects. In addition, you can also set additional protection via Privacy and security > Privacy Guide > Choose your safe browsing protection > select Enhanced protection.

For Samsung Internet:
Open the Samsung Internet app and tap the three lines in the bottom-right corner. Select Settings, then Sites and downloads. Find Block pop-ups and enable it.

For Firefox (141.0.1) on Android:
Open Firefox and tap the three dots, then Settings. Scroll down to Enhanced Tracking Protection. Make sure it’s set to Strict for the maximum level of pop-up blocking.

2. Using ad-blocking apps
Several Android apps are specifically designed to block pop-ups and ads across all your browsers and apps. Surfshark’s Clean Web offers a comprehensive solution. As part of the Surfshark VPN service, Clean Web blocks ads, trackers, and malware across all your devices and browsers. It works at the network level, so you don’t need to configure individual apps or browsers.

NOTE: A new dedicated user flow for CleanWeb (Ad Blocker) has just been launched by Surfshark! Users can now purchase Surshark's CleanWeb (Ad Blocker) as a standalone product for $2.49/month, totaling $29.88 for 1 year. You can check out this link, Standalone CleanWeb (Ad Blocker)

3. Adjusting system settings
Sometimes pop-ups can appear as system notifications. To prevent this, go to your Android Settings, then Apps. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner and tap on Special access. From there, look for the Appear on top tab. Review the list of apps that have permission to display overlays and disable this permission for any apps you don’t trust.

How to stop pop-up ads on iPhone

iPhones generally have fewer pop-up ad issues than Android devices, but they’re not immune. Here’s how to maximize your protection on iOS.

1. Enable Safari’s pop-up blocker

Open your iPhone’s Settings app and scroll down to find Safari. Tap on it, then look for Block Pop-ups and make sure it’s enabled (the toggle should be green).

While you’re in Safari settings, also enable Fraudulent Website Warning for additional protection against malicious sites that might try to display pop-ups.

2. Use third-party browsers
If you’re open to using browsers other than Safari, many offer superior ad-blocking capabilities. Firefox Focus is designed specifically for privacy and blocks ads by default. Chrome on iPhone also has pop-up blocking features similar to those of its Android counterpart.

3. Hide distracting items in Safari

This Safari functionality is designed to block pop-ups, overlays, and other visually disruptive elements when reading or browsing.

Here’s how to use it:

Open Safari and load the webpage you want to view;
Tap the new Page Menu icon (a box with lines) in the address bar;
From the dropdown menu, select Hide Distracting Content.

Safari will instantly attempt to:

Hide sticky headers/footers;
Remove newsletter pop-ups or cookie banners;
Suppress floating ads or overlays;
Simplify layout to reduce visual noise.

4. Get content blockers

Apple redesigned Safari in iOS 18, moving the content blocker settings under Extensions.

The functionality itself remains unchanged — Safari still supports App Extension content blockers built with Apple’s API.

To enable content blockers on iOS 18:

Install a blocker app from the App Store (e.g., 1Blocker, AdGuard, Wipr);
Open the Settings app;
Go to Safari followed by Extensions (previously called Content Blockers);
You’ll see your installed blocker(s) listed — toggle each one on.
(Optional) To control content blockers on a per-site basis, open Safari and tap the new Page Menu icon (a box with lines) in the address bar. Then select Website Settings to enable or disable content blockers for that specific website.

How to stop pop-up ads on iPad

iPad pop-up blocking largely follows the same principles as iPhone:

1. Safari settings

Just like on iPhone, open Settings and navigate to Safari. Enable Block Pop-ups and Fraudulent Website Warning for basic protection.

2. Hide distracting items in Safari
This feature blocks pop-ups, overlays, and other visually disruptive elements in Safari.

Setting it up on iPad follows the same process as iPhone:

Open Safari and load the webpage you want to view;
Tap the new Page Menu icon (a box with lines) in the address bar;
From the dropdown menu, select Hide Distracting Content.

3. Content blockers for iPad
Content blockers work the same way on iPads as on iPhones, but the larger screen makes them easier to configure. Install your preferred content blocker from the App Store, then enable it in Safari settings.

The iPad’s larger screen also makes it easier to identify and close pop-ups that do manage to get through your defenses. Look for the X button, which is usually located in the top-right corner of the pop-up.

4. Split-screen browsing considerations
When using Safari in split-screen mode, pop-ups can be particularly disruptive. Make sure your pop-up blocker is enabled, and consider using a content blocker app for additional protection.

How to stop pop-up ads on Chrome

Chrome is the world’s most popular browser, making it a frequent target for pop-up ads. Fortunately, Chrome has robust built-in pop-up blocking features.

1. Adjusting pop-up settings

Start by opening the Chrome app and tapping the three dots in the top-right corner. Select Settings from the menu, then type Pop-ups and redirects into the search bar. Check the box next to Don’t allow sites to send pop-ups or use redirects.

You can also add specific sites to an allow list if there are websites where you want to permit pop-ups.

2. Managing notifications

Chrome notifications can sometimes feel like pop-ups, especially if you’ve accidentally allowed notifications from websites you don’t trust. To manage these, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Site Settings > Notifications. Review the list of sites that can send notifications and remove any you don’t want.

3. Using Chrome extensions
Chrome’s Web Store offers numerous ad-blocking extensions. uBlock Origin Lite is highly regarded for its effectiveness and low resource usage. AdBlock Plus is another popular option with customizable filtering options.

However, for the most comprehensive protection, consider Surfshark’s Clean Web, which blocks ads and pop-ups at the network level, protecting you even when browsing in incognito mode or using other browsers.

How to stop pop-up ads on Safari

Safari has excellent built-in pop-up blocking features, but knowing how to configure them properly will give you the best protection.

