Follow-up: Although the initial scan did not find any hits (even though my data was on the sites), a subsequent scan did a better job and Discover removed my data from 33 different hits from the 10 people search sites. I randomly spot-checked them and confirmed that my information was removed. For a free service that didn’t take up my time, I am happy with this result. I would now recommend opting in and being patient. Screenshots below:
Full review:
Discover is offering their credit card and banking customers a new free service called Online Privacy Protection (press release). Essentially, it automatically submits opt-out requests at 10 selected “people search sites”. These are creepy websites that scrape your personal information from many different publicly-available databases and then makes money by selling access. I wrote about these invasive sites previously and you may be surprised at how much information about you is floating around out there – your age, current and past addresses, phone numbers, and the names of your parents, siblings, children, cousins, and in-laws.
Once catch is that you must access this feature via the Discover app. They are still rolling it out, so it may not be available to everyone yet. I used the QR code from the link and it seemed to find it directly after installing the app.
Initially, after signing up for the service, I was disappointed that my May 2022 scan didn’t find my name on any of the databases. I was hopeful that was because I already opted out of several of these sites manually a few years ago. However, I manually checked and did find some of my information some of the sites. So the service is not perfect.
Here are the ten sites they mention, although there are more out there (not linked on purpose):
- Addresses.com
- AnyWho.com
- InstantCheckmate.com
- InstantPeopleFinder.com
- Intelius.com
- Spokeo.com
- TruthFinder.com
- USSearch.com
- YellowPages.com
- ZabaSearch.com
The scan occurs every 90 days or so. On my August 2022 scan, the app did find a bunch of hits (often multiple profiles at the same site with similar info) and went to work removing my data. I manually spot-checked a few of them and am happy to report that my information was indeed removed.
I would recommend signing up for this service now, with the knowledge that a little patience may be required.
I mainly use my Discover card for the 5% cash back categories and the occasional Amazon Pay with Points promos, but I do appreciate these side efforts. Besides being one of the first to offer a free FICO score, they also have a free Social Security and Experian credit inquiry alert service.
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I swear I had opted out on at least some of those sites, but it found me on all 10 and has started the opt out process. We will see how it goes.
I also had opted out of all of those sites, but if found me on 9 of the 10. I had to go under one of my credit card accounts to find the option, it wasn’t listed on the main page or under benefits when I logged in.
This sounded great at first but upon further thought is problematic. I am challenged by the idea of giving away identity verification information with an app that would correspond to a cell number and phone ID. I know Google already has all of this, but I don’t want to make it even easier to verify and update their data. Another problematic thought is that these background sites could pay a website fee for another website and simply transfer the data there, getting around the purpose of the program.
Jonathan,
Sorry for the out-of-the-topic question…What company do you host your website and Domain Name Registration?
Didn’t remove anything for me
The app gives permission to collect and share share Precise Location, Personal Info, Financial Info, Messages, Photos and videos, contacts, app activity and device IDs. Why should I make this trade off?
This is HALF of a post.
You did not explicitly state a recommendation, not only about whether there is any evidence that the app does what it claims; it at least justifies a link to a review or offsite reviews of the features you mention as being useful.
“but I suppose that I do appreciate these side efforts. Besides being one of the first to offer a free FICO score, they also have a free Social Security and Experian credit inquiry alert service.”
Since their opt-out feature appears to e worthless, according to both your article and the comments, some discussion about the positive claims you make in the quotation above are now what I am web-searching ofr, at other sites than this one…
I shared all the info that I had at the time, and now I have more info to share, so I have updated the post and shared it. Not really sure what I can do beyond that.
Makes me what to close my account as this is clear discrimination against those of us who do not use smartphones
Thanks for the heads-up! I just found and activated the Online Privacy Protection feature and it now says 30 opt-outs are in progress.
I was supposed removed from USSearch and 10 others but I just checked after reading this post and I am still on USSearch plain as day.