The 7 Best Identity Theft Protection Options Available
I am sure you have heard the term the dark web. You may think it sounds like a joke, but it really is not. This is the place where stolen information is used and sold. Many people think that fraudsters are out there lurking and waiting for the next unsuspecting person to come along so they can strip them of all their information and their money. That may be a bit of a dramatization, but not much.
There are a lot of fraudsters constantly thinking of new ways to steal information from people. No matter how hard we work to protect ourselves, they are often one step ahead of the latest protection available. The best way to protect yourself is to understand all the steps that you can take to protect yourself. There are many identity theft protection options available that you can purchase to help protect yourself.
If you think you need an extra layer of help there are ID protection companies available that can provide you identity theft protection. These companies monitor, alert you to and help you recover from identity theft. They monitor your credit file and keep you informed of activity. They alert you when your personal information has been used. If someone steals your information, they can help you get back your money and repair the damage to your credit.
If you are interested in enhanced identity theft protection, consider these companies as part of your review or options.
IdentityForce
This is not the lowest priced identity theft protection option you will find, but it is still reasonably priced with their lowest plan starting at $12.99 per month. They offer support to protect your identity 24 hours 7 days a week. They provide alerts in real-time anytime they detect activity that seems suspicious. You can even get alerts on investment accounts. Their team of employees are certified protection experts. This team of experts will closely monitor your data to make sure your information is not being sold.
If there is ever an instance when your information is compromised, you can get mobile alerts instantly and their experts work hard to handle all of the needs during recovery. This includes any phone calls and letters. You receive a protection policy that covers you up to $1 million. They provide free trials of plans for families and businesses so you can try out these plans before you commit to them. IdentityForce does not offer any type of retroactive recovery, so you can only have support from the time which you subscribe to their services.
IdentityIQ
This is another identity theft protection plan to consider because it offers four different plans from which you can choose. They range from $9.99 to $29.99 per month. The range in plans allows you to cover your basic needs or protect your children if you choose. This company has been in business since 2010 and offers you $1 million in protection, even at the lowest price point. They also provide you support and help to recover any lost money due to identity theft and help restore your credit.
The most basic plan provides you with cyber monitoring as well as credit monitoring for all three credit bureaus
If you upgrade a level, you can receive notifications when there is a change to your credit score or credit report. This plan does complete monitoring of your credit report. You also receive notifications if your name is ever used in reference to a crime
The top of the line package provides you with monthly reports from all 3 credit bureaus and a credit score tracker. You are able to provide your children with $25,000 in theft identity insurance. They must be under age 25 to qualify for this coverage
LifeLock
The next option to consider in identity theft protection is LifeLock. This provider uses Norton Security to protect your information and all your devices. They have experts on staff to monitor all your credit reports from all three credit bureaus, your bank accounts, your social security number, and your devices. They also monitor any crimes that are committed in your name. They use technology that can quickly scan all account transactions to catch suspicious activity. They provide you with $1 million of insurance for stolen money and attorney fees. Their plans start at a low rate of $9.99 per month.
LifeLock uses an application that scans websites, court records, and address change records to monitor for any instances where your information is being used illegally and without your consent. This service also provides alerts for investing and 401k misuse. They offer a family plan to allow you to cover everyone in your house. Their portal is easy to use and simple to navigate. They offer three different plans so they are sure to meet all of your needs. They give you a 60-day money-back promise if you are not satisfied with their service. They offer a discount if you pay for service for the year instead of monthly. They will cover up to five devices with Norton Security for an additional fee.
IdentityGuard
Another identity theft protection option to consider is IdentityGuard. They have over 20 years of experience and millions of satisfied customers. This option is set at a slightly lower price point with plans ranging from $7.20 to $19.99 per month. This option uses Watson, which is IBM's artificial intelligence, to analyze predictive data to help identify threats and provide assistance.
This service allows you to create a watchlist for IdentityGuard to monitor. This includes information such as phone numbers, all your accounts, your credit and even your email address. They provide you with a dashboard that is easy to use which contains all of your personal information. This is where you can see alerts instantly about activity that may be fraudulent. At the earliest time, you can find out about activity that may be misusing your information.
IdentityGuard responds quickly to all threats and provides you with $1 million of insurance for stolen funds. In addition to protecting you, their data can also predict the habits that make you vulnerable to threats. As a result, they provide helpful hints on how you can reduce your risk of having your identity stolen. They offer four different plans, one of which is a family plan to provide you with all the coverage that you need.
ID Watchdog
ID Watchdog is an identity theft protection option that you should add to your list for consideration. While they have been in business since 2005, Equifax acquired them in 2017. This option provides monitoring of all three credit bureaus and public records to look for any unusual information. They use certified risk management specialists to monitor your information and restore your credit and information if your information is stolen. ID Watchdog uses two-factor authentication to give you an additional layer of security in addition to your master password when you log into the application.
