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Nearly 50% of Americans are affected by identity theft every year, but that doesn’t mean you need to be a victim. A good identity theft protection service can be your defense against criminals, but it’s hard to know which one to get. I spent the last 6 months rigorously testing every service on the market and found that Aura is the best choice for most people.
I found that Aura outperformed every other identity theft protection service.
Aura is the clear winner when it comes to:
Not to mention, if you get our exclusive OFF offer today, you will lock your price for life.
Best ID Theft Protection Service Reviewed
- Excellent Threat Monitoring & Alerts
- Up to $5M Theft Insurance ($1M per adult)
- Extremely Knowledgeable Threat Resolution Experts Available 24/7/365
- Automatic removal from data broker lists
- Antivirus, VPN, Password Manager & Parental Controls Included
- Same Excellent Threat Monitoring as Aura
- $1M Theft Insurance standard
- Responsive & Knowledgeable Resolution Experts based in the US
- Great Identity Theft Protection without the extras
- Good Threat Monitoring and Alerts
- Dedicated Threat Resolution Experts
- Prompt and Helpful US Based Customer Care
- Excellent Credit Monitoring Service
- 24/7 US Based Customer Service
- $1M Theft Insurance (total)
- Excellent Antivirus Protection
- Mediocre threat monitoring and resolution
- $1M Theft Insurance only on the highest plans, $25K–$100K otherwise
- Renewal Price is much Higher
So you have finally decided to give your online security and privacy the due attention and respect it deserves? Good for you! Especially when we consider the fact that literally, no one is safe from identity theft hacks and the enormous damage it brings about.
Simply put, identity theft or fraud is any activity that aims to take advantage of your personal credentials without your consent or knowledge. From unauthorized bank account activity to unwanted payday loan application, it can take countless forms.
With the right intention and method, anyone can easily steal someone’s identity and just do whatever he wants with it with you as expense leaving you the burden of proving that it’s not you who committed those activities.
However, if you have just started out exploring the cyber security space, we are sure you must be feeling as if your head is spinning considering the sheer number of options that are currently available in the market.
That said, we have taken the time to put together a few handy tips to help you decide which one to pick. It includes a list of core factors that must be considered while choosing your identity theft protection service provider. Read our identity theft protection reviews to find out the perfect company service to choose.
How We Chose The Best?
When it comes to identity theft protection, the main criteria I review are:
This is what matters. Everything else is a nice to have, not essential to identity theft protection.
You can see how each service tested for each of the categories (in detail) by clicking on the links below.
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Monitoring Score | Aura makes excellent monitoring standard on all plans | You can only access all the monitoring features in the higher cost plans |
Dark Web & Data Breach Monitoring |
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Data Broker Removal Request |
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Credit Monitoring | Available on ALL plans
| Available only on higher plans
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Financial Monitoring | Available on ALL plans
| Available only on higher plans
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Public Records Monitoring | Available on ALL plans
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Reputation Monitoring |
| Available only on higher plans
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Dark Web Monitoring
Even if the hacker doesn’t immediately get hold of your money; your personal information alone can net him a decent profit. In all likelihood, your sensitive information will end up on the dark web – available to the highest bidder. Before any of this happen to you, you must spot the warning signs of identity theft so you can take actions right away.
So while choosing an ID protection service provider, you must make sure that they have a robust framework to constantly screen the dark web for any information related to you or your family members and avoid any suspicious activity. It’s paramount that your service is able to detect your information quickly because it profoundly impacts your chances of minimizing damage by letting you respond swiftly.
But you can’t just be too complacent, you also have to do your part and report these identity theft that has been happening around you to help other people from becoming a victim.
Credit Monitoring
Damage to your credit as a result of identity theft will severely damage your short term and long-term financial standing. Your ability to take out loans or make financial outlays will be severely impacted.
Most service providers offer some degree of credit monitoring but it varies in efficacy, cost and the extent of screening. Some services will provide very limited screening while others will provide you a comprehensive credit report from all 3 major credit bureaus. However, such a report maybe be reserved for premium or mid-tiered memberships, meaning that you will have to shell out extra.
Even if you don’t currently have any major financial outlays planned, it’s a wise choice to keep a sharp eye on your credit cause you never know when identity theft is going to happen. So we recommend choosing at least some form of credit screening even if you have to pay a few extra dollars.
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Lost Wallet Protection |
For most people, its not a matter of if, but when a data breach happens. And when that happens, you want the best threat resolution team on your site. Someone that is knowledgeable, quick to get on the phone with you, preferably located in the USA and available 24/7.
