IDShield Reviews: Is It Worth The Cost?

It’s easy to tell yourself that you don’t have any risk of ID theft or online fraud because you aren’t a celebrity or don’t hold great wealth. However, that’s not the case anymore. If you have an email, social media account or a bank account, no matter how small, you have a big red circle painted on your back.

And it doesn’t end there. Once your details are compromised, that gives them almost direct access to your loved ones, putting them in great danger. At best, it will be a huge headache, and there’s no limit to damage it can cause. From bankruptcy to private information leakage, there are countless ways ID theft can affect your life.

Your only option is to stay a step ahead and act proactively to improve your digital safety. Let’s explore what are some of the risks that we are exposed to and how to mitigate them. Moreover, we will also review an ID theft protection service, IDShield to help you decide if it can keep you and your loved ones safe.  

Let’s explore the key strengths and weaknesses of IDShield:

What is IDShield?

IDShield is one of the earlier firms that formed the modern digital protection niche. With more than 15 years to its name, it is one of the oldest ID protection services currently operating in the US and Canadian markets. It caters to over a million customers across 50 US states and 4 Canadian provinces. It functions under the umbrella of its parent firm, LegalShield, which specializes in providing legal protection and administrative assistance in an event of unforeseen traumatic experiences.

Features & Services

You will have access to an extensive feature basket. Here’s a detailed overview of its core features & services:

IDShield has categorized its plans according to individual and family plans. The service has taken a novel approach when it comes to offering its plans. The security features and other services including the ID restoration process is the same across all plans. In addition to individual and family, the plans are further divided into 4 sub-categories.

They have differentiated the plans according to the level of credit monitoring. You can either choose credit monitoring from only 1 agency (TransUnion) or all 3 agencies, namely, TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian. Here’s a closer look at their pricing structure:

Although the feature bucket is quite expansive but the service doesn’t currently offer any bulk discounts or a free trial period. Moreover, the cancellation process is a bit cumbersome too. Most services can be canceled through phone you must email or request through regular mail if you want your IDShield membership canceled.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How good is IDShield?

As explained earlier, IDShield is one of the oldest and most respected names in the ID theft niche. From up to $5 million ID restoration support to a robust family plan, few competitors come close. Moreover, they provide a multi-layered security framework that includes IP restrictions, VPN access, multi-factor authentication, intrusion detection systems, rotating encryption keys, configuration control, and reliable encryption protocols.

2. What is IDShield Cloud?

'https://idshield.cloud/login' is the link through which you will have to activate you IDShield account. You will also use the same link to login to your account.

3. What is IDShield Plus?

According to a user forum, it is their mobile app.

4. How do I cancel IDShield?

This is where IDShield needs to improve. While most other services provide an easy cancellation process through the phone. With IDShield you must either write them an email or send your cancellation request through regular mail otherwise your membership will remain active.

5. What is the family plan of IDShield?

Under their family plan, you can bring your spouse/partner under protection along with up to 10 children under the age of 18. For children between ages 18-26 surveillance services are not offered, however, IDShield will assist them in case of ID theft.

6. Is IDShield the same as LegalShield?

LegalShield is the parent company of IDShield. It specializes in providing legal protection and administrative assistance in an event of unforeseen traumatic experiences.

7. Does it have a free trial?

Unfortunately, currently, it does not offer a free trial, which can be discouraging considering that it is not on the cheaper side. Also, there are no bulk pricing discounts of offer either.

8. What is 1 Bureau vs. 3 Bureau monitoring?

IDShield essentially divides its individual and family plans according to the level of credit monitoring services. If you choose 1 bureau variation, you will get a credit report from TransUnion only. For 3 bureau variation, credit reports from Equifax and Experian will be provided in addition to TransUnion report.

Let’s see how it stands up against some of the other available ID protection services

Conclusion

What Is Identity Theft?

Any access to your personal or financial information without your clear consent falls under identity theft. From phishing schemes to elaborate insurance and loan frauds, it can take many forms.

Why It Makes Sense To Sign Up For An Identity Protection Service?

A good percentage of ID theft victims are those who slack off on their digital security or don’t feel it is worth to “spend extra” to improve their digital safety. And by the time they realize their mistake, it is too late.

So it makes sense to learn about digital security threats and to invest in a reliable service that is capable of keeping hackers and fraudsters at bay. Take a look at some of the security risks that an unprotected digital presence presents and some compelling reasons to invest in ID theft protection:

Risks of a weak digital presence:  

1. Your finances will be the first target. It’s very common for ID theft victims to file for bankruptcy.
2. Your sensitive and personal information will likely end up on the dark web and other open digital forums.
3. Loan and medical insurance fraud along with the added risk of having your court records tampered.

Reasons for investing in ID theft protection:

1. Monitoring: From your social media profiles to bank account activity, an ID protection service will closely monitor countless data points to keep you safe.
2. Timely alerts: A timely notification will greatly improve your probability of surviving an attempted breach.   
3. Safety from financial loss and recovery: Although the state of online security is much better than what it used to be some years ago. However, people still fall victim to elaborate digital frauds. Most ID theft services offer a generous insurance cover for victims thus ensuring they are safe from a total financial disaster.