As the global COVID-19 pandemic accelerated online activities, identity theft became a major concern throughout the world. Since numerous people are facing an increased risk of cybercrimes, identity-theft protection services are continuously incorporated for comprehensive protection.

Recent data suggests that there was a 17% increase in data breaches in 2021 and the number has only grown in 2022. However, the good news is that the technology to prevent cybercrime also continues to grow simultaneously. With identity theft protection services, you can easily protect your personal information from being stolen and keep finances safe from hackers. In this blog, we will discuss top 5 identity theft protection services which you can rely on for complete protection.

 

1. Aura

 

Best for: All-in-one system

Pricing (monthly costs can be discounted if billed on an annual basis):

• $15 for the individual plan
• $29 for the couple plan
• $50 for the family plan

Aura comes with a comprehensive set of tools designed to fight cybercrime. It includes: a password manager, credit inquiry alerts, malware blocking and a virtual private network (VPN). The service has a sleek interface for desktop and mobile, and it encrypts  all online activity, making it harder for hackers to access your personal information.

Aura closely monitors online activity to detect any threats to personal data, such as breaches of passwords or a bank account opened under your name. In the case that identity theft is detected, customers are immediately alerted, and a white-glove fraud resolution team helps the victim resolve the fraud issue. Aura also provides up to $1 million in identity theft insurance to cover losses, such as lost wages and travel expenses.

 

2. IdentityForce

 

Best for: Monitoring Credit

Pricing:

• $17.99 for UltraSecure
• $23.99 for UltraSecure+Credit
• LifeLock – Best for property owners

IdentityForce is a division of TransUnion. The best-known identity theft protection service offers: an extensive monitoring system that detects fraudulent credit activity, changes of address, illegal trading of information on the dark web, sex offender registrations and inappropriate activity on social media. If any of these activities occur, customers will receive an alert. It also notifies users when there is a major data breach.

In case if personal information is breached or used for fraudulent purposes, IdentityForce connects users with a resolution specialist to complete paperwork, make calls and assist with other steps to restore their identities.

 

3. IdentityIQ

 

Best for: Device security

Pricing:

• $8.99 for the Secure Plan
• $11.99 for Secure Plus
• $21.99 for Secure Pro
• $32.99 for Secure Max

IdentityIQ offers services to help protect customers not only from identity theft, but also from a number of other cyberattacks. On all plan options, customers get full monitoring of their information and accounts as well as the Bitdefender Total Security package for a small extra fee.

The Bitdefender software is a unique feature designed to detect malware and protect files on various personal devices, available for Windows, macOS, iOS and Android. It comes with a VPN, antivirus and antispyware, a password manager and parental controls.

Like other identity theft protection services, IdentityIQ provides all of the typical services to help monitor, alert and restore cases of identity theft. Some of these services include credit report monitoring, dark web monitoring, expert assistance for restoring identity and up to $1 million in theft coverage.

 

4. DShield

 

Best for: Restoring identity

Pricing:

• $14.95 for an individual for one credit bureau, or $19.95 for three credit bureaus
• $29.95 for a family for one credit bureau, or $34.95 for three credit bureaus

IDShield comes with 24/7 monitoring of personal data, protection against malware, credit monitoring and comprehensive services for identity restoration.

The restoration services, specifically, are a stand-out feature of IDShield’s products. If the software detects identity theft, the victim is assigned a licensed private investigator, whose responsibilities include contacting appropriate institutions, helping to place a credit freeze and/or fraud alert on credit reports and restoring the victim’s identity to pre-theft status.

After resolution, the private investigators keep the case open for an additional 120 days should the victim be targeted again. Additionally, investigators are available to provide consultation regarding theft trends and tips for how to be a safe online consumer.

 

5. Zander

 

Best for: Affordability

Pricing:

• $6.75 for the individual Essential Plan
• $12.90 for families
• $9.99 for the individual Cyber Elite Bundle, or $19.49 for families

Zander offers two plans, the Essential Plan and Cyber Elite Bundle, both of which have individual and family options. For families, Zander covers up to two adults and 10 children. These offerings are more affordable than competitors, so they may be a good fit for those on a tighter budget.

Zander does not provide credit monitoring, but the Cyber Elite Bundle does come with Experian CreditLock, which allows customers to instantly lock their credit files and block new accounts from being opened.

 

Cyber Secure yourself

 

The above listed identity theft protection services are designed to make it easier to prevent identity incase of being stolen. Some services come with added monitoring capabilities, while others focus more on shielding your information with antivirus software. When shopping around for identity theft protection, consider these details and in what areas you’d like extra protection.

 

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