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Do You Really Need Identity Theft Protection Services?
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(image: https://burst.shopifycdn.com/photos/couple-in-conversation-at-the-dining-table.jpg?width=746&format=pjpg&exif=0&iptc=0)Do You Really Need Identity Theft Protection Services?
Pay for a service only if you are in danger, refuse to block your credit, or don't want to monitor your own personal information.
Written by Sean Pyles Senior Writer | Personal finances, credit, and personal finance Sean Pyles leads podcasting at NerdWallet as the host and producer of NerdWallet's "Smart Money" podcast. On "Smart Money" Sean talks with Nerds across the NerdWallet Content team to answer listeners' questions about personal finance. With a focus on shrewd and practical advice on money, Sean provides real-world guidance that can help consumers better their financial lives. In addition to answering listeners' financial questions on "Smart Money," Sean also interviews guests outside of NerdWallet and also creates special segments to explore topics like the racial wealth gap as well as how to get started investing, and the history for student loans.
Before Sean was the host of podcasts at NerdWallet, he covered topics concerning consumer debt. His work has appeared on USA Today, The New York Times and elsewhere. When he's not writing about personal finances, Sean can be found playing in his garden, going for walks, or taking his dog on long walks. Sean is located within Ocean Shores, Washington.
and Bev O'Shea personal finance writer | MSN Money, Credit.com, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Orlando Sentinel Bev O'Shea is a former NerdWallet authority on consumer credit, scams and identity theft. She has a bachelor's degree of journalism at Auburn University and a master's in education from Georgia State University. Before joining NerdWallet she worked for daily newspapers, MSN Money and Credit.com. Her work was featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, MarketWatch, USA Today, MSN Money and many other places. Twitter: @BeverlyOShea.
Updated January 25, 2022
Editor: Kathy Hinson Lead Assigning Editor Personal finances, credit scoring managing money and debt Kathy Hinson leads the Core Personal Finance team at NerdWallet. Previously, she spent 18 years working at The Oregonian in Portland in capacities such as chief of the copy desk and team leader for design and editing. Her previous experience includes news and copy editing at several Southern California newspapers, including the Los Angeles Times. She graduated with a bachelor's in journalism and mass communications from the University of Iowa.
A majority of the products featured here are from our partners, who we pay. This impacts the types of products we write about and where and how the product is featured on a page. However, this doesn't affect our assessments. Our opinions are entirely our own. Here's a list of and .
Identity theft protection companies pledge to safeguard your personal information in exchange for either a monthly or annual cost. Typically, they begin with then layer on additional services that alert you to potential problems.
Alerts are only used to alert you once the event has occurred; they can't prevent someone from stealing and misusing your financial information. This is the reason NerdWallet suggests taking proactive steps as it could stop the opening of fraudulent accounts.
Think about paying for an identity theft protection service only If:
You're already the victim of or at risk of it.
You are unwilling to freeze your credit reports.
You know that you won't spend the time continuously monitoring your own credit.
You have checked and don't have adequate identity theft monitoring or in the event of an information breach.
You can do it yourself.
You can provide the most basic services provided by these firms yourself, often at no charge:
You can monitor your via a variety of personal finance websites like NerdWallet, or some charge card companies.
You can and follow free recovery paths set out in the Federal government's website at .
You can freeze your credit files at all 3 major credit bureaus -as well as for no cost, something an identity theft protection firm cannot do for you.
"The first thing consumers need to do if they're concerned regarding ID theft is to block their credit reports," says Chi Chi Wu, staff attorney at the National Consumer Law Center. "Freeze, freeze, freeze. Everything else is a bonus over that."
>> MORE:
What identity theft protection firms do
In general, identity theft protection companies offer three primary services:
Monitoring Identity theft protection companies monitor your credit files and alert you about activities, like new accounts being opened under your name or credit inquiries that are received, so you can react quickly.
Alerts: Let you know of any instances in which your personal information has been used, such as when someone attempts to establish a bank account in your name. This is useful because most people don't know that identity theft occurred until their credit has been damaged or their bank accounts have been wiped out or they suddenly have an abundance of new debts in their name.
Recovery: If someone steals your information and misuses it These companies can assist you recover money you lost and help undo any damage done to credit. Most offer insurance policies of one million dollars.
