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It is estimated that every 2 seconds someone becomes a victim of identity theft, and in 2018 alone, 16.7 million people in the US fell victim to an attack, which totaled more than $16 billion (according to a report by Javelin). Part of the reason for this is the rising popularity of online shopping—1.66 billion people across the world are regularly purchasing items online.
Data breaches are also on the rise. According to the Identity Theft Resource Center, just in 2017 alone, 179 million people's’ personal records were exposed through data breaches. You can also fall victim to “low-tech” phishing or malware attacks that instantly put your personal information at risk.
If you’re looking for a firm layer of security to make you feel safer while online shopping, paying your bills online, sharing personal information on social media, and more, then yes—an ID protection service is definitely worth the investment. While some people may see these solutions as “nice-to-have” rather than “must-have,” they might be interested in learning that many of them offer free trial periods of up to 30 days, or discounts on your first annual subscription.
The best ID theft protection services on the market utilize unique data and advanced technologies to monitor credit card transactions, the Dark Web, social media, and more. Their goal is to immediately detect when your information is stolen, offered for sale, or used fraudulently, in order to mitigate the damage of ID attacks as much as possible. Once you are alerted about an attack, these services will help restore your identity, reimburse you for stolen funds, and offer expert support around the clock.
Here are some features and capabilities offered by the best ID protection services on the market today:
Monitor & detect | Alert | Restore |
---|---|---|
Credit card transactions | Detect changes in your credit score | Identity Restoration Specialists |
Dark Web | Be alerted when your information is stolen or offered for sale | Up to $1M reimbursement of stolen funds |
Social media | Learn of social media activity using your name or photos | Coverage for lawyers and experts |
Court records & bookings | Learn of crimes reported in your name | Lost wallet protection |
The US Postal Service | Know if your mail has been redirected | 24/7 member support |
SSN | Find out about addresses associated with your Social Security Number | |
Banks | Detect attempts to take over your account or loans taken in your name | |
Sex offenders | Learn if an offender moves into your neighborhood | |
Driver’s license | Learn if someone uses your driver’s license fraudulently |
Not all ID protection services have all of these capabilities. To find the best one to meet your needs, just go through the chart above or read our reviews of the top services on the market.
Read the LifeLock review to learn more
Read the Experian IdentityWorks review to learn more
Read the Identity Guard review to learn more
With so much activity taking place online in this day and age, our personal information is “up for grabs”—from your credit card number to your address, Social Security number, bank information, personal photos, and more. A good ID theft protection service ensures that determined scammers keep their hands off your precious personal information.