Skip to content
Use promo code: fITPRv6c at checkout for 20% Off 💐 with Optery’s Spring into Spring Sale! 🪺
Optery logo
Sign Up Free
Sara
Authors /

Sara

Sara is an award-winning marketing leader in the cybersecurity and GRC spaces. Before joining Optery to lead their B2B marketing function, she was at the helm of marketing for a privacy-focused cybersecurity startup, a multinational organization, and a creative agency. She blends strategy, technology, and creativity to boost brand stories, fuel growth, and create sustained and measurable demand. Known for steering high-impact projects with a data-driven approach, Sara also regularly publishes content on cybersecurity, privacy, and related risk topics.
50 articles

Articles by Author

Shield

Optery Wins Best Service for Attack Surface Management in the 13thAnnual Global InfoSec Awards at RSAC 2025

Optery has won the Best Service for Attack Surface Management award from Cyber Defense Magazine (CDM), the industry’s leading electronic information security magazine. Now in its thirteenth year, the Global InfoSec Awards recognize cybersecurity companies with innovative and compelling solutions that push the industry forward. “Data broker exposure, now officially part of the enterprise attackContinue reading "Optery Wins Best Service for Attack Surface Management in the 13thAnnual Global InfoSec Awards at RSAC 2025"
April 28, 2025
Read More
Shield

Credential Phishing and Infostealers Surge in IBM’s X-Force 2025 Threat Intelligence Index

The IBM X-Force 2025 Threat Intelligence Index shows a rise in infostealers delivered via phishing emails and credential phishing. Organizations must limit their exposure as part of their threat management strategy. Below are some of the report’s findings. The report notes that “threat actors are using AI to build websites and incorporate deepfakes in phishingContinue reading "Credential Phishing and Infostealers Surge in IBM’s X-Force 2025 Threat Intelligence Index"
April 17, 2025
Read More
Shield

Organizations must shift to proactive cybersecurity, according to the 2025 Armis Cyberwarfare Report

The 2025 Armis Cyberwarfare Report highlights the ramifications of AI and the need for organizations to move beyond reactive measures if they want to protect their operations and the people they serve.  This latest study, conducted by Censuswide, surveyed over 1,800+ IT decision-makers in companies with 1,000+ employees in the U.S., UK, Italy, France, Australia,Continue reading "Organizations must shift to proactive cybersecurity, according to the 2025 Armis Cyberwarfare Report"
April 10, 2025
Read More
Shield

Optery CEO Lawrence Gentilello Joins Debbie Reynolds on “The Data Diva” Talks Privacy Podcast

Optery CEO Lawrence Gentilello recently sat down with data privacy expert Debbie Reynolds on “The Data Diva” Talks Privacy Podcast for a wide-ranging conversation. They discussed the massive scale and granularity of data collection by data brokers, the growing privacy rights divide in the U.S., the power of the data broker lobby to water downContinue reading "Optery CEO Lawrence Gentilello Joins Debbie Reynolds on “The Data Diva” Talks Privacy Podcast"
April 1, 2025
Read More
Shield

Optery Named Winner in Three Categories by the 2025 Cybersecurity Excellence Awards

Optery is excited to announce its recognition for the second consecutive year as a winner in three categories by the 2025 Cybersecurity Excellence Awards. These awards celebrate excellence, innovation, and leadership in the cybersecurity industry. Optery’s recognition in these categories highlights its ongoing commitment to mitigating risks associated with exposed executive and employee PII—commonly exploitedContinue reading "Optery Named Winner in Three Categories by the 2025 Cybersecurity Excellence Awards"
March 10, 2025
Read More
Shield

Personal Data Removal: A Core Cybersecurity Measure

Why data broker removal is a must-have for organizations Personal data exposure is the biggest cyber threat to organizations today. It enables the most successful attack vectors: social engineering and the use of compromised credentials. Despite this reality, many companies continue to overlook a major security risk—vast amounts of employee and executive personal data readilyContinue reading "Personal Data Removal: A Core Cybersecurity Measure"
March 7, 2025
Read More
Shield

