This also means that identity theft protection services are getting rather busy with singing people up for their services. But are identity theft protection services worth it? Let's begin by taking a look at what they offer.
How Identity Theft Protection Services Actually Protect You
The truth is, they can't actually protect you from getting your identity stolen. That's not how they work. They do not take preemptive measures to protect you from having your identity stolen. Full stop.
So here's a quick breakdown of what the do:
They Monitor your credit report: When identity thieves steal your personal information, they are generally doing it so they can either use your credit cards or open new credit cards or loans in your name. Any of that activity will show up on your credit report. If any activity looks suspicious, identity theft protection services will alert you immediately so you can handle the situation.
They Monitor your financials: Unusual activity on your credit report is a good indicator of identity theft, however, some instances of fraud can't be spotted by monitoring your credit report. Most identity theft protection services will monitor your other financials, including credit cards and your bank accounts, as well as search for loan or credit applications that are being filed in your name.
They Monitor your personal information: While monitoring your financials is a good start, there are other areas of your life where clues of identity theft might pop up. The best identity theft protection services will also monitor your social security number to make sure nobody is using it without your knowledge. Some other services will monitor public records and medical records, as well as monitor your driver's license number or look for address changes that you never authorized.
They Provide security software for your computer: Hacking is one of the major ways identity thieves steal personal information. Many of the top identity theft protection services will provide antivirus software for your computer to help safeguard against hacking. The software usually includes features like encrypted logins for banking sites and anti-key logging software.
Most of the top identity theft protection services all do the basic monitoring of your credit report, financials, social security number and public records, so any of the top services will do a good job of protecting you. Some go above and beyond to make sure you aren't a victim of identity theft. Did you know: 50% of the U.S. Adult Population have been hacked--and most of them don’t even know it! If you’re the kind of person that wants to prevent this from happening to you, and really don't want to fork out a monthly premium on identity theft protection services, then learn more on How to Get Identity Theft Protection Without Those Monthly Fees Here!
Cornelius Venturo
PrivacyMaxx Representative