So when we test out every brand’s threat resolution offering, we call them up in the middle of the night and ask them some tough questions in an effort to replicate a scenario of someone who’s identity has been breached. Then we grade them based on their ability to answer our questions and resolve the situation at hand.
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Theft Insurance |
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Promo Code | Best Identity Theft Protection | ||||
Individual Plan Cost |
Aura only offers one plan but offers the same benefits as Identity Guard's Ultra plan |
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Couple Plan Cost |
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Family Plan Cost |
Aura only offers one plan but offers the same benefits as Identity Guard's Ultra plan |
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Renewal Price Increased After 1st Year? |
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Best Identity Protection Service Video Review
Top ID Theft Protection Service Feature Comparison
With that said, let’s see how the different identity protection services ranked overall.
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Overall Score | Best Identity Theft Protection | ||||
Monitoring & Alerts |
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Threat Resolution |
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Theft Insurance Per Adult |
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Only Ultimate Plus offers $1M coverage |
Customer Support |
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1. Aura Identity Theft Protection Review
PROS
CONS
The successor to Identity Guard, Aura is the top identity theft protection service to beat on the market. As an iteration of an already excellent service, it shares much of the same technology, lending it an inherent legitimacy that many other new services lack.
When I tested Aura’s threat monitoring capabilities, Aura found the most unique dark web alerts (15) of all the services (excluding its predecessor Identity Guard). This was twice the number of alerts found by the next highest competitor.
Aura also offers excellent financial and credit monitoring capabilities – however, these tend to be standard across all the services. Where Aura shines is that it makes these features standard across all their plans and doesn’t charge extra for them. It also provides automatic data broker removal requests – which I really liked.
To test Aura’s threat resolution capabilities, I called them around midnight on a Saturday and barraged them with questions. I was able to connect with a resolution expert within 1-2 minutes and had all my questions resolved satisfactorily. The fact that their threat resolution experts are based in the US and available 24/7 365 days a year is a massive advantage, especially when you consider the mental duress you are likely to be under when your identity has been compromised.
Another area that Aura leaves the competition in the dust (including Identity Guard) is theft insurance coverage, especially on the family plan. All of Aura’s plans (Individual, Couple & Family) come with $1M of theft insurance standard. However, Aura’s family plan allows you to add up to 5 adults for a total $5M theft insurance coverage. This is significantly higher than all the other services, which cap at $1M total.
Aura’s family plan also include the Circle parental control app, which along with their basic but useful antivirus, password manager and VPN service is a nice addition. Keep in mind that none of these additions are best in class, but they are a useful part of the package.
Even better, Aura offers all of this at a competitive price; even lower than its predecessor.
This is the new high bar for identity theft protection. You can try Aura free trial for 2 weeks.
Aura Plans & Pricing
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Promo Code | |
Individual Plan Cost |
Aura only offers one plan but offers the same benefits as Identity Guard's Ultra plan |
Couple Plan Cost |
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Family Plan Cost |
Aura only offers one plan but offers the same benefits as Identity Guard's Ultra plan |
Renewal Price Increased After 1st Year? |
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Promo Code |
Here are some of our other Aura comparisons:
- Aura vs LifeLock
- Aura vs Identity Guard
- Aura vs Identity Force
- Aura vs. IDShield
- Aura vs Allstate InfoArmor
- Aura vs Complete ID
2. Identity Guard ID Theft Protection Review
PROS
CONS
Identity Guard has a lot of the great features that Aura does, which is unsurprising since Aura is its successor. This is to say that I found Identity Guard to be an excellent identity theft protection service. When it comes to dark web threat monitoring, I found 15 unique alerts (same as Aura). And, for the most part, Identity Guard also offers the same credit monitoring solutions and threat resolution expertise.
However I think Identity Guard is the second best id theft service on the market, after Aura. You can read my detailed breakdown about Aura vs Identity Guard here.
So where does Identity Guard fall short compared to Aura?
Identity Guard Plans & Pricing
Identity Guard offers a simplified plan structure with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
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Family Plan Cost |
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Renewal Price Increased After 1st Year? |
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Here are some of our other Identity Guard comparisons:
- Identity Guard vs Aura
- Identity Guard vs LifeLock
- Identity Guard vs Identity Force
- Identity Guard vs Complete ID
- Identity Guard vs IDShield
- Identity Guard vs Zander
- Identity Guard vs InfoArmor
- Identity Guard vs IDNotify
- Identity Guard vs Identity IQ
- Identity Guard vs MyFico
3. IDShield Review
PROS
CONS
IDShield is a good identity protection service that is easy to set up and provides fast threat monitoring capabilities. However, in my testing, it only showed 8 unique dark web alerts, compared to Aura’s 15 – which was disappointing.
