optbox

Do-it-yourself checklist · Free · No account

Opt out, one box at a time.

Your name, address and phone number are being sold by people-search sites, marketers and ad networks. Most of them have to let you leave. Until Optbox can send opt-outs for you, this checklist shows where to go and what to do yourself.

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Quick wins

About fifteen minutes. These cover the most ground per click.

  • OptOutPrescreen.com
  • DoNotCall.gov
  • Results about you
  • GlobalPrivacyControl.org

People-search sites

These sites publish profiles built from public records. Search for yourself, find your listing, then submit the removal. Some ask you to confirm by email; use a spare address if you'd rather.

  • Suppression center
  • Opt-out page
  • Suppression request
  • Opt-out search
  • Privacy control
  • Removal page
  • Removal page
  • Opt-out page
  • Removal page
  • Opt-out page
  • Opt-out form

Mail and marketing lists

Cuts down on catalogs and promotional mail.

  • DMAchoice.org
  • CPPA

Ads and tracking

These opt you out of interest-based ads from member companies. They work through cookies, so repeat them in each browser and after clearing cookies.

  • NAI tool
  • DAA tool

Sites change their opt-out pages often. If a link is broken, search the site's name plus "opt out." Many people-search sites re-add records over time, so check yourself again every few months.

How it works

  1. 1

    Work down the list

    Each item links straight to the official opt-out page. You submit the request yourself; Optbox never sees your information.

  2. 2

    Tick the box

    Your progress is stored in your own browser. The checklist never sends it anywhere.

  3. 3

    Come back in a few months

    Records get rebuilt from new public data. A quick re-check keeps you off the lists.

Questions

Why not just pay a removal service?

You can, and they save time. But everything they do is something you're allowed to do yourself for free. Optbox is for people who'd rather spend an hour than a subscription fee.

Do these opt-outs actually work?

Mostly, yes. Credit-bureau and Do Not Call opt-outs are backed by federal law. People-search removals usually take effect within days to weeks, though records can reappear. Ad opt-outs reduce targeting but don't stop ads.

Is it safe to give these sites my email?

The sites listed here use the email only to confirm the request. If you'd rather not hand over your main address, use a forwarding or spare one.

I'm not in the US. Does this apply to me?

Most items here are US-focused. If you're in the EU or UK, the GDPR gives you a stronger right: you can ask any company to erase your data. A per-country guide is on the list for a future version.

Does this checklist track me?

No. No analytics, no cookies, no third-party scripts. Checkmarks are kept in your browser's local storage, which never leaves your device.