NordVPN, a well-known name in online security, has introduced NordProtect, a new service designed to help users safeguard themselves against identity theft. The offering provides a comprehensive suite of features, including identity recovery and restoration, secure credit monitoring, 24/7 dark web monitoring, and protection against cyber extortion.
The identity recovery and restoration feature is a key component of NordProtect. It provides reimbursement of up to $1 million for expenses – such as legal fees or lost wages – that may be incurred while restoring a user’s identity after a theft. Additionally, the service includes secure credit monitoring, which supplies customers with a monthly credit score and alerts them to any suspicious credit activity. Users also benefit from dark web monitoring, which constantly scans the dark web for compromised credentials, phone numbers, Social Security numbers, or other personal information that has been leaked.
According to Tomas Sinicki, managing director of NordProtect, “Identity theft is a global problem, and its frequency is on the rise, which is why enhancing current features and adding new tools to NordProtect is a continuous effort.” He added that NordVPN began working in this area in late 2023, launching cyber protection and cyber insurance benefits in the US and Europe, respectively. The company plans to launch NordProtect in more markets and as a standalone product in the first half of 2025.
Statistics from Consumer Affairs show a significant increase in identity theft, with the problem rising nearly 382% over the past 20 years. Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Ohio have witnessed the largest increases in the last five years. Other key findings include:
- Thirty-somethings reported identity theft more frequently than any other age group.
- Georgia had the highest number of reported cases per capita.
- There were 416,582 cases of credit card fraud reported in 2023.
Given the persistent and growing threat of identity theft, personal protection is essential. NordProtect is currently available as part of the Prime plan, which costs $7.89 per month. Users on other plans will need to upgrade to access the service. The Prime plan also includes NordVPN, ThreatProtection Pro, a password manager, and 1TB of encrypted cloud storage.
To activate NordProtect, Prime plan users can simply set up their account, navigate to NordProtect, enter their information, and verify their account. This will activate their identity theft protection. More information can be found in the official announcement.