1. Desktop Safari settings
On macOS, open Safari and click Safari in the menu bar, then Settings. Click the Websites tab at the top, then select Pop-up Windows from the left sidebar.

You can set the default behavior for all websites and create exceptions for specific sites if needed. The Block and Notify option will prevent pop-ups and let you know when they’ve been blocked.

2. Safari extensions

pop-up-ads-12.png
[Image: vMB4ewC.png]

Safari supports extensions that can enhance its ad blocking capabilities. Popular options include AdGuard for Safari, Ka-Block, and 1Blocker. These extensions can be installed from the Mac App Store or Safari Extensions Gallery.

3. Intelligent Tracking Prevention

Safari’s Intelligent Tracking Prevention (ITP) helps block some types of advertising tracking, which can reduce the number of targeted pop-ups you see. This feature is enabled by default in recent versions of Safari.

Troubleshooting persistent pop-ups

If you’re still seeing pop-ups after adjusting your browser settings, there may be deeper issues that require additional troubleshooting steps.

1. Clear browser cache and cookies

Corrupted browser data can sometimes interfere with pop-up blocking. Clear your browser’s cache and cookies to start fresh. In most browsers, you can do this by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Delete (or Cmd+Shift+Delete on Mac) and selecting the appropriate options.

2. Check for malware or adware

Persistent pop-ups often indicate a malware or adware infection. Run a full system scan using your antivirus software. For additional protection, consider using specialized anti-malware tools like Surfshark Antivirus.

3. Reset browser settings

If pop-ups persist, you may need to reset your browser to its default settings. This will remove all extensions, clear saved passwords, and reset all preferences, so make sure to back up important data first.

For Chrome: Go to Settings > Reset settings and click on Restore settings to their original defaults.
For Safari: Go to Safari > Preferences > Privacy > Manage Website Data > Remove All.
For Firefox: Go to Help > More Troubleshooting Information > Refresh Firefox.

4. Check your browser extensions

Malicious or compromised browser extensions can cause pop-ups. Review all your installed extensions and remove any that you don’t recognize or no longer need. Pay particular attention to extensions that were installed recently, around the time when pop-ups started appearing.

Best methods by device type

Here’s a quick reference guide for the most effective pop-up blocking methods for each device type:

Android devices:

Enable Chrome’s pop-up blocker in Site Settings;
Use system-wide ad blockers like AdGuard or Surfshark’s Clean Web;
Review app overlay permissions in system settings;
Keep browsers and apps updated.

iPhone/iPad:

Enable Safari’s built-in pop-up blocker;
Install content blocker apps from the App Store;
Use privacy-focused browsers like Firefox Focus;
Consider network-level blocking with Surfshark’s Clean Web.

Desktop Chrome:

Configure pop-up and redirect settings in Privacy and security;
Install reputable ad-blocking extensions;
Regularly clear cache and cookies;
Monitor and manage site notifications.

Desktop Safari:

Use the Websites preferences to control pop-up behavior;
Install Safari extensions for enhanced protection;
Enable Intelligent Tracking Prevention;
Keep macOS and Safari updated.

All devices:

Use Surfshark’s Clean Web for comprehensive, network-level protection;
Avoid suspicious websites and downloads;
Keep all software updated;
Be cautious with email and social media links.

How Surfshark’s Clean Web can help you fight pop-ups

While browser-based solutions are effective, they only protect you while using that specific browser. Clean Web takes a different approach by blocking ads and pop-ups at the network level, providing comprehensive protection across all your devices and applications.

Overview of Clean Web’s features

Ad blocker: Clean Web blocks advertisements before they reach your device, including pop-ups, banner ads, and video ads. This not only eliminates distractions but also speeds up page loading times and reduces data usage.
Cookie pop-up blocker: one of the most annoying aspects of modern web browsing is the constant stream of cookie consent pop-ups. Clean Web automatically manages these consents, allowing you to browse without interruption.
Breach alert: Clean Web monitors websites for security breaches and warns you when you visit a compromised site. You can continue browsing while staying informed about potential risks.
Malware alert: Clean Web checks websites against databases of known malicious sites before you visit them. If a site has a history of distributing malware, it blocks access and warns you before you proceed.

5 benefits of using Clean Web

Faster website loading: by blocking ads and trackers, Clean Web can significantly reduce page loading times. Some users report speed improvements of 50% or more on ad-heavy websites.
Improved online security: Clean Web’s malware and breach alerts complement your antivirus software by catching threats at the DNS level before they reach your device.
Seamless surfing experience: with pop-ups blocked and cookie consents managed automatically, you can focus on the content you actually want to see.
Network-level blocking: Clean Web works at the DNS level to block ads and malicious sites across all your internet-connected applications and devices. This provides broader coverage than browser-only solutions, though browser extensions offer more granular control.
Data savings: by blocking ads and trackers, Clean Web can reduce your data usage, which is particularly beneficial for mobile users with limited data plans.

How to set up Clean Web

Setting up Surfshark’s Clean Web is straightforward. First, subscribe to Surfshark VPN, which includes Clean Web as part of the service. Download the Surfshark app for your device (available for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and more).

Once installed, open the Surfshark app and log in with your account. Navigate to the Features section and toggle Clean Web on. You can customize which features you want to enable, including ad blocking, cookie pop-up blocking, malware alerts, and data leak alerts.

The extension can be customized to your preferences, allowing you to whitelist specific websites or adjust the blocking sensitivity. You can also view statistics about how many ads and trackers have been blocked.

FAQS

How do I permanently stop pop-up ads?
To permanently stop pop-up ads, you need to use a combination of browser settings and additional tools. Enable your browser’s built-in pop-up blocker, install reputable ad blocking extensions, and consider using network-level protection like Surfshark’s Clean Web. Keep your browsers and operating systems updated, and avoid visiting suspicious websites that are known to display aggressive advertising.

