Surfshark bolsters its privacy empire with Optery data removal acquisition | Tech Radar

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Surfshark bolsters its privacy empire with Optery data removal acquisition

The deal adds a fifth brand to Surfshark's cybersecurity ecosystem and deepens its data removal firepower

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Surfshark Group acquires a majority stake in data removal service Optery

It joins Incogni, Ironwall, Hey Polo, while running as an independent brand

The acquisition is expected to expand Surfshark's data broker coverage

Surfshark, the company behind one of the best VPN services around, is growing its privacy footprint again. The group has completed its acquisition of a majority stake in Optery, a US-based data removal specialist, adding a fifth brand to its expanding cybersecurity ecosystem.

Announced on September 7, the deal places Optery alongside existing group members Incogni, Ironwall, and Hey Polo. Financial terms were not disclosed.

For a group built around online privacy, buying another company that scrubs personal information from data brokers is a natural fit. It also marks another step in the steady consolidation of the booming data removal industry.

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Optery is a US data removal service that finds and deletes personal details from data brokers, people-search sites, and search engine results.

According to Surfshark, it stands out for its specialized scanning technology, detailed screenshot reporting, and broad US data broker coverage.

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In our Optery review, we called it one of the strongest data removal tools of 2026, praising its transparent before-and-after reporting and genuinely useful free tier. For now, Optery is available only in the US and Canada, though it has signaled plans to expand internationally.

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Surfshark frames the acquisition as a response to growing demand for data control in an AI-driven world, where personal information increasingly surfaces in search results and AI-generated summaries.

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The wider data broker market is expected to top $440 billion by 2032, making removal services a valuable long-term bet.

"At Surfshark Group, our goal is to empower people to take full control of their digital lives," said Vytautas Kaziukonis, founder and chairman of the board at Surfshark Group.

Optery is the group's second acquisition, following its 2024 purchase of Ironwall, a removal service aimed at government employees and executives.

Surfshark itself merged with Nord VPN parent Nord Security in 2022, so growth through consolidation is well-trodden ground.

What Optery's acquisition means for Surfshark users

Big news: Surfshark just welcomed Optery to the family. Optery specializes in finding and removing your personal data from US data brokers and people-search sites. Now joining as an independent service within Surfshark.'In Surfshark, our goal is to empower people to take full… pic.twitter.com/k Srehbh Fs 2 September 7, 2026

If you already use a Surfshark or Incogni product, not much changes overnight. Optery will keep operating independently, with its own teams, products, and technology, so there's no bundling or migration right now.

The bigger payoff should come over time. Surfshark says the deal will let it expand data broker coverage, deepen its knowledge of search-related removals, and ship new privacy tools faster across the group. Pairing Optery's US expertise with Incogni's global scale, in particular, could sharpen both services.

"By pooling our knowledge with Incogni, Ironwall, and Surfshark, we can collaborate extensively to deliver even greater protection for our users," said Lawrence Gentilello, CEO and founder of Optery.

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Surfshark bolsters its privacy empire with Optery data removal acquisition | TechRadar