CrowdStrike’s 2025 Global Threat Report Reveals Phone-Based Social Engineering Is Surging

CrowdStrike’s 2025 Global Threat Report reveals adversaries are increasingly using identity compromise and social engineering to gain initial access and perform lateral movement.  In 2024, CrowdStrike Intelligence tracked a sharp rise in distinct campaigns leveraging telephone-based social engineering for initial access, including vishing and help desk impersonation tactics. Multiple adversaries incorporated vishing into their intrusionsContinue reading "CrowdStrike’s 2025 Global Threat Report Reveals Phone-Based Social Engineering Is Surging"
February 27, 2025
Read More
Shield

Leaked Chat Logs Reveal Black Basta’s Use of Data Brokers for Targeting Victims

A newly leaked trove of internal chat logs has exposed how the Black Basta ransomware gang leverages data broker info to research and target their victims. Black Basta is a notorious Russian-language ransomware group responsible for hundreds of cyberattacks on critical infrastructure and businesses worldwide. Known for its aggressive tactics, Black Basta has targeted majorContinue reading "Leaked Chat Logs Reveal Black Basta’s Use of Data Brokers for Targeting Victims"
February 24, 2025
Read More
Shield

Privacy Protectors Spotlight: Jeff Jockisch

In the eighth installment of our Privacy Protectors Spotlight series, we are excited to feature data privacy expert Jeff Jockisch! Jeff Jockisch is a highly regarded data privacy researcher specializing in the data broker ecosystem and commercial surveillance. His expertise spans data science, governance, and operational design, with a strong foundation in building knowledge graphs,Continue reading "Privacy Protectors Spotlight: Jeff Jockisch"
January 30, 2025
Read More
Shield

Data Privacy Week 2025: Protecting Yourself from Personal Data Exploitation

It’s Data Privacy Week 2025! To mark this week, we’re sharing some tips to help you stay more private and better protect yourself from the dangers of personal data exploitation. Whether it takes the form of phishing, voice and messaging scams, password cracking, impersonation, identity fraud, Business Email Compromise (BEC), or other attack vectors, the weaponizationContinue reading "Data Privacy Week 2025: Protecting Yourself from Personal Data Exploitation"
January 27, 2025
Read More
Shield

Optery Named One of Business Insider’s Top 30 Future Unicorns of 2025

We’re excited to share that Optery has been named in Business Insider’s 30 early-stage startups in 2025 most likely to become tech’s next unicorns, an exclusive list compiled by TRAC, a San Francisco-based early-stage venture firm, using their AI-powered “Moneyball for Venture Capital” methodology. This recognition is a testament to Optery’s commitment to innovation and excellence in personalContinue reading "Optery Named One of Business Insider’s Top 30 Future Unicorns of 2025"
January 23, 2025
Read More
Shield

Holiday Privacy and Security Tips: Protect Yourself and Your Loved Ones

The holidays are a time for joy and togetherness—but they’re also a time when scammers and cybercriminals are most active. Staying safe requires keeping your personal information out of their hands.  Below are five essential cybersecurity tips for protecting yourself and your loved ones this holiday season. 1. Find and Address Your Personal Data ExposureContinue reading "Holiday Privacy and Security Tips: Protect Yourself and Your Loved Ones"
December 12, 2024
Read More
Shield

Why Employee Data Privacy Is Essential for Physical Security

The line between online and physical security has become increasingly blurred. The vast amount of personal information available online poses significant risks to employees and organizations alike. Exposed employee data can lead to stalking, harassment, targeted threats, and even serve as a gateway for attackers to gain unauthorized physical access to company premises through socialContinue reading "Why Employee Data Privacy Is Essential for Physical Security"
November 29, 2024
Read More
Shield

Optery CEO and Founder Lawrence Gentilello interviewed on “Unspoken Security” podcast

