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You may be doing everything in the book to lock down your identity. Each of your accounts has a different password with various numbers and special symbols that you change frequently. Your birthdays are wrong on all your social media accounts. You even refuse to connect to your local cafe’s Wi-Fi because it’s not a secure network. Even with these precautions, your identity is still vulnerable.
You can deploy additional security measures, namely identity theft protection services. Here’s our list of the best identity theft protection services and what you can expect from each one.
The Best Identity Theft Protection Services of March 2023
IdentityForce UltraSecure+Credit: Best coverageIDShield 3 bureau monitoring plan: Most well-roundedAura: Best for FamiliesPrivacyGuard Identity Protection: Best for basic coverageComplete ID: Best deal
The Best Identity Protection Services
Methodology: How We Chose The Best Identity Theft Protection Services
Most identity theft services follow a tiered pricing system, offering more features with each additional tier. These identity theft services also offer many of the same services at their premium tier. We rate companies based on what they’re willing to provide and what they’re charging for these services. Along the way, we make note of exceptional inclusions and exclusions.
IdentityForce costs more than twice as much as the cheapest option on this list but includes credit monitoring capabilities in addition to identity theft protection. Meanwhile, PrivacyGuard doesn’t have a credit monitoring aspect, but you can find credit monitoring services elsewhere for free.
While this is primarily how we rate identity theft companies, we also look at a company’s Better Business Bureau rating to see how responsive they are to their customers. We also consider other outlying factors, such as a data breach or other cybersecurity mishaps.
Identity Theft Protection Services Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is it worth it to pay for identity theft protection?
Having some degree of identity theft protection is prudent, but you don’t have to pay for it. Many features offered by identity theft protection services are free, such as credit monitoring, fraud alerts for credit card and bank accounts, and security tools like password management.
That said, employing and keeping track of multiple free services demands more significant effort and expertise; identity theft protection services are a better solution if you want to minimize hassle and don’t mind paying for the convenience.
What is identity theft protection?
Identity theft protection shields your identity from bad actors trying to use your identity for financial gain, be it a line of credit or insurance fraud. The average loss suffered by identity theft victims is on the order of $1,000, but losses can be far more severe and are difficult to recoup in any amount. An identity thief armed with your personal and financial data could divert payments intended for you, which is why it’s important to reduce the risk of identity theft.
Since identity theft tends to be a crime of opportunity, you can reduce the risk of identity theft by simply making yourself less of a target. You can take many steps to secure your own identity and other personal information, but if doing it yourself seems daunting, identity theft protection services can help.
Best identity theft protection for seniors
All the identity theft protection services above will apply to all demographics. That said, it might be worth your time to look into LifeLock, which offers a sizable discount for AARP members.
Best Coverage
IdentityForce UltraSecure+Credit
Cost: IdentityForce Ultra Secure+Credit – Fees Display
IdentityForce UltraSecure+Credit – Editorial Name Only is a product of TransUnion, but the +Credit plan also reports from Experian and Equifax. It offers broad monitoring capability including social media accounts, mobile device scanning, and dark web data analysis. It can also alert you of suspicious activity in your banking and investment accounts in addition to credit-related fraud alerts.
On top of the standard security tools mentioned above, IdentityForce UltraSecure+Credit – Editorial Name Only features an online vault for storing sensitive digital documents and medical ID fraud protection to ensure your medical benefits aren’t being used illicitly. IdentityForce UltraSecure+Credit – Editorial Name Only also offers an entry-level plan with most of the same features apart from credit monitoring, which is a good fit for anyone who already has that base covered.
Best Well-Rounded Plan
IDShield 3 Bureau Individual Plan
Cost: IDShield 3 Bureau Individual Plan – Fees Display
IDShield 3 Bureau Individual Plan – Editorial Name Only offers comparable protection to IdentityForce UltraSecure+Credit – Editorial Name Only at a lower price if you’re paying monthly. You’ll get all the essentials like three-bureau credit monitoring, alerts, and various cybersecurity and device protection tools. The few features IDShield 3 Bureau Individual Plan – Editorial Name Only lacks (like junk mail removal) aren’t essential, so going without them is a reasonable tradeoff if cost is a priority.
