Best Identity Theft Protection Services of 2025
Identity theft is a serious threat. Criminals are constantly devising new ways to steal personal information, which they can then use to open fraudulent accounts, file taxes, and engage in other illegal activities. Identity theft protection services offer a defense against these threats, monitoring your credit, alerting you to suspicious activity, and helping you recover from fraud.
Forbes Advisor staff evaluated identity theft services based on cost, value, free trials, and protection levels to recommend the best options for diverse needs and budgets. We aim to provide unbiased ratings and information. Our editorial content is not influenced by advertisers. We use data-driven methodologies to evaluate financial products and companies, ensuring all are assessed fairly.
Our Top Picks
The following services represent the best identity theft protection options currently available:
- Aura All-In-One ID Theft Protection: This service is a top pick for its extensive features and value, offering plans for individuals, couples, and families.
- LifeLock Ultimate Plus with Norton 360: Known for its device-level security features, LifeLock is a strong choice for family protection including coverage for children.
- ID Watchdog Premium: This service is a strong option for advanced credit monitoring tools and monitoring of 401(k) or HSA accounts.
- IdentityForce Ultra Secure+Credit: This service excels with its credit monitoring features, providing tools to improve credit health. Benefits include three-bureau credit monitoring, reports, and scores.
- McAfee+ Ultimate: McAfee+ is a well-regarded option that now includes ransomware coverage, a useful benefit in the current threat landscape
- IDX Complete: This service provides enterprise grade privacy tools, with features meant to help keep your personal information secure.
- IDShield 3 Credit Bureau Monitoring: This service is strong in restoration support, providing you with a private licensed investigator assigned to work with you to restore your identity.
Summary: Best Identity Theft Protection Services
Here is a quick overview of the top services:
Methodology
Forbes Advisor compared leading identity theft protection services to identify the best options. We analyzed monthly plan costs, considering value, free trials, and annual discounts. Additionally, we assessed specific plan details, including three-bureau credit monitoring, dark web monitoring, identity theft insurance, and device protections like antivirus software and VPNs.
How Does Identity Theft Happen?
Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information to commit fraud. Some common ways this happens include:
- Data breaches. Cybercriminals gain access to company databases containing sensitive information like names, addresses, Social Security numbers, and credit card details.
- Spoofing and phishing schemes. Scammers impersonate reputable entities like banks or government agencies to obtain personal information through email, texts, or phone calls.
- Hacked accounts. Criminals hack into email, social media, or financial accounts to find passwords, credit card details, or other personal data.
- Compromised devices. Thieves access computers or phones through unsecured Wi-Fi, viruses, or fraudulent websites to install malware and steal sensitive information.
Even physical documents can be targets. Personal information can be stolen from mailboxes or discarded receipts.
Types of Identity Theft
- Financial Identity Theft: This involves using a fake identity to steal money, such as applying for credit cards or loans, accessing financial accounts, or opening new bank accounts.
- Medical Identity Theft: This occurs when someone uses another person’s information to obtain medical care, services, or prescription drugs, or to make an insurance claim.
- Online Identity Theft: According to the FBI’s 2022 Internet Crime Report, cybercrime losses in 2022 reached an all-time high of $10.2 billion. To safeguard your identity online, it is important to verify senders before clicking any email links, set up two-factor or biometric authentication on your accounts when possible, and consider using cybersecurity tools like antivirus software.
How To Prevent Identity Theft
Staying vigilant is crucial. Here are some preventative measures:
- Avoid phishing attacks. Be cautious of requests to verify account numbers or passwords. Examine website legitimacy before entering personal information.
- Monitor your credit. Request free annual reports from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Check for unfamiliar accounts or spending.
- Be careful with social media. Avoid sharing sensitive information like addresses, email addresses, children’s names, and birth dates.
How Does Identity Theft Protection Work?
Identity theft protection services search for signs your personal information is being misused. They may alert you if:
- Your information is found on the dark web.
- Your information was used to apply for a credit card or loan.
- You’ve changed addresses.
- Large transactions have occurred in your bank or investment accounts.
Many services also offer credit monitoring, often monitoring all three major credit bureaus. They may also provide assistance with fraud alerts and credit locks. Online safety and privacy features like antivirus software and VPNs are also common. Additionally many plans also provide restoration services and, often, insurance to cover expenses related to identity theft.
Do I Need an Identity Theft Protection Service?
You can take some protective measures for free, such as checking your credit reports and financial accounts regularly. You can also freeze your credit yourself and search for your personal information online. If you’re already planning to pay for a VPN or antivirus service, it might make sense to sign up for an identity theft protection service that includes those tools. Note that if your information was recently compromised in a data breach, the company that leaked your data may offer you free identity theft protection for a certain period of time. If you’re looking for the best credit monitoring services, you should know that free options are also available.
Pro Tip: Create unique passwords for each account. If you have the same password on several accounts, thieves or fraudsters who know that password could gain access to sensitive personal information and financial assets.
How to Pick an Identity Theft Monitoring Service
Here are some tips to help you choose an ID theft protection provider based on your needs:
- Look for plans with identity theft insurance. This provides financial protection if you are a victim. A gold standard is $1 million in insurance protection.
- Check for three-bureau credit monitoring. Basic plans may only include monitoring from one bureau. A plan that monitors all three credit reports is ideal since fraud may not show up on all of your credit reports right away..
- Decide if you need individual or family plans. Some providers offer family plans with features to protect children’s identities.
- Compare pricing and check for discounts. Consider companies that offer a free trial.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What are the most common signs of identity theft? The CFPB says common signs include not receiving bills, unexplained withdrawals from your bank account, and debt collector calls about debts not yours.
- Do identity theft companies help me monitor my credit score? Some do; check to be sure. Note that some providers only monitor one credit bureau, not all three.
- What steps can I take to protect my identity online? Update software, never give out personal information, create unique and strong passwords, and use multi-factor authentication.
- What should I do if my identity is stolen? Go to IdentityTheft.gov. This site helps you create a recovery plan, calling companies where the fraud occurred, reporting identity theft to the FTC, and filing a police report.
- How do you check to see if someone has stolen your identity? Check your credit reports from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion for suspicious activity. You can also review your financial statements and medical records.
- How do I report identity theft? Place fraud alerts or security freezes on your credit reports and report the theft to your local police department and the FTC via IdentityTheft.gov.