Optery Founder and CEO Lawrence Gentilello recently joined intelligence and security evangelist AJ Nash on the Unspoken Security podcast to talk about the shadowy world of data brokers, their impact on privacy and security, the challenges of protecting personal data, state-level data privacy legislation, the evolving role of AI in data brokering, proactive steps to minimize exposure and risk, andContinue reading "Optery CEO and Founder Lawrence Gentilello interviewed on “Unspoken Security” podcast"
November 15, 2024
Read More
Shield

Optery Named Top InfoSec Innovator Award Winner for Attack Surface Management by Cyber Defense Magazine for 2024

We are excited to announce that Optery has won Cyber Defense Magazine’s Top InfoSec Innovator Award for Most Innovative Attack Surface Management during CyberDefenseCon 2024! We are honored to be recognized in one of the world’s most prestigious cybersecurity awards and to be among such a distinguished group of innovators. The Top InfoSec Innovator AwardsContinue reading "Optery Named Top InfoSec Innovator Award Winner for Attack Surface Management by Cyber Defense Magazine for 2024"
October 31, 2024
Read More
Shield

Privacy Protectors Spotlight: Debbie Reynolds, The Data Diva

In this seventh installment of our Privacy Protectors Spotlight series, we’re excited to feature Debbie Reynolds, known worldwide as “The Data Diva.” As the Founder, CEO, and Chief Data Privacy Officer of Debbie Reynolds Consulting LLC, Debbie has spent over 20 years at the forefront of Data Privacy and Emerging Technology. Her expertise spans industries including AdTech,Continue reading "Privacy Protectors Spotlight: Debbie Reynolds, The Data Diva"
October 29, 2024
Read More
Shield

Protecting Employee Data As Part of Attack Surface Management

The concept of the “enterprise attack surface” refers to the sum of all possible security risk exposures for a business. Traditionally, securing this attack surface was a task focused primarily on direct IT infrastructure vulnerabilities, such as network systems, software applications, and endpoints. Aspects like exposed personally identifiable information (PII) on data broker sites, whichContinue reading "Protecting Employee Data As Part of Attack Surface Management"
October 22, 2024
Read More
Shield

Doxxing Prevention: Safeguarding Employees and Executives from Online Threats

Doxxing refers to the malicious act of publicly revealing personal information (PII) about an individual or organization without their consent. This information is often gathered from publicly available sources, such as data broker sites, and then published online. The rise in online work and the growing digital exposure of employees and executives make doxxing aContinue reading "Doxxing Prevention: Safeguarding Employees and Executives from Online Threats"
October 17, 2024
Read More
Shield

Protect Against Impersonation, Email Forgery, and Business Email Compromise Attacks

Email impersonation attacks, such as Business Email Compromise (BEC), are among the most costly and damaging cyber threats to organizations. According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), BEC alone accounted for nearly $2.95 billion in reported losses in 2023, making it one of the most financially devastating forms of cybercrime. While BEC isContinue reading "Protect Against Impersonation, Email Forgery, and Business Email Compromise Attacks"
October 15, 2024
Read More
Shield

Safeguard Employees: Phishing Email Protection

Phishing attacks continue to be one of the most widespread and damaging cyber threats to organizations. While new email security measures for bulk senders have made mass email phishing more difficult for attackers, spear-phishing (aimed at a single target) continues to be a top attack vector. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) recently releasedContinue reading "Safeguard Employees: Phishing Email Protection"
October 10, 2024
Read More
Shield

Social Engineering Attacks and How Organizations Can Prevent and Defend Against Them

The vast majority of cyber attacks today begin with social engineering: the act of using exposed personal data to manipulate human targets into providing unauthorized access to an organization’s systems or data. As cybercriminals increasingly target the human element, social engineering has become the number one threat to businesses, leading to account takeovers, data breaches,Continue reading "Social Engineering Attacks and How Organizations Can Prevent and Defend Against Them"
October 7, 2024
Read More
Shield