How do I disable pop-ups?
The method for disabling pop-ups depends on your browser and device. For Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Site Settings > Pop-ups and redirects, then toggle off the setting. For Safari on iPhone/iPad, go to Settings > Safari > Block Pop-ups. For desktop Safari, go to Safari > Preferences > Websites > Pop-up Windows. Each browser has slightly different steps, but the option is usually found in privacy or security settings.

How do I block ads on Android?
Android ad blocking can be accomplished through several methods. Enable pop-up blocking in your browser settings (Chrome, Firefox, Samsung Internet, etc.), install ad-blocking apps like AdGuard that work system-wide, or use a VPN service with ad-blocking features like Surfshark Clean Web. You can also review app permissions to prevent apps from displaying overlay ads.

Why am I suddenly getting pop-up ads?
Sudden increases in pop-up ads usually indicate one of several issues: malware or adware infection, visiting websites with aggressive advertising, outdated browsers lacking proper security features, malicious browser extensions, or browser hijacking. Check your installed extensions, run antivirus scans, clear your browser cache, and ensure all software is up to date.

What’s the difference between pop-up ads and pop-under ads?
Pop-up ads appear in front of your current browser window, are immediately visible, and block your view. Pop-under ads open in new windows behind your current window, so you only notice them when you close or minimize your browser. Both types are intrusive, but pop-ups are generally more immediately annoying while pop-unders can accumulate without you noticing.

Can pop-up ads contain viruses?
Yes, pop-up ads can contain malware or viruses, especially those from suspicious websites. Some pop-ups are designed to trick you into downloading malicious software by mimicking system warnings or software update notifications. Never click on pop-ups that claim your computer is infected or that prompt you to download software to fix problems.

Do ad blockers slow down my browser?
Modern ad blockers typically speed up your browsing experience rather than slow it down. By blocking ads, trackers, and other unnecessary content, ad blockers reduce the amount of data your browser needs to download and process. However, poorly designed ad blockers or having too many browser extensions can potentially impact performance.

Is it legal to block pop-up ads?
Yes, blocking pop-up ads is completely legal. You have the right to control what content loads in your browser and on your devices. Website owners cannot force you to view advertisements, and using ad blockers or pop-up blockers is a legitimate way to protect your privacy and improve your browsing experience.

Conclusion: it’s all about your habits

Pop-up ads don’t have to plague your browsing experience. Built-in browser features, ad-blocking extensions, and network-level protection like Surfshark’s Clean Web can deliver clean, uninterrupted surfing across all your devices. The key is implementing these solutions consistently.

Blocking pop-ups represents just one aspect of good online security hygiene. Keep devices updated, choose websites carefully, and consider comprehensive security solutions that protect against multiple threats simultaneously.

MORE Info HERE

Data and info derived / lifted from Surfshark with permission

***jasonX*** · 14 August 25, 09:59

Surfshark’s CleanWeb (Ad Blocker): Standalone product

Surfshark launches a dedicated user flow for CleanWeb (Ad Blocker) for all! Users can now purchase it as a standalone product for $2.49/month, totaling $29.88 for 1-year. Now everyone can experience faster internet by blocking ads, pop-ups, and trackers on an unlimited number of devices with our browser extension.

What is CleanWeb?
Surfshark's CleanWeb is a powerful ad blocker that helps maintain your privacy while making surfing faster and safer - even on streaming platforms.

CleanWeb blocks ads, trackers, and cookie pop-ups while you browse the web. It enhances your online experience by keeping your device free from annoying ads and protecting you from harmful malware. By recognizing malicious sites, CleanWeb gives you greater protection against phishing attacks. Since blocked ads canit even load, it saves you extra bandwidth, meaning users accessing the internet on limited data plans can even save money.

Go back to seamless, ad-free browsing
Stop intrusive ads, cookies, and trackers on an unlimited number of devices with our browser extension. Stay protected with regular updates and advanced filtering features.

Avoid ads and other clutter

Surfshark browser extension blocks video ads, banners, and more — giving you a secure and uninterrupted browsing experience.
Block cookie pop-ups

No more clicking through cookie pop-ups — block them instantly with our ad blocker, and enjoy uninterrupted browsing.
Minimize malware risks

Malware can lurk in infected sites or malicious ads — but Surfshark reduces your risk by blocking threats and alerting you about sites with a history of malware.

Get CleanWeb (Ad Blocker) standalone product for $2.49/month ($29.88 for 1-year)

MORE Info HERE

Data and info derived / lifted from Surfshark with permission

***jasonX*** · 16 August 25, 09:34

Surfshark: Best data removal services to stop brokers from selling your information

Everytime we use the internet our personal information sits in hundreds of databases online. Data brokers collect our details from signups, purchases, and web activity, then sell detailed profiles to marketers, employers, and scammers. This selling/trading opf personal information creates unwanted calls, spam emails, targeted ads, and identity theft risks. Data removal services solve this by contacting databases directly to delete your information, monitoring broker sites, and removing new profiles as they appear. Mr. Alek Furgal of Surfshark shares us Surfshark's best data removal services that will stop, or at the very least, keep our personal information from being distributed all over the globe. Read on below.

What are data removal services, and how do they work?
Think of data removal services as professional cleaners for your online footprint. These services specialize in finding and removing your personal information from data broker databases across the internet.

Here’s how the process typically works:

1. Information gathering: you provide the service with your basic details (name, address, phone number, email).
2. Database scanning: the service searches hundreds of data broker sites to find your information.
3. Removal requests: they submit formal opt-out requests to each broker on your behalf.
4. Monitoring and maintenance: the best services continuously monitor broker sites and remove your information when it reappears.

