Understanding Identity Theft: What It Is and How It Happens
You feel like you’ve done everything right – strong passwords, shredding documents, monitoring your credit. But identity theft continues to threaten your security and peace of mind. No one is immune, with over 14 million victims each year in the US alone. The question is not if identity theft will strike, but when. Don’t wait until you’re frantically calling your bank about unknown charges. Arm yourself now with a protection service designed to catch fraud in its tracks. We’ve compared the top options to spotlight the best value and features. Read on to discover our picks for best identity theft protection and exactly what to look for as you evaluate plans. With the right partner watching your back, you can rest easy knowing your identity and assets are safe.
Top 5 Best Identity Theft Protection Services Compared
Identity theft is when someone steals your personal information like your Social Security number, credit card number, or bank account information, and uses it to commit fraud or other crimes. How does it happen? Sadly, identity theft is often the result of data breaches when companies don’t properly safeguard people’s information. However, thieves also use other tricks like:
– Phishing emails: They send emails posing as legitimate companies to trick you into entering account numbers, passwords, or downloading malware.
– Skimming: They use card skimmers to steal data from the magnetic strip of your credit or debit card.
– Dumpster diving: They rummage through your trash looking for documents containing sensitive data.
– Malware: They use viruses, spyware, or keylogging software to steal login info, account numbers, and passwords from your computer.
Once they have your info, thieves may open new accounts in your name, file for loans, buy expensive items, or commit tax fraud. Detecting identity theft early is critical to limiting the damage. Regularly check your financial statements, credit report, and credit score for signs of unauthorized activity. The sooner you spot identity theft, the sooner you can take action by contacting companies, filing a police report, and placing fraud alerts to help protect yourself.
While identity theft can be frightening, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk. Using strong, unique passwords, enabling two-factor authentication when available, shredding sensitive documents, and being cautious of phishing emails and malicious links can help you stay vigilant in safeguarding your identity. With vigilance and the right precautions, you can make yourself a less attractive target for thieves looking to steal your information.
How to Choose the Best Identity Theft Protection for Your Needs
LifeLock
LifeLock is one of the most well-known identity theft protection services. They offer plans starting at $9.99/month and provide monitoring of your information on the dark web, alerts for suspicious activity, and $1 million in identity theft insurance. However, they have faced lawsuits in the past regarding false advertising of their services.
IDShield
IDShield is a highly-rated service that offers monitoring of your accounts, credit reports, social security number and more. Their plans start at $9.95/month and include identity theft insurance up to $1 million. They provide daily monitoring of your personal information and offer identity restoration services if your identity is compromised.
Identity Guard
Identity Guard is a popular option that offers daily credit monitoring, social security monitoring, and identity theft insurance up to $1 million. Their plans start at $8.33/month. They scan for your information on the dark web and alert you to any suspicious activity. Identity Guard also offers identity restoration services to help you restore your identity in the event of fraud.
IdentityForce
IdentityForce is a reputable company that provides comprehensive identity theft protection. They offer daily monitoring of your accounts, credit reports, social security number, and more. Plans start at $14.95/month and include $1 million in identity theft insurance. IdentityForce alerts you within hours of any changes to your credit score, accounts, and personal information.
In summary, while there are many great identity theft protection services, LifeLock, IDShield, Identity Guard and IdentityForce are among the top, most reputable options. They provide daily monitoring of your accounts and personal information, identity theft insurance, and identity restoration services in case your identity is stolen. The right service for you depends on your needs and budget. With identity theft on the rise, using one of these services is a smart way to safeguard yourself.
