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Best Identity Theft Protection 2024
Take a look at our rankings of the best identity theft protection options for 2024 to see how you can get the peace of mind you deserve.
- UPDATED April 2024
Identity Guard
Our #1 choice for identity theft protection for 2024.
- Includes both monthly and annual payment options
- Coverage of up to $1 million
- Identity recovery assistance included in all plans
- A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau
Key Highlights
- Backed by AI from IBM
- Monitors your social media and credit reports
- 24/7 customer service and support
Pros
- Offers protection for social media users
- Reimburses you for your losses
- Gives you monthly and annual credit reports
Cons
- More expensive than other plans
- Will not alert the credit bureaus of fraud
- No guarantee
Aura
The best identity theft for those on a budget.
- Monitors the dark web and other places online
- Offers two plans
- Annual credit report included in all plans
- Monitors for your Social Security Number and other information
Key Highlights
- Uses data encryption to keep you safe
- Can monitor court records for crimes listed in your name
- Offers monthly monitoring
Pros
- Monthly plans are available for only $10
- You can see identity theft issues in different ways
- Gives you access to reports from all credit bureaus
Cons
- Lacks any family plans
- Offers limited support
- Hard to use on mobile devices
Lifelock
A good combination of antivirus software and identity theft protection.
- Offers $1 million in identity theft insurance
- A- minus Better Business Bureau rating
- Includes credit monitoring and ID protection
- Bundled with strong antivirus software
Key Highlights
- Can lock your credit when needed
- Protects against viruses and other online dangers
- Has a customer base of more than five million
Pros
- Lets you lock your credit in an emergency
- Offers up to $1 million in insurance if someone steals your identity
- Includes tons of online protection and antivirus support
Cons
- No plans for your whole family
- Some plans are quite expensive
- Had issues with false advertising
IdentityIQ
The leading choice for identity theft protection and Social Security monitoring.
- Offers family and individual plans
- Low prices
- Includes $250,000 in identity theft insurance
- Based in the United States
Key Highlights
- Includes protection for your kids
- Alerts you every time it detects your Social Security number
- Monitors all types of trade lines
Pros
- Offers comprehensive credit and identity theft protection
- Gives you 24/7 access to customer support
- Protects against malware on the web
Cons
- No mobile app or mobile device support
- Shares customer data with other sites
- No social network monitoring
Identity Defense
A good choice if you want discounted identity theft protection.
- Offers annual and monthly plans
- Discounts for annual plans
- Dark web monitoring included in all plans
- Up to $1 in identity theft insurance
Key Highlights
- Automatic alerts of identity fraud
- Backed by AI support
- Offers three different plans
Pros
- Monitors the dark web for your name and personal information
- All plans help you save with annual discounts
- You can choose between individual and family plans
Cons
- Credit monitoring is only available with premium plans
- Offers limited support
- It’s hard to find information before you sign up
FAQs About Identity Theft and Identity Theft Protection
What is Identity Theft?
Identity theft is a legal term that applies when someone uses your identity and personal information without your permission. More than 14 million people were victims of identity theft in 2019 alone. Experts believe that this number will only grow in the future. The thief can find enough information about you to steal your identity and use it to rack up bills in your name. They can take out credit cards and get loans. Once they default on those loans, the lenders will come after you because they think you’re the person responsible. Thieves can also steal your tax returns and any other money coming to you.
What are the Dangers of Identity Theft?
Victims of identity theft face many issues, especially as it can take months or years to fix the problem. The bank can freeze your accounts and leave you unable to pay your rent or mortgage along with all of your other bills. If you have a mortgage, enough time can pass that the bank forecloses. Renters may find that their landlords evict them because they cannot pay their rent. You also risk the thief sending messages to your loved ones through your social media accounts and leaving you with a poor or bad credit score.
Is Credit Monitoring the Same Thing as Identity Monitoring?
The top identity theft protection services for 2024 usually include both credit and identity monitoring. There are three credit bureaus in the United States that keep track of your credit history. With credit monitoring, the service will work with those bureaus to keep an eye on your credit. This helps you see if someone opened a credit card that you don’t have or defaulted on a hospital bill that didn’t belong to you. Identity monitoring looks for signs that someone used your name without your permission. You may find that someone gave your name when a police officer arrested them or that a criminal used your identity to open a bank account.