What you get depends on the service you choose. The most comprehensive services handle everything automatically in the background — no manual searches or deciphering complex opt-out procedures on your part. However, some budget services only provide guidance on how to contact data brokers yourself, while others offer one-time removals without ongoing monitoring.

Types of data brokers
Data brokers fall into several categories, each collecting different types of personal information:

People search sites: these create and host public profiles with your contact details and background information that anyone can find through search engines. Examples include WhitePages, Spokeo, and BeenVerified;
Marketing data brokers: collect browsing habits and purchase data to sell targeted advertising profiles. They track your online behavior across multiple websites and apps;
Risk mitigation brokers: these compile background data, including health information and court records, selling assessment reports to investment companies and employers;
Recruitment data brokers: create background reports for HR departments and offer employee screening services;
Financial information brokers: these collect financial and credit data and sell it to credit card companies, banks, and loan providers.

Most data removal services solely target people search sites, which constitute only 33% of all registered data brokers. The vast majority operate privately, selling your information to businesses without public-facing websites.

Effective data removal requires targeting both types. Services that cover private database brokers try to stop data sales at their source rather than addressing only visible leaks.

How to choose a data removal service
When comparing data removal services, consider these factors:

1. Broker coverage: how many data brokers does the service cover with automated removals? Many services inflate numbers by including sites they’ve removed from once or counting manual ones that require human intervention. Choose services that clearly state their automated coverage and target high-impact brokers rather than padding numbers with irrelevant sites.
2. Automation level: the best services handle everything automatically — finding your data, submitting removal requests, and monitoring for reappearances. Services requiring frequent manual input or offering limited automation waste your time when better options exist.
3. Legal compliance: your service should operate within GDPR, CCPA, and FCRA frameworks. This ensures they can legally compel data brokers to remove information and handle your data responsibly during removal.
4. Ease of use: look for intuitive dashboards, clear reporting, and responsive customer support. You shouldn’t need technical expertise to understand what’s happening with your data.
5. Reporting and transparency: quality services provide detailed reports showing ongoing monitoring results, along with which brokers had your information and what exactly was removed.
6. Price and subscription model: compare what you get at each price tier. Watch out for services that lock essential features behind expensive premium plans.

6 best data removal services: comparison

Note: Information and USD pricing current as of June 28, 2025, based on publicly available data from providers’ websites. Prices may change due to currency fluctuations or promotional offers.

Top data removal services include:

DeleteMe

Trustpilot rating: 4.4/5 (174 reviews)
Read our Incogni vs. DeleteMe comparison

Strengths: DeleteMe provides detailed exposure reports and offers quarterly reporting. They focus heavily on people search sites where your information is most visible to the general public.

Limitations: limited automated broker coverage compared to competitors, no coverage of private data brokers, and custom removals are capped at relatively low numbers.

Best for: users primarily concerned with visible people search sites and who want detailed quarterly reports.
Kanary (by Optery)

Trustpilot rating: 4.5/5 (121 reviews)

Strengths: provides before-and-after screenshots of removals and detailed exposure reports. Offers flexible billing options, including two-year plans.

Limitations: pay-for-privacy model limits removals on cheaper plans, no private database broker coverage, 30-day delay on custom removals.

Best for: users wanting visual confirmation of removals who don’t mind paying more for comprehensive coverage.
Optery

Trustpilot rating: 4.5/5 (121 reviews)
See our Incogni vs. Optery comparison

Strengths: provides before-and-after screenshots, automates removals from top people search sites, and delivers detailed exposure reports. Interface and reporting differ slightly from Kanary.

Limitations: pay-for-privacy pricing model, focuses almost exclusively on people search sites while ignoring private-database data brokers, custom removals limited to select people search sites, optional OpenAI integration may share customer data with third parties.

Best for: users wanting an alternative to Kanary with similar functionality.
Privacy Bee

Trustpilot rating: 3.4/5 (8 reviews)

Strengths: offers risk assessment features for free and handles some industry opt-outs, such as junk mail.

Limitations: most expensive service, requires substantial hands-on work and constant monitoring, inflates data broker coverage numbers.

Best for: users who need the specialized risk assessment features and are comfortable with higher costs and more manual involvement.
Incogni

Trustpilot rating: 4.4/5 (1,799 reviews)
See our Incogni review

Strengths: Incogni covers the broadest range of data broker types, including private ones that some competitors ignore. Their Unlimited plan includes unlimited custom removals from nearly any website beyond just data brokers. Custom removals start immediately, all broker coverage comes at every pricing tier, and they count brokers transparently while targeting high-impact removals.

Limitations: limited data points during onboarding (names, emails, and phone numbers only), basic monthly reports, custom removals require manual link submission, no mobile app.

[Best for: users wanting comprehensive coverage of private-database brokers, transparent pricing, and immediate custom removal access.
Aura

Trustpilot rating: 4.3/5 (794 reviews)
See our Incogni vs. Aura comparison

Strengths: comprehensive identity protection suite, including data removal, credit monitoring, identity theft protection, and privacy tools.

Limitations: limited transparency regarding data removal capabilities, pricing varies by bundle, not specialized for data broker removal.

Best for: users wanting data removal as part of broader identity protection rather than standalone data broker removal.