Privacy Protectors Spotlight: Rachel Tobac

In the latest installment of our Privacy Protectors Spotlight series, we are excited to feature Rachel Tobac, a renowned expert in human hacking and social engineering defense strategies. Rachel Tobac is an ethical hacker and the CEO of SocialProof Security, a company dedicated to helping businesses and individuals protect their sensitive data from cyber threats, particularlyContinue reading "Privacy Protectors Spotlight: Rachel Tobac"
September 24, 2024
Read More
Shield

LinkedIn Auto-Opting Users Into Generative AI Training: How to Opt Out

LinkedIn recently introduced a feature that auto-enrolls users in a setting where their content—like posts, profiles, and media—can be used to train LinkedIn’s generative AI models. This change was rolled out quietly, with no prior update to LinkedIn’s terms of service. If you don’t want “LinkedIn and its affiliates” to “use your personal data andContinue reading "LinkedIn Auto-Opting Users Into Generative AI Training: How to Opt Out"
September 18, 2024
Read More
Shield

Optery Named Finalist for Attack Surface Management in Cyber Defense Magazine’s 12th Annual InfoSec Awards

Optery is excited to announce that we’ve been named a finalist in the Attack Surface Management category for the Top InfoSec Innovators Awards 2024 by Cyber Defense Magazine! We are honored to be recognized in one of the world’s most prestigious cybersecurity awards and to be among such a distinguished group of finalists. Read theContinue reading "Optery Named Finalist for Attack Surface Management in Cyber Defense Magazine’s 12th Annual InfoSec Awards"
September 5, 2024
Read More
Shield

Optery CEO and Founder Lawrence Gentilello interviewed on “The Security Ledger” podcast

Optery Founder and CEO Lawrence Gentilello recently joined seasoned reporter, editor, and industry analyst Paul Roberts on The Security Ledger Podcast to talk about data broker threats, the value of privacy laws, and what makes Optery unique as a personal data removal solution! The Security Ledger podcast features interviews with leading minds in the areaContinue reading "Optery CEO and Founder Lawrence Gentilello interviewed on “The Security Ledger” podcast"
August 29, 2024
Read More
Shield

PII Removal for Executives is Not Enough

Protecting a Broader Range of Employees is Essential Are your personal data removal efforts only focused on protecting your executives? In an era where mass SMS-phishing (smishing) campaigns and other social engineering attacks targeting non-executive staff are prevalent, extending personal data removal beyond just the C-Suite is essential. Our new whitepaper, “PII Removal for ExecutivesContinue reading "PII Removal for Executives is Not Enough"
July 31, 2024
Read More
Shield

Privacy Protectors Spotlight: Rebecca Herold

In the latest installment of our Privacy Protectors Spotlight series, we are pleased to feature Rebecca Herold, a renowned privacy expert with over three decades of experience in information security, privacy, and compliance. Known as “The Privacy Professor,” Rebecca has dedicated her career to educating and advocating for better privacy practices across various industries. BackgroundContinue reading "Privacy Protectors Spotlight: Rebecca Herold"
July 25, 2024
Read More
Shield

Optery CEO and Founder Lawrence Gentilello interviewed on the “Unscripted” podcast

Optery CEO and Founder Lawrence Gentilello recently appeared on the Unscripted podcast with David Raviv. Unscripted is a podcast focused on making the intricacies of security, privacy, and technology more accessible to everyone. Hosted by enterprise cybersecurity expert David Raviv, each episode journeys through the minds of entrepreneurs and leaders, sharing unfiltered stories and insights. It coversContinue reading "Optery CEO and Founder Lawrence Gentilello interviewed on the “Unscripted” podcast"
July 5, 2024
Read More
Shield

Privacy Protectors Spotlight: Tom O’Malley

In the third installment of our Privacy Protectors Spotlight, we are happy to feature Tom O’Malley, a leading figure in the fight against identity theft. Tom is a retired state (1980-1985) and federal prosecutor (1986-2019) who specialized in the investigation and prosecution of cybercrime, including computer hacking, identity theft, and identity fraud (2009-2019). He alsoContinue reading "Privacy Protectors Spotlight: Tom O’Malley"
June 26, 2024
Read More
Shield