How Much Does Identity Theft Protection Cost?
When you check out our comparison chart, you might worry about how much it costs to get the protection that you want. The cost depends on which service you choose and the type of plan you pick. Some plans charge monthly fees that can range from less than $10 to more than $30 per month. Other services have annual plans and cost up to $400 per year. You’ll also find that some services offer discounts if you are a new customer.
Should You Pick an Individual or Family Plan?
Though some services offer individual plans designed for a single person, others have family plans that cover anyone who lives in your home as well as college students. With an individual plan, you only get protection for a single person. It comes in handy if you’re the victim of identity theft but offers no protection for your spouse or kids. If you have one or more family members who live in your home, you should go with a family plan.
Do You Need Identity Theft Protection for Kids?
Many parents do not realize how much information scammers can find about their kids online. They can easily find your child’s date of birth and full name, which they can use to get a Social Security number or birth certificate. More than one million kids become victims of this crime every year. Adults can use their information to turn on utilities in a home and open lines of credit. They can buy a new car and even take out loans in the child’s name. As you usually monitor for your name but not your kids’ names, you risk leaving them susceptible to this crime.
Are There Different Types of Identity Theft?
Identity theft does not always involve banks or credit cards. There are different types of identity theft that can affect you now and in the future. One example is medical identity theft, which is when another person uses your name and identity to see a doctor. They might give your Social Security number at a hospital and leave without paying or use that information to see another type of doctor. Senior identity theft occurs when hackers go after someone of advanced age. This often occurs online as scammers can get older people to enter their information on phishing websites.
Another potential example is identity cloning. This is when someone uses your identity every day. Criminals can sell your identity to someone who then lives under your name. They can work a full-time job and get an apartment with your identity. You may become a victim after using a phishing website that looks like a social media site or when you respond to dangerous emails. An identity clone can even use your information to get your tax return.
How Can You Stay Safe?
There are many things that you can do to stay safe after signing up with an identity theft service. It’s helpful to invest in a locking mailbox to prevent others from stealing mail that contains sensitive information. If you throw away bank statements and similar paperwork, always shred them before throwing them out. You should also use caution when using a scanner at the gas pump or an ATM. Hackers use skimmers on those machines that steal data off your cards. They can then use those cards and buy things, even if they don’t have the physical card.
Use caution online, too. If you get an email that seems suspicious, don’t click on any links inside it. Scammers often set up websites that look similar to real sites. When you log in with your info, they get a copy that they can use on the official site. By the time you realize what happened, it might be almost impossible to get your account back. We also recommend that you secure your wireless network and only use it with a password. This will block hackers from entering your network and stealing information.
What Are Some Signs of Identity Theft?
A common sign of identity theft is an account that appears on your credit report that you don’t recognize. Though you can request a free copy of your report once a year, some of the top identity theft services of 2021 give you monthly reports. This helps you spot and report unfamiliar accounts. You may get bills in the mail that ask you to pay debts that you don’t have such as a car payment or utility bill. Many people also receive phone calls from debt collectors who claim that they owe money. This is a big sign that you’re the victim of identity theft.
What Should You Do When You Spot These Signs?
If you’re the victim of identity theft or think you might be, call the police department in your city. You can file a report, which is your first step in stopping the scammer. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is another place where you can file a report. With help from the FTC, you can avoid paying back bills that aren’t yours and some of the hassles of identity theft. You should notify your bank and any creditors, too. Let them know that someone racked up debt in your name and that it will affect your credit in the future.
How Can You Choose the Right Identity Theft Protection?
Our ranking of the top identity theft protection shows you the best services that are available. It’s often helpful to make a list of the features or services that are important to you. Start with a look at the costs to find a service you can afford. You may prefer an annual plan that you pay for at the beginning of the year to get a lower rate and protection for the next 12 months. If you want to cover your kids and spouse or partner, a family plan is a good choice.
We also recommend that you look for protection that comes with a mobile app. You may discover that you’re the victim of identity theft while on vacation or when you’re away from your computer. A mobile app lets you connect with customer service and get help as soon as possible. Find out if the service includes insurance and/or a guarantee, too. The guarantee lets you know that the company will give your money back if you’re not happy. With insurance, the service will cover the costs that you face as a victim of identity theft.
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