What makes Incogni stand out
Incogni excels in several areas that matter most for effective data removal:

Comprehensive broker coverage: covers all five types of data brokers, including private ones that represent 66% of the ecosystem. Competitors focus mainly on visible people search sites;
Transparent approach: the 270+ broker count represents actual automated removals, not inflated statistics from one-time removals or theoretical possibilities;
Holistic data removal: beyond the automated ones, Incogni offers unlimited custom removals from nearly any website — including blogs, forums, business directories, and even e-commerce platforms. This makes it a remove your data from the internet solution, rather than just another data broker service. With Ultimate plans, custom removals start immediately;
Strong automation: handles discovery, removal, and ongoing monitoring automatically. No manual requests or constant oversight is required;
Privacy bundle value: combined with Surfshark VPN (Virtual Private Network), Incogni provides comprehensive online privacy protection at a competitive price;
Legal compliance: operates under GDPR and CCPA compliance, ensuring proper data handling and legally backed removal requests.

Google Trends shows Incogni as the most popular data removal service in the US. With nearly 1,800 Trustpilot reviews, it’s also the most-reviewed service in the market.

Protecting your privacy goes beyond data removal
Your personal information has value — that’s why data brokers want to get it and sell it.

Comprehensive data removal helps you regain control of your online privacy and reduces exposure to spam, scams, and identity theft.

Choose a service with comprehensive coverage, transparent practices, and strong automation. Services that only target visible people search sites leave two-thirds of the data broker ecosystem untouched.

For complete privacy protection, combine data removal with a VPN to encrypt your internet connection and prevent future data collection.

MORE Info HERE

Data and info derived / lifted from Surfshark with permission

***jasonX***

DeleteMe Review: Is it worth it in 2025?

Ms. Ema Pennel of Surfshark shares us her review of DeleteMe. Read on below.

DeleteMe at a glance: pros and cons
DeleteMe promises to help you reclaim control of your information by simplifying the complex process of removing your personal details from data broker sites. However, like most services, it isn’t perfect. So, let’s take a quick look at its strengths and weaknesses.

At a glance, DeleteMe offers a customer satisfaction-focused service and targets a long, constantly growing list of data brokers. However, its primary focus on data brokers — not social media or direct website data — may introduce some limitations. While DeleteMe’s human-based research and manual removal requests might lead to higher success rates on sites that resist automated inquiries, these removals can take longer. This hands-on approach also comes at a higher cost.

What is DeleteMe?
DeleteMe is an online privacy service that helps you remove your personal details from data broker websites. These sites collect and sell information like your name, address, phone number, email, and more. DeleteMe takes care of the time-consuming and complicated process of submitting opt-out requests to get your info removed from the web.

Key DeleteMe features
DeleteMe does a lot more than just fire off automated removal requests. To provide a quality data removal service, it offers a host of features to help better protect your privacy. Let’s take a closer look:

Personal data scans across data broker websites
Once you sign up for DeleteMe, it scans its network of data broker and people search sites looking for your publicly available personal information. This initial scan shows you which sites have your details, such as your name, aliases, addresses (past and present), phone numbers, email addresses, age, birth date, family member information, and professional details.

DeleteMe claims to remove private information from 750+ data brokers. However, 5681 of those sites are only on the list because of successful custom removal requests (as of July 2, 2025, based on the information available on their website).

I sent a quick request to the customer support team and got a confirmation that the Standard plan actually covers over 86 sites. Based on the information provided in their pricing page2 and doing simple math, the Premium plan then covers over 101 sites.

That means the majority of the advertised 750+ sites aren’t actively monitored, and you still have to look for your personal information exposed online yourself, plus file manual removal requests.

If you want to get confused even further, look at all the sites listed on the official Sites we remove from page1. You’ll see additional plans like Diamond, Platinum, and VIP mentioned. I tried looking for any information about them on the website, but couldn’t find anything at all. However, my inquiry confirmed that there are, in fact, such plans as Diamond, Platinum, and VIP — although they seem to be only available through special links provided in the response email. Therefore, I won’t get into more detail about them and will only focus on what’s available on the official website.
Manual opt-out requests by trained privacy experts
Different data brokers have different requirements. Some require phone verification, many use human verification tests to block automated requests, and others even require postal mail.

So, while DeleteMe has a smaller automated request base compared to some of its competitors, it stands out by having privacy experts manually handle most of the removals. This personalized removal effort might take longer, and results may vary, but it may have the edge when it comes to the trickier removals that automation can’t always handle.

It’s also worth mentioning that DeleteMe allows only 40 custom removal requests per year with their Standard plan and 60 with the Premium plan2. So, if you end up finding your details on more sites than the allowed number of custom requests, you’ll have to opt out of those yourself. However, DeleteMe provides an extensive list of opt-out guides3 for various data brokers, which might help.
Ongoing removal and monitoring
Unfortunately, your data doesn’t stay removed forever. Once it’s out there, it keeps resurfacing regularly as data brokers update their databases or new brokers emerge, and one-time removals are rarely sufficient. DeleteMe provides continuous monitoring to catch when your information reappears and automatically initiates new removal requests.
Detailed removal reports
DeleteMe provides in-depth removal reports delivered as downloadable PDFs. The frequency of these reports depends on your subscription: quarterly for Standard plans and every two months for Premium users.

Each report includes key details like:
- Date of the last scan;
- Total number of listings reviewed during the period;
- Number of records successfully removed;
- Number of data brokers holding your personal data;
- Total number of PII (Personal Identifiable Information) — data units like name, address, etc. — found across the data brokers;
- Estimated saved time on searching for and removing your profiles.
At the end of each report, you’ll find multiple pages listing the brokers reviewed with their logos, the average time it takes to remove data from that site, and a status icon. A green Clean icon means your data has been successfully removed. If a removal is still in progress, the report briefly outlines what type of information is still exposed.
Multiple support channels
DeleteMe offers customer support through multiple channels. You can submit your requests via email 24/7 or contact the support team via live chat and phone during business hours (9 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST Monday through Friday). You can also look for an answer yourself in their searchable knowledge base and FAQ.