New Privacy Laws in Texas and Oregon with Authorized Agent Provisions

On July 1, 2024, newly enacted privacy laws in Texas and Oregon will come into effect. Optery’s data removal requests are now fully customized to leverage the rights granted by the Texas and Oregon legislation. With Optery as your authorized agent, you can put these privacy laws to work for you immediately. The new consumerContinue reading "New Privacy Laws in Texas and Oregon with Authorized Agent Provisions"
June 21, 2024
Read More
Shield

The Dark Web vs. The Open Web: Assessing the Greater Threat to Enterprise Security

Many security professionals are rightly concerned about the dangers posed by personal information available on the dark web. Dark web monitoring services play a crucial role in identifying and mitigating these risks, alerting businesses to potential breaches and exposures. However, while the dark web garners much attention for its secretive and often illicit nature, it isContinue reading "The Dark Web vs. The Open Web: Assessing the Greater Threat to Enterprise Security"
May 15, 2024
Read More
Shield

Optery Named Winner in Three Categories by the 2024 Cybersecurity Excellence Awards

Optery is excited to announce our recognition as a winner in three categories by the 2024 Cybersecurity Excellence Awards! With over 600 entries across more than 300 categories this year, these awards celebrate excellence, innovation, and leadership in the cybersecurity industry. Optery’s recognition in these categories highlights our commitment to effectively managing exposed executive andContinue reading "Optery Named Winner in Three Categories by the 2024 Cybersecurity Excellence Awards"
May 3, 2024
Read More
Shield

Phishing and Personal Data Breach Crimes are Finally on the Decline

Since the groundbreaking California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) went into effect in 2020, consumer data privacy and security has improved dramatically for all Americans. We believe personal data removal services and authorized agents such as Optery have been major contributors to this progress helping educate the public about data privacy, helping maximize data privacy and security protections, and eradicating millions of pieces of unwanted Personal Identifiable Information (PII) from the internet. 
April 9, 2024
Read More
Shield

A Network of US-Focused People-Search Sites in China, Operating Under Fake Identities

On March 20, 2024 Brian Krebs of the security blog Krebs on Security published an investigative report entitled “The Not-so-True People-Search Network from China.” The article sheds light on a concerning trend in the people-search industry, revealing a network of US-focused sites based in China that operate under fabricated identities. As the report notes, “It appearsContinue reading "A Network of US-Focused People-Search Sites in China, Operating Under Fake Identities"
March 27, 2024
Read More
Shield

Data Privacy Day 2024: Protecting Yourself from Data Brokers and Data Breaches

As we commemorate Data Privacy Day this year, the theme “Take Control of Your Data” resonates with heightened urgency. The recent ‘Mother of all Breaches’ (MOAB) underscores the critical nature of our conversation around personal data security. In an era where both voluntary sharing and involuntary exposure of our personal information are on the rise,Continue reading "Data Privacy Day 2024: Protecting Yourself from Data Brokers and Data Breaches"
January 25, 2024
Read More
Shield

2024 Cybersecurity Alert: New Gmail Protections Likely to Increase Smishing and Vishing Threats

As email becomes more secure, threat actors are expected to pivot focus towards other methods like smishing (SMS phishing) and vishing (voice phishing). Here’s why and how you can protect your people and your company. Google’s recent announcement on enhanced email security measures for bulk senders, set to begin in February 2024 and including mandatory emailContinue reading "2024 Cybersecurity Alert: New Gmail Protections Likely to Increase Smishing and Vishing Threats"
December 12, 2023
Read More

Ready to remove your info from Google?

  • Free tools
  • Paid plans
  • 645+ sites covered
  • 30-Day Money Back Guarantee!
Sign Up Now

Ready to safeguard your personal data?

Join the movement of people strengthening their privacy
Sign Up Free