An identity theft protection service could be very useful for you if you’re concerned about having your information stolen. Whether you’ve had your information stolen before and you know how upsetting it can be or you’re just trying to preemptively avoid issues, an identity theft protection service may be able to alert you to stolen information and help you fix the problem before it gets worse. Here’s what you should be looking for when you’re comparing identity theft protection services.
- Insurance for If Your Identity Is Stolen
This is probably one of the things that most people are looking for in an identity theft protection service. Essentially, these services usually act as insurance. If you do experience issues with identity theft, it could cost you thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars to fix the problem. You’re paying monthly or annually for the ability to go through that process without having to worry about the cost.
- Identity Alerts
One of the options that many services offer is identity alerts. Identity alerts are typically push notifications, often given through an app, a text, or email, just in case the company does notice that your information may be at risk. You want to be able to receive identity alerts in the easiest way for you, so make sure you look at all the different ways a specific company will send you your identity alerts.
- A Highly-Reviewed App
Not only is it important to look for a highly-reviewed app, but it’s also a good idea to look at specifically the app that works best for you, whether you’re using iOS or Android. If you have an iPhone, you shouldn’t be looking at reviews on the Google Play Store; you should be looking at reviews on the Apple App Store. Even if the app for the other platform is poorly-reviewed, it really only matters that the app for your platform works well.
- Active Monitoring for the Most Important Concerns
Make sure you take a look at exactly where the company monitors for potential identity theft. Most frequently, you’ll see companies monitoring the dark web, but companies may also monitor court records, credit score, and more. If a company isn’t offering active monitoring for potential concerns, you’re probably only paying for insurance, and it might be a better idea to look into companies that more actively monitor the internet for potential identity theft.
Conclusion
Identity theft protection services are extremely helpful for many people, especially people who may be at higher risk for identity theft. Even just making online purchases on a regular basis can put you at higher risk for identity theft, so if you love shopping online, it’s probably a good idea to invest in identity theft protection services. When you’re comparing potential identity theft protection options currently on the market, make sure that you’re looking at all four of these things so that you can find the best service to meet your needs.