DeleteMe pricing and plans
DeleteMe offers two main pricing tiers — Standard and Premium. Let’s take a look at their coverage, prices, duration, and features:

Standard plan includes:

Automated removals from 86 data broker sites;
40 custom removals;
Unlimited aliases, previous names, and email addresses;
Quarterly reports;
Privacy tools like email masking and phone masking (paid add-on $7 per number).

Premium plan includes::

Automated removals;
15 additional data broker sites;
60 custom removals;
Unlimited aliases, previous names, and email addresses;
Bi-monthly reports;
Privacy tools like email masking and phone masking (paid add-on $7 per number).

DeleteMe Premium Pricing HERE

Note: Listed prices are in USD. Prices and features are accurate as of July 2, 2025, and are subject to change. Please check joindeleteme.com for the latest information.

DeleteMe’s pricing varies depending on whether you choose the Standard or Premium plan, as well as the number of people covered.

The Standard plan starts at $129/year for one person and includes features like quarterly reports, up to 40 custom removals, and basic automated removal services. Multi-year pricing is also available and can save you money in the long run, especially for couples and families.

For those seeking more frequent updates and deeper coverage, the Premium plan offers bi-monthly reports, 60 custom removals, and access to 15 additional data broker sites. However, it’s only available for single users at $180/year.

Below is the pricing as reflected in DeleteMe site. See HERE

Data removal process
After purchasing a DeleteMe subscription of your choice and signing up, here’s how your data removal will be processed:

Step 1: You have to fill in DeleteMe’s data sheet with your personal information. You can choose which information you want to submit for removal: your full name, date of birth, email addresses, current and past home addresses, phone numbers, employer information, and more.
Step 2: You need to sign the authorization form, which allows DeleteMe to act on your behalf when requesting data removal from third-party sites. This is important because many data broker sites require proof of authorization before processing these requests.
Step 3: DeleteMe begins the initial scan of data broker sites and requests automated removals where your information appears. You will receive the first privacy report within approximately a week, where you can see your current online exposure and status updates of the requested removals.
Step 4: In the meantime, your automated removal requests are being processed, you can request custom removals from other sites where you know your information appears. DeleteMe’s privacy experts will submit removal requests on your behalf, and you should find status updates for these sites in the next privacy report.
Step 5: After the initial cleanup, DeleteMe continues to monitor for your data appearing on its supported data broker sites. If it detects new exposures, the removal process starts automatically, and the latest updates will be visible in your next privacy report.

Data broker coverage
DeleteMe advertises to remove private information from 750+ data brokers1. This claim appears in huge text at the top of the page — with no asterisk or no small print next to it. However, as it turns out, that’s not entirely true. Below that statement, they list all sites they “have found and removed data from.”

Then, you need to look through the whole list of 750+ sites, carefully pay attention to the footnote:

* means the site is included in all plans;

** means the site is included in Business Gold, Diamond, Platinum, and VIP plans;

*** means the site is included in Diamond, Platinum, and VIP plans;

**** means the site is included in Platinum and VIP plans;

º means the site is included in the VIP plan only;

~ means the site is included in International plans;

^ means the site is available for custom removal requests.

So, besides the fact that the pricing page does not provide information or an option to buy plans other than Standard and Premium, 500+ of the sites on their advertised list have “^” next to them. This means DeleteMe has successfully removed customer data from that site at least once via a custom request.

What I’m trying to clarify here is that, if you had your personal information listed in all 750+ of the advertised sites, DeleteMe would automatically request removal from 86 of them if you have the Standard subscription and 101 if you have Premium. Some of them would require a subscription to some mysterious plan, while for the majority — 568 of the listed sites — you’d have to request a custom removal. And you only get 40 or 60 custom removals per year, depending on your subscription (Standard and Premium).

If you ask me, this deceptiveness and lack of transparency are not signs of a very trustworthy service and definitely raise some concerns — if not about the service quality itself, then at least about their questionable marketing tactics. --Ms. Ema Pennel

Data privacy compliance and policies
While DeleteMe has to collect your personal information in order to remove it, it maintains strong privacy and security standards to protect your data, as outlined in its official policies (effective May 22, 2025):

Core privacy commitments4

No data sales — DeleteMe explicitly states that they are not a data broker and don’t sell your information;
Limited data use — all personal information you provide in the data sheet is entirely optional and is only used to provide DeleteMe services.

Regulatory compliance4

CCPA/CPRA — for California residents with full rights to access, delete, and correct data;
GDPR — for European users with a designated EU representative and clearly defined processing purposes.

Security measures4

Encryption — to keep your data safe, it is encrypted in transit and at rest (TLS 1.2+ and AES-256);
Access controls — you can set up multi-factor authentication (MFA) for your account;
Monitoring — DeleteMe continuously monitors for threats and uses intrusion detection systems.

DeleteMe vs. Incogni
To get a better understanding of data removal services in general, it might be useful to see how DeleteMe stacks up against other big players in the field. In this instance, let’s compare DeleteMe vs. Incogni.

DeleteMe provides a more human-assisted rather than fully automated removal process, which may appeal to users who prefer a more hands-on approach — even if it’s happening behind the scenes. However, it comes with higher costs, especially when adding privacy tools like masked numbers or cards.

Incogni offers broader automated coverage, bundled with useful privacy and security tools like a VPN (Virtual Private Network), Antivirus, and Alternative ID, all at a lower price. It’s a real steal for those seeking convenience and comprehensive digital protection.

Note: Please see Full Incogni review HERE

The added value of Surfshark + Incogni
Incogni is part of Surfshark One+ — the all-in-one cybersecurity bundle, designed to protect your privacy and keep you secure online and when you’re logged off.