A lot of companies also provide tangential service like alerts on the latest news about identity theft and local sex offender registrations. Certain monitor websites that are which are known to be a source of stolen personal and financial data that you cannot do on your own.
Compare identity theft protection services
You might decide that you need all the security options and you're willing to pay to have peace of mind. Perhaps you know that you'll never do it by yourself.
If yes, you can compare rates and coverage information to determine which plan is suitable for you. Check that the product you select monitors your credit information at the three credit bureaus. otherwise, you're paying for incomplete protection.
Beware of credit monitoring services that are more likely to offer less comprehensive coverage and can limit your right to take them to court, even if they're the ones that exposed your financial data.
Here's a look at some popular products in the field of identity protection. This is only a small sample; you may discover a different company which is better suited to your needs. If you've already put in credit freezes, you'll need remove them temporarily in order to let a service access your personal files to monitor.
1. NORTON 360 with LIFELOCK Ultimate Plus
Pros:
The top-tier Norton LifeLock plan, , provides a variety of services to aid you in recovering from identity theft.
It includes a password manager, web privacy and device security benefits.
The company enhances its service by adding additional features, such as an identity theft recovery plan and legal assistance.
Cons:
The top-tier plan is pricey, especially when covering the entire family. For two adults and up to five kids runs $48.99 a month initially, but it auto-renews at a higher price.
As of 2015 LifeLock agreed to pay $100m to settle a Federal Trade Commission charge that it was in violation of a federal court order regarding the protection of customers' personal data and avoiding deceptive advertising.
Cost: Coverage is $29.99 a month for one adult in the first year and then it renews automatically for $34.99 per month. Discounts are available for paying annually.
Ideal for: People who don't have an entire family to safeguard; who are able to afford an extra amount for more comprehensive coverage. Check out our complete .
2. IDSHIELD
Pros:
It is easy to know precisely what you're receiving, as there are no tiers and pricing is clear.
Provides unlimited consultations with an experts in identity theft.
Scans social media posts for reputational risk.
Cons:
As with any service, you may be tempted to dismiss the importance of maintaining good cybersecurity practices.
Multiple alerts can cause you to abandon them without reading, missing important information.
Cost: Monitoring at all three bureaus of credit costs $17.95 per month for an individual as well as $32.95 to families (two adults and as many as 10 minor children).
Best for: Price-sensitive customers who want the social accounts of their customers checked as part of a bundle. Learn more about our service .
3. IDENTITYFORCE ULTRASECURE+CREDIT
Pros:
IdentityForce provides lower cost three-bureau monitoring than the big names like LifeLock.
It is possible to purchase an entire family plan, which includes two adults as well as any children aged 25 or under.
Alerts you about possible health insurance fraud.
Cons:
The sign-up process can be tedious and requires you to enter information repeatedly.
The family plan isn't visible on the website, and you might have to call for it.
Finding the lowest price isn't easy, as prices differ based the method you choose to sign up via the internet or by phone.
The cost is $23.99 a month or $239.90 per year for the plan, which provides monitoring of the three major credit bureaus. As noted, though, discounts are usually available. It's wise to seek it.
Ideal for: People who require insurance on a budget. those seeking medical identity insurance.
4. ID WATCHDOG PLATINUM
Pros:
ID Watchdog keeps credit monitoring, alerts and recovery simple.
A standout feature is that it will help you recover from an identity theft incident that occurred before with an additional cost of $79.95 to $279.95 according to the kind of fraudulent credit line.
Cons:
Equifax bought ID Watchdog in 2017, in the same year Equifax had a significant data breach that revealed sensitive personal information of 148 million people.
The company's mobile application and desktop interface provide more information than its competitors.
ID Watchdog offers fewer monitoring services than other businesses.
Price: $19.95 a month or $219 for an annual package for , which offers three-bureau credit monitoring.
Ideal for: People who require assistance in to recover from identity theft that was pre-existing.
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The authors' bios: Sean Pyles is the director of production and hosts on NerdWallet's Smart Money podcast. His writing has been featured on The New York Times, USA Today and elsewhere.
Bev O'Shea is a former credit writer at NerdWallet. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post, MarketWatch and elsewhere.
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