One negative of IDShield 3 Bureau Individual Plan – Editorial Name Only is that it tends to get lower marks for its interface; if that deters you from using the security features, then whatever you save in monthly fees is nullified. IDShield 3 Bureau Individual Plan – Editorial Name Only is a well-rounded plan, but you should test it out with the 30-day free trial.
Best for Families
Aura
Cost: Aura – All-In-One ID Theft Protection – Fees Display
Aura provides fewer monitoring services than IdentityForce UltraSecure+Credit – Editorial Name Only and IDShield 3 Bureau Individual Plan – Editorial Name Only — it doesn’t include social media, for example. It still offers well-rounded protection with monitoring of all three credit bureaus and the standard security tools, as well as email aliases to reduce spam and exposure to data breaches.
Aura – All-In-One ID Theft Protection – Editorial Name Only shines brightest with its couple and family plans, which provide the same protections for additional members (children or adults) at a heavily discounted cost per person. Aura’s family plan also offers parental controls for mobile devices.
Best for Basic Coverage
PrivacyGuard
Cost: PrivacyGuard Identity Protection – Fees Display
PrivacyGuard Identity Protection – Editorial Name Only has some gaps in its protection. Notably, it doesn’t include credit reporting from any of the major credit bureaus, but you can fill most gaps in coverage using other tools that are available for free. PrivacyGuard Identity Protection – Editorial Name Only provides many services that are harder to replicate without paying, like dark web scanning and public records monitoring.
You’ll also get security tools to secure your browser and keyboard. The tradeoff is that this plan has a much lower price, which makes it an inexpensive way to fill gaps in other coverage you might be getting for free.
Best Deal
Complete ID
Cost: Complete ID – Fees Display
Complete ID is exclusively available to Costco members, and like many deals at Costco, the price is hard to beat. Every plan offers monitoring from all three credit bureaus, digital privacy tools like a password manager and VPN, and restoration services with 24/7 support.
Like Aura, Complete ID’s monitoring services are less extensive than IdentityForce and IDShield, but the essentials are covered. Couple and family plans come at an even lower cost per person; for example, the two-adult plan is $15.99 per month (less than individual plans from most other services). If you’re already a Costco member looking for identity theft protection, give Complete ID a look.
What To Look For Before Purchasing?
The best identity theft protection service is the one that meets your needs at a price you can afford. For example, if your identity has been stolen before, your information is likely floating around on the dark web for purchase. You may need to arm yourself more heavily than you would otherwise. On the other hand, if you’re concerned about your children, you may want to look for a plan that offers a good family plan.
If you’re particularly concerned about the possibility of identity theft, you’ll want your identity theft service to have dark web monitoring and public records monitoring. These services are hard to find outside of identity theft protection services and are hard to replicate on your own.
Even if you can’t find a perfect plan that lines up one-to-one with your needs, some protection is better than none. Most services also offer a free trial, so you can test them before buying. Look for a service with security tools you’ll actually use, even if it’s for superficial reasons (like a layout or color scheme you prefer). If one service inspires you to be more proactive about protecting your information, that’s a selling point.
What is the Average Cost of ID Theft Protection?
The cost of identity theft protection services on this list ranges from $8.99 to $23.95 for their individual plans, though you can find services with prices outside this range on either end. You’ll find most products, with the discounts they often offer, range from $10 to $20.
Note: The median cost for fraud in 2022 was $650, up from $500 in 2021, according to reports from the FTC.
How Identity Theft Protection Can Be Helpful
Protecting your identity and other sensitive personal information is like protecting your home against fire. Most houses have fire prevention measures baked into their design, including fire-resistant materials, landscaping precautions, and fire hydrant access. You should have early detection and alert systems like smoke, heat, or flame detectors and suppression systems like fire extinguishers and sprinklers. Hopefully, you observe basic fire safety protocols like storing flammable materials properly and not leaving open flames unattended. Finally, you should have fire insurance to protect yourself financially.