VPN for encrypted browsing
Surfshark VPN encrypts your internet connection and hides your IP (Internet Protocol) address, making it harder for websites, advertisers, or hackers to track you. This helps you stay private online, avoid targeted ads, and safely access the web.
Alternative ID for your identity protection
With Surfshark’s Alternative ID, you can generate an online alias with a full name, birth date, home address, and multiple email addresses. You can use that alternative information to mask your primary contact details and reduce exposure of your personally identifiable information.

You can also add an alternative number to your subscription and generate a virtual phone number to shield your primary number from untrusted entities, including data brokers.
Antivirus for device protection
Surfshark Antivirus allows you to shield up to five devices from malware, viruses, and other cyberthreats. With real-time scanning, regular updates, and seamless operation, it helps you keep your devices secure with no interruptions.
Alert for data leak notifications
Surfshark’s data leak monitoring tool Alert keeps an eye on your emails, accounts, credit cards, and IDs. It notifies you if your private data ends up in the wrong parts of the internet, allowing you to take timely action and keep your information safe.
Search for private browsing
Surfshark Search provides a clean, private way to surf the web — no ads, tracking, or personalized filters based on your past searches. Your activity will stay truly private, leaving no digital footprint behind.

FAQs

Does DeleteMe actually work?
Yes, DeleteMe is effective at removing personal information from data broker websites. It uses a combination of automated tools and trained privacy experts to manually submit opt-out requests. Users typically see their data removed from dozens of sites, with ongoing monitoring to catch reappearances.
Is DeleteMe safe?
Yes, DeleteMe is considered safe and trustworthy. It’s run by Abine, a well-established privacy company based in the US. The service operates in compliance with major privacy laws like GDPR and CCPA, and it does not sell or misuse your personal information.
What is better than DeleteMe?
That depends on your needs. If you want manual, thorough removals with detailed progress reports, DeleteMe is a pretty solid choice. However, if you prefer a fully automated and more affordable option, Incogni might be a better fit. For an all-in-one privacy solution, Surfshark + Incogni offers broader digital protection, including VPN, Antivirus, email and identity masking, and data leak alerts in one bundle.
What are DeleteMe alternatives?
Some popular alternatives to DeleteMe incl?[/b]ude Incogni, OneRep, Privacy Bee, and Optery. Each alternative has different strengths depending on budget, automation level, and privacy needs.
Which is better, Aura or DeleteMe?
Aura is more of an identity theft protection service, while DeleteMe specializes in data broker removal. Aura includes credit monitoring, fraud alerts, and dark web scans, making it ideal for financial security. DeleteMe is better if your main concern is getting your personal info off data broker sites.
Does DeleteMe search the dark web?
No, DeleteMe does not search the dark web. Its focus is on removing your data from public-facing data broker websites.

Conclusion: Is DeleteMe worth it?

So, is DeleteMe worth the cost in 2025? The answer depends on your priorities, needs, and budget. If you prefer a human-guided process and don’t mind paying a premium for hands-on service, DeleteMe might be just what you’re looking for. However, if you want a much broader data broker and people search sites coverage, and even save a few dollars, you may want to consider other options.

MORE Info HERE

DeleteMe Home Page HERE

DeleteMe Sites They Remove

DeleteMe Premium Pricing

DeleteMe Opt-out Guides

DeleteMe Policies

Data and info derived / lifted from Surfshark with permission

***jasonX***

Surfshark: What is the digital footprint you leave online?

As we go online everyday, our online activities are exposed. All our online actions are recorded and saved. That's privacy going down the drain and is dangerous for us. Everyone should be wary and extra careful because the digital footprint that we leave may expose us to risks. In other words, there’s a digital footprint of everything you do online. Mr. Antanas Rimeikis of Surfshark explains to us everything about the digital footprint, its importance, and how to protect it.

What is a digital footprint?
A digital footprint, an electronic footprint, or a digital shadow refers to a person’s unique traceable data and activity on the internet — logging in to a service via an app, web browsing, posting on social media, etc. A digital footprint can help identify the person it belongs to. One simple footprint use case is advertising — advertisers use them to determine what you like and show you targeted ads.

Types of digital footprints
All footprints fall under two categories — active and passive.

Almost every action is recorded online, and that record forms a footprint unique to every online wanderer. The footprint’s type depends on how it is left or collected.

Active digital footprint
An active digital footprint is the data you intentionally leave or things you actively do online. Your online posts, comments you leave on social media, signing up for newsletters, or shopping online are all parts of your active digital footprint.
Passive digital footprint
A passive digital footprint is the data collected without the person knowing. This type of footprint depends on the cookies* that are used whenever you enter a website. They may track how many times you’ve visited them, your primary device, your IP, biometric and geolocation data.

*A cookie is a small file on your device that websites use to store information about you. It helps the website “remember” user preferences.

One of the most notable examples of passive digital foot printing is when platforms track what you search on the internet.

What are the consequences of leaving a digital footprint?
A hand holding a computer mouse; three browser tabs in the background showing an eye, footprints, and the text Ad.

Account access (like logging in to a website using your IG/Google account), online reputation, targeted advertising, and even getting hacked are all things that depend on digital footprints.

Signing in everywhere with one FB account may be convenient, but having your information online may prove hard to get back. Moreover, more people than you originally intended to may see your electronic footprint.

Data brokers, advertisers, phone carriers, internet providers, employers, co-workers, cybercriminals, hackers, and other internet users can see your digital footprints. Your online reputation, together with your online wellbeing, depends on it. How so?

Firstly, even if you don’t mind others knowing about certain aspects of your life, it’s important to consider how it could affect you professionally. Also, cybercriminals can use your digital footprint to impersonate you or conduct phishing attacks. Lastly, any service holding your personal information could experience a data breach, exposing sensitive data.

