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Identity Theft Protection

Updated 05-16-2012

Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in the U.S., with over nine million victims each year. Just being careful isn't enough to protect your identity. If you are serious about preventing identity theft, sign up for one of our recommended identity theft protection services. They all provide daily monitoring of the information that is most often compromised by identity thieves. Our top-rated services combine multiple types of monitoring, such as credit reports, public records, credit cards, and Social Security. Some also include software to protect your computer and even throw in access to your credit scores. Click here for a full comparison of all the identity theft protection services.

Identity Theft Protection Reviews & Ratings


Services: Our Ratings: Bottom Line:
Identity Guard Total Protection Rating:stars
Most complete ID theft protection service; full credit report monitoring; free Internet security suite; 25% discount & free 30-day trial
TrustedID Rating:stars
Best value, especially for families; full credit report monitoring; exclusive 14-day free trial & 10% discount
LifeLock Rating:stars
Strong overall value and identity theft protection; exclusive 10% discount & free 30-day trial; no credit scores or credit report monitoring
PrivacyGuard Rating:stars
Great credit protection & data with our top-rated Internet security software
ProtectMyID.com Rating:stars
Best value for ID theft protection w/ credit report monitoring; exclusive 35% discount
Equifax Complete Premier Rating:stars
Useful combination of credit and identity theft protection features, a bit pricey.
Identity Theft Shield Rating:stars
Does not prevent identity theft but assists in recovery
Identity Guard Good Start Rating:stars
Cheapest ID theft detection available

NextAdvisor Identity Theft Protection Blog Headlines

Facebook Privacy Issues: Facebook Being Sued by Users for $15 Billion
On the day that Facebook has gone public, it is also being sued for $15 billion by users who claim that Facebook was tracking their Internet usage, even after they had logged out of Facebook. The lawsuit is a combination of 21 other cases that have been filed against Facebook. This is just another case [...]

Facebook IPO: Security, Privacy Still an Issue for Social Network
Tomorrow is the day that everybody has been waiting for, the day Facebook goes public. But along with all the accolades and excitement, Facebook's IPO has also brought some scrutiny to how the company handles the privacy and security of its users. In a recent survey by AP and CNBC, 59% of Facebook users said [...]

Do Identity Theft Protection Plans Protect My Credit Cards Too?
Q:  If I subscribe to an identity theft protection plan, do I still need to maintain my current monthly protection for each credit card or will those cards be covered with one of these plans? A:  I'm not sure what credit card protection service you're currently paying for, but most