None of those measures guarantees your house won’t catch fire, but collectively they mitigate the risk and extent of fire damage. Similarly, identity theft protection doesn’t guarantee your personal information will remain secure, but it reduces the likelihood you’ll experience the worst outcomes of having your identity stolen. These services also insure you against identity theft.
Like fire protection, identity theft protection isn’t a single measure but an array of complementary measures designed to safeguard your personal information.
Types of Identity Theft Protection
Standard features offered by identity theft protection companies generally fit into one of the following three categories:
Monitoring and alerts — Given how quickly identity thieves put stolen data to ill use, early detection and warning are critical to minimizing damage. Identity theft detection companies monitor your personal information for suspicious activity and notify you when something is amiss. What you get varies among companies and plans but usually includes monitoring of credit reports, social security numbers, property and court records, and more.Security tools — While security measures aren’t foolproof, your data is less vulnerable if you take basic precautions. To that end, identity theft protection often provides tools like antivirus and malware protection, a virtual private network (VPN) for safe browsing, password management, and more.Recovery — When your personal information has been compromised, identity theft protection can help you limit further damage by freezing your credit and exposed accounts. It can also help you restore your identity and cover related expenses, though it’s unlikely to reimburse direct losses resulting from fraud.
Identity Theft Protection and Credit Monitoring
One feature to prioritize is reporting from all three major credit bureaus; many entry-level plans only monitor one bureau, leaving room for suspicious activity to slip through unnoticed. You should also look for a service that gets audited regularly by independent security experts and deletes your information when you cancel your subscription (rather than holding onto it indefinitely).
Note: Some credit card issuers offer identity theft protection programs, including free options and more in-depth services that charge a monthly fee.
Identity Theft in the US
In 2022, the Federal Trade Commission logged over 1.1 million reports of identity theft, 300,000 fewer reports than 2021. The reported number marks the first downward trend in reported identity theft cases since 2017. That figure only includes what gets reported — the real total of identity theft cases is estimated to be much higher.
How to Report ID Theft
If you suspect your identity has been stolen, your first course of action should be to freeze your credit reports to prevent the thief from applying for credit in your name. It’s free and won’t damage your credit. You can always unfreeze your reports later when the dust settles.
Your next steps depend on the nature of the identity theft and any fraud that may have already occurred:
File an identity theft report: IdentityTheft.gov is a Federal Trade Commission program that will help you create a recovery plan and generate an identity theft report that you can use later as documentation. You can file a report over the phone at 877-438-4338, though you won’t receive that identity theft report.Report the fraud to involved companies: Notify any banks, credit card issuers, or other companies involved in your identity theft case. The sooner you do this, the better. If you don’t report within a certain time frame, you could be liable for any debts incurred.Notify the credit bureaus: Call at least one of the main credit bureaus to let them know your identity has been stolen. The Fair Credit Reporting Act requires credit bureaus to notify the others, and you’ll receive a 90-day initial fraud alert, which means creditors have to take reasonable steps to verify the identity of anyone applying for credit under your name. Later, with an identity theft report, you can extend the fraud alert to seven years.Contact law enforcement: Depending on the situation, you may want to file a police report, especially if you know who stole your identity. Some creditors may also require you to file a report with law enforcement.
If your social security number has been compromised, and you continue to have issues with identity theft, you may be eligible to get a new social security number. You’ll need to contact your local Social Security office and arrange an in-person appointment.
How to Prevent ID Theft
Identity theft is often a crime of opportunity, so taking steps to reduce the risk of identity theft can go a long way toward preventing entirely. You can do a lot to protect your personal information by practicing good data hygiene and staying vigilant about how your information is used and distributed. Simple steps like using strong passwords and antivirus software, securing your mail, and regularly reviewing account statements for suspicious activity will help you both prevent and detect identity theft.
You can also look into various products beyond identity theft protection, to prevent ID theft. You can look into freezing your credit or placing a fraud alert on your credit reports, preventing identity thieves from borrowing money using your credit. These are free services offered by credit bureaus.
Those practices, combined with well-rounded identity theft protection, will significantly reduce the risk of having your personal information compromised.