I did find IDShield’s customer service to be top-notch though. Their experts are based in the US, answered my call within a minute and I was very happy with their answers to resolving my issues.
One area that IDShield shines over Aura and Identity Guard is reputation management, so if that feature is more important to you, IDShield deserves a serious look. In my case, I am primarily interested in threat monitoring.
Unfortunately, its lack of additional services and pricey family coverage may make it an unappealing option to many users, but IDShield is perfect as a “beginner” plan for someone looking for cheap, reliable service that won’t let them down in the end.
Plans & Pricing
IDShield offers two main service plans, as well as family plans for each tier. However, the value of these plans is not created equal.
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Here are some of our other IDShield comparisons:
4. IdentityForce Review
PROS
CONS
IdentityForce offers quick identity threat monitoring which is quick and easy to set up, but like IDShield, I only got 7 unique dark web alerts, compared to Aura’s 15. Again, I found this disappointing.
Identity Force shines in the quality of its US-based customer support, which is available 24/7 and highly qualified. They answered my call within 2 minutes and were very helpful.
Identity Force excels at their credit monitoring capabilities. If this feature is more important to you than identity monitoring, I would pick Identity Force over Aura.
However, Identity Force provides a much lower theft insurance coverage (maxed at $1M total) compared to Aura. This is further exacerbated by how annoying it is that Identity Force requires you to call to sign up for the family plan. This, along with Aura’s overall better threat monitoring, higher identity theft coverage, and better family plans, makes us recommend Aura over Identity Guard for most people.
Plans & Pricing
IdentityForce has two tiers of personal plans plus a family plan. Moreover, each plan comes with a 2-week trial period to help you decide if it’s the right fit.
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Couple Plan Cost |
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Renewal Price Increased After 1st Year? |
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Here are some of our other IdentityForce comparisons:
- IdentityForce vs Aura
- IdentityForce vs Identity Guard
- IdentityForce vs Lifelock
- IdentityForce vs Allstate Infoarmor
- IdentityForce vs Complete ID
- IdentityForce vs Experian
- IdentityForce vs IDnotify
- IdentityForce vs IDShield
5. LifeLock Review
PROS
CONS
LifeLock has built up a huge name for itself in the identity theft space. However, in my opinion, I would never recommend LifeLock to anyone. Their advantage comes from being one of the first in the identity theft protection space, and outspending all other competitors. Their product is terrible.
Based on my testing, I only got 1 dark web alert from LifeLock, compared to 15 from Aura. LifeLock also confused my identity with every other person named Brandon King, instead of narrowing the search based on my age and date of birth.
I go into a lot more detail in the video review below, but suffice it to say that unless you really want their antivirus, I would steer clear from LifeLock. I had a tough time trying to find a number for their customer service and when I finally got connected, it was a frustrating 45 minute call that left all my questions unanswered.
Maybe LifeLock used to be a good product, but now that they are part of Norton, they seem to have lost their way.
Plans & Pricing
Lifelock offers a pretty straight forward plan menu with 3 variations of the individual plan and a family plan.
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Couple Plan Cost |
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Family Plan Cost |
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Renewal Price Increased After 1st Year? |
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Here are some of our other LifeLock comparisons:
- LifeLock vs Aura
- LifeLock vs Complete ID
- LifeLock vs CyberScout
- LifeLock vs Discover
- LifeLock vs Experian
- LifeLock vs IdentityForce
- LifeLock vs Identity Guard
- LifeLock vs IDShield
- LifeLock vs MyIDCare
- LifeLock vs Trusted ID
- LifeLock vs Zander
6. Costco Complete ID Review
Contrary to the popular belief, Complete ID is not operated by Costco. It came into existence as a result of a partnership between Costco and Experian, a respected name in identity theft protection space. Costco only lends its brand name, however, Experian directs its functionality.
Complete ID offers dark web surveillance, Social Security Number or SSN monitoring, criminal record monitoring, payday loan alerts, child identity theft protection services, financial account takeover services, and neighborhood watch.
Plans & Pricing
Most identity theft protection services structure their plan offers according to the number of protection features you choose. Complete ID, however, has taken a different approach. You will be able to choose a plan according to the Costco membership you have.