How to Delete Yourself From the Internet

How to check your digital footprint
To see if your personal information is exposed online, you can use Incogni’s free digital footprint checker tool. The scan identifies whether your details are listed by public data brokers, whose databases are often accessible and searchable online.

The scanner is available to US residents, where public data brokers operate with fewer restrictions. That said, data exposure is a global issue, and private data brokers may also store your information. Since their databases aren’t publicly searchable, they can’t be directly checked through the scan, but they still pose a significant privacy risk.

With full Incogni (available in our Surfshark One+ plan), you get more than the scanner — the service continuously sends removal requests to both public and private data brokers on your behalf. This ongoing process helps ensure your data stays off these platforms, even when it gets re-added over time. The personal dashboard and regular email updates will track your progress and keep you in the loop.

Incogni free digital footprint checker tool HERE

Digital footprint examples
Posting on social media seems like a pretty obvious way to leave a footprint, but there are many different ways you can leave traces of yourself online. Here are some examples of digital footprints that are so common you might have never thought about them.

All of the examples above ask for data that is then collected and formed into a digital profile on you. Your name, email, location, anything you share, or even your shopping preferences.

How to delete digital footprint
A digital footprint is permanent, and deleting it is almost impossible. Once the data is public, the owner has little control over how others use it. All your online activities leave bits of info stored by various service providers, third-party services, or the government.

Quote:“Completely wiping personal data from the network can be an uphill battle, given that once information is released or leaks onto the internet, it can quickly proliferate and scatter across countless platforms. Bits of your digital footprint, including search history, passwords, and account information — every cookie you’ve ever clicked ‘accept’ for — are captured by data brokers. These brokers diligently document your online activities, the pages you browse, and your preferences, repackaging this data to sell to interested third parties.”

Aleksandr Valentij, Cyber Security Lead at Surfshark (Source)

However, you can minimize or protect your digital footprint.

How to protect your digital footprint
There are many ways to reduce your digital footprint, depending on how cautious you want to be. With your information already out there, here’s what you can do to minimize exposure:

Check your privacy settings
Privacy settings allow you to control who sees your posts. Take a look at them and make sure you only share your personal data with people you trust. If there are sites that store your personal information that do not have the option to change privacy settings, like real estate websites, you can always contact them to have the information removed.
Limit the amount of data you share
Whether it’s a newsletter you’ve decided to sign up for with your email or a post on social media you want to share with friends, think twice before pressing submit. This will help create a positive digital footprint that only contains information you want to share.
Take back control of your data
Remove yourself from a data broker’s database with the help of Incogni. Data brokers collect your data and sell it to be later used by scammers, insurance companies, and the government.

Here’s how it happens: Data brokers are required by law to remove the user’s data from their databases. Incogni contacts the broker, issues the request, and then the broker reviews it and removes your data from its database. It takes the hassle out of removing your personal information from the internet.
Avoid untrusted websites
Before submitting any personal information, ask yourself — do I trust this website? If the answer is no, consider whether you want it to be in charge of protecting your data. With that, remember that if you use any main accounts (like Facebook) to log in to other websites, those websites now have access to the data you shared on those main accounts.

If you need to sign in or register to a website you have doubts about, you can use Alternative ID. It generates a new online persona along with a fake email, so there isn’t a chance for you to leave any personal details.
Delete old accounts
Deleting old accounts you no longer use is a great way to minimize your digital footprint while giving you more control over the information you share. If you prefer hiding your photo albums from school, you might also want to hide the accounts where you posted the same pictures.
Stay alert on public Wi-Fi
Be mindful and avoid public Wi-Fi as you never know how secure it is and who might have access to the data you send over it. If you need to send personal information, switch to mobile data.
Keep software updated
Remember that outdated software often misses out on the latest security patches. Older systems are also often easier to hack. Therefore, making sure your software is updated will also help protect your personal information.
Use a VPN
VPNs hide your data by encrypting it. Imagine wrapping a gift so no one can see what it is — a VPN acts as the wrapping paper in this metaphor. Not to mention, it also changes your IP address. This way, websites cannot track you or your information according to your IP because it’s changed.

Take care of your digital footprint
Although to avoid a digital footprint completely you’d have to stop using the internet and become a hermit, it’s important to know why and how to hide it.

If you look yourself up right now, would the information you find satisfy you or make you mortified? What about the data that gets collected passively and you can’t even find by simply looking yourself up?

No matter your answer, it’s better to be safe than sorry. That’s why securing your personal information should be the first thing on your mind, and you can do that with the help of a VPN.

FAQ

Can anyone see your digital footprint?
Whether a person sees your footprint or not depends on the type of footprint you leave. Anyone can see if you leave active digital footprints (online profiles, comments, public postings, etc.). The other type, passive digital footprints, are not seen by most people / the public.
Is a digital footprint permanent?
Yes, a digital footprint is permanent. It will at least live on as long as the human race will. And once we’re done, with the last spark feeding the servers fading out, the digital footprint will finally be lost to the infinity of cosmic darkness.

However, a few Nokia 3310s will still be on half battery, so delete any personal data from devices you no longer use so no poor future alien sees your late-night text history!
What is a positive digital footprint?
A positive digital footprint is information you want to share, commonly related to a good online reputation, letting you expand your social network or achieve career goals. A positive digital footprint may be a post on social media about a book you read, a fundraising activity you participated in, or volunteering you did.
Is browsing history a digital footprint?
Yes, browsing history is part of a digital footprint. Some websites collect cookies, browsing, and shopping history and create a profile of users’ passive digital footprints. Upon the first arrival on the webpage, most sites inform users about the data collected in their terms of use.

MORE Info HERE

Data and info derived / lifted from Surfshark with permission

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