A web scrubbing service provides a convenient and efficient means to remove online personal data. Individuals subscribe to a service, submit specific personal information, and the vendor will perform data removal requests on the individual’s behalf to a range of data brokers and websites.
A web scrubbing service addresses the institutional need for a solution that helps protect personal information online, particularly for those most often targeted at U-M–VIPs, faculty, and other community members.
U-M has contracted with Optery as its third-party web scrubbing service with support from the ITS Privacy Office.
The U-M negotiated contract for the Optery web scrubbing service is offered at the unit level. The service is available to Ann Arbor, Dearborn, Flint, and Michigan Medicine.
Individuals may sign up for Optery at their own cost.
Aura is available for individuals using the U-M Legal Services Plan, which provides identity and fraud protection benefits as well as a minimal web scrubbing service.
Additionally, the following resources are available:
Currently, this service is only available to active faculty/staff. Typically, individuals are invited by their units to participate.
Please use the ITS-Privacy form and Privacy Office staff will put you in contact with your Optery unit administrator.
Please contact the ITS Privacy Office for pricing details.
Data removal services cannot completely or permanently remove an individual’s personal information from the internet. Individuals should expect Optery to remove most of the personal data that would appear on the “first page” of a typical Google search.
Please visit the Optery Help Desk and FAQ to utilize their support resources before contacting the ITS Privacy Office.
Please visit the Optery Help Desk and FAQ to utilize their support resources. You can also reach out to your Optery unit administrator for assistance.
Most often, your unit will administer the service, including initiating the set up process for individuals in the unit. You will receive an email inviting you to Optery with instructions on how to get started.
When you leave U-M, i.e., you are no longer an active faculty or staff member, your unit's Optery administrator will remove you from the unit's accounts. You could choose to purchase your own license with Optery as an individual.
Yes, you can view images of the Optery dashboard and what it's like to get started with the Optery service at www.optery.com/getting-started/.