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Here are some of our other Complete ID comparisons:
- Costco Complete ID vs Aura
- Costco Complete ID vs Identity Guard
- Costco Complete ID vs IdentityForce
- Costco Complete ID vs LifeLock
Winner – You Should Get Aura if:
Literally, every identity theft protection service you come across will try and paint itself as the next Fort Knox. However, that is not always the case and often they fall short of the tall, shiny claims. There are several core features that you must consider while shortlisting an ID protection service. Let’s see what they are:
1. Recovery Insurance Policy
Complete ID identity theft protection lets you quickly notice when somebody uses your personal information to commit fraud. The platform notifies you when a fraudster opens a new credit line or bank account using your name to prevent or minimize financial loss. It includes SSN, dark web, and court records monitoring to protect you from the hefty price of identity fraud.
2. Family Coverage Policies
Complete ID identity theft protection lets you quickly notice when somebody uses your personal information to commit fraud. The platform notifies you when a fraudster opens a new credit line or bank account using your name to prevent or minimize financial loss. It includes SSN, dark web, and court records monitoring to protect you from the hefty price of identity fraud.
3. Dark Web Monitoring
Even if the hacker doesn’t immediately get hold of your money; your personal information alone can net him a decent profit. In all likelihood, your sensitive information will end up on the dark web – available to the highest bidder. Before any of this happen to you, you must spot the warning signs of identity theft so you can take actions right away.
So while choosing an ID protection service provider, you must make sure that they have a robust framework to constantly screen the dark web for any information related to you or your family members and avoid any suspicious activity. It’s paramount that your service is able to detect your information quickly because it profoundly impacts your chances of minimizing damage by letting you respond swiftly.
But you can’t just be too complacent, you also have to do your part and report these identity theft that has been happening around you to help other people from becoming a victim.
Read More: 6 Best Practices When Surfing the Internet
4. Credit Monitoring
Read More: Best Credit Monitoring Services
5. Types of Damages That You May Encounter
As mentioned earlier, there are plenty of ways that hackers can use to take advantage of your stolen identity and personal information. Let’s explore what are some of the most common types of ID theft damages so you’ll know about the things you must do in case your identity gets stolen.
a. Financial
It is the most obvious and the juiciest prize for most ID thieves. They will use your personal information to gain unauthorized access to your bank account or credit card data. So it’s a great option to minimize the use of your credit cards and always destroy your ATM receipt after use. Moreover, never share your banking information because of the possibility of data breach.
b. Criminal
The other equally damaging ID theft type is when your stolen identity and personal information is used to commit unlawful acts. Subscribing to an ID protection service will give you the chance to keep yourself safe as it will constantly monitor court records and let you know if your name pops up without your knowledge.
Read More: What is Dumpster Diving Identity Theft?
c. Medical
Medical identity theft takes place when the hacker obtains your personally identifiable information (PII) to access medical services. It is very likely that you will receive a hefty bill for services that you never requested. This may further affect your credit score negatively because medical fraud can take a while to be settled. Such an attack may also lead to your electronic health record (EHR) to be altered without your knowledge.
How Important is It To Protect Yourself?
There are several compelling reasons why it makes sense to subscribe to a decent identity theft protection service:
1. Monitoring
There are literally thousands of data points that a hacker can exploit to gain access to your sensitive personal information and pictures. The sheer number of potential gaps and suspicious activity makes it virtually impossible for you to monitor yourself. An ID protection service will have a reliable identity theft protection screening framework to ensure constant screening of such data points such as credit monitoring and other personal details.
Take for example the case of identity theft of driver’s license, criminals can very much do lots of things with it and various crimes which can involve your name in it just by using the information within that license.
2. Alerts
The impact of an ID hack is multiplied tenfold if you don’t respond immediately after the breach. The quicker you respond, the minimal the damage will be and you will have peace of mind. An ID protection service will alert you immediately through multiple mediums such as text, email, and phone calls. This greatly improves your chances of protecting your personal information especially when expose yourself with the risk of using public wifi.
Read More: The Rising Rates of Identity Theft This Coronavirus Pandemic
3. Information and Financial Recovery
We’re sure you must have heard the horror stories of how ID theft left someone on the brink of financial ruin. This is where having an ID protection service really pays off. Depending on the plan you choose, you can receive an insurance cover of up to $1 million for ID theft-related financial loss. Moreover, such services may also assign you a dedicated case officer to recover your accounts.
Citations:
1:https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/CSN%20Annual%20Data%20Book%202021%20Final%20PDF.pdf
3:https://www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/identity-theft/identity-theft-and-identity-fraud
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