ID Watchdog provides up to $1 million in recovery for lost funds due to identity theft. They monitor your personal information including social security number, criminal records, and bank account information. If you fall subject to identity theft, their specialists immediately take action to begin to restore your funds and your identity. They promise you will receive payment in the event your identity is stolen while utilizing their services. ID Watchdog takes identity protection so seriously that they provide minimal services to even those who are not currently customers. They have different plan options so they are sure to have one that meets your needs and price point.
ADT
ADT has been offering security protection for over 140 years and is a trusted name in identity theft protection as well. They understand how the need for vigilance when it comes to data breaches and preventing fraud. ADT has an online dashboard that gives you the ability to give all information, activity, and alerts.
You are covered for up to $1 million in identity protection. They provide you with 24 hour 7 day a week coverage with professionals monitoring the activity of your information and accounts. They also provide alerts to a mobile device to give you instant information about any activity that is suspicious. ADT only offers one plan that is affordable at $9.99 per month. They also scan medical insurance IDs.
Eversafe
You should make sure that Eversafe is on your list of identity theft protection options. They have four major categories as part of their plan to protect you and your identity. They analyze the data, including your regular activity which allows them to identify activity is that appears to be questionable or fraudulent. When any activity is found that appears to be fraudulent, you receive that information via text, email, and notification on the mobile app. In the event that your information is stolen, the Eversafe specialists work to create a recovery plan that meets your needs.
This option monitors investment, credit, and bank accounts for you, your spouse, and your children. In addition to monitoring theft and your credit report, they also scan the dark web for your information. They even have a special plan and help for seniors because they recognize this population tends to be taken advantage of most often. Eversafe has a dashboard that allows you to monitor the accounts of your entire family in one place. They offer a free 30 day trial period where you can use their services to determine if they are the right ones for you.
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Different Types Of Identity Theft
If you are interested in identity theft protection, you have to understand the definition of identity theft. Identity theft is when your personal information is taken and used without your knowledge or consent. Once someone has stolen your information, it can be used to open accounts or other activity that is fraudulent. There are many different types of identity theft to which your information is susceptible.
Malware
Basically it is the same as viruses but it presents itself as software that appears to be safe, but in reality it is a malicious piece of software. You install this software on your computer and then a fraudster can steal the information on your computer as well as see and copy every keystroke you make. Your credit card information can be stolen which means that a thief can take your information and use it to make purchases. They do not even have to have your physical credit card in their hand to use it.
Breach of Data
This is when someone hacks into the database of a company to steal the information. Usually information such as your name, credit card numbers, and social security number is stolen. You trust companies to store your information and keep it safe, so it is a huge hit when the information is stolen. If you browse on a website that is not secure, then you may be setting yourself up to have your information stolen. The best way to make sure you are not browsing a website that is not secure, make sure the lock next to the website address is closed. If there is not a lock, or it is open, then the website is not secure and you should close out of the website.
How Can I Protect Myself From Identity Theft?
When you are looking for identity theft protection, you should take some steps in an effort to protect yourself. You should always review your bank and credit card statements for any information that does not appear to be correct. You want to make sure that all of the purchases that are listed on those statements were made by you. You also want to check to make sure there are not any withdrawals that you did not make. These could be signs that someone has stolen your information.
You should also make sure that all of your contact information for all of your accounts is up to date. You should also make sure that you change and update your passwords on a regular basis. You want to make sure each password is unique and you are not using the same password in multiple places. Any papers that you receive in the mail or in any other way that contains your information should be shred when you no longer need the information. Do not just throw it in the trash because there are people that will dig through your garbage just to find someone's information they can steal. This really happens, so buy yourself a personal shredder and get rid of those papers.
Monitor Your Credit Information Regularly
One of the best ways to protect yourself is to be consistent about monitoring your credit and information. If you find something that seems off, you should do the research and find out what it is. Otherwise you may be ignoring something to which you should pay attention because it may be a sign that your identity has been stolen.
Something you may not even think twice about is selling old equipment, such as computers. If you are going to see an old computer, be sure to completely wipe it clean. You should also restore it back to factory settings. If you are not sure how to do that, a quick search should give you step by step instructions.
Conclusion
When it comes to identity theft protection, you cannot be too careful. There are many hackers out there who spend all of their time finding new ways to steal the information of others. Unfortunately, many of them are incredibly skilled. You must take steps to protect yourself. One of the ways you can do that is to purchase identity theft protection through one of these companies.
In addition, you should be aware of the steps that you can take to protect yourself. You may not even realize all the habits that you have that may be opening yourself up to identity theft. What may seem something as simple as throwing away your trash may be making you vulnerable to identity theft. You must be vigilant with anything that contains your personal information. It is important that you take steps to protect yourself. Even if you think you are overreacting, take those steps anyway. It is better to be safe and protect yourself than to open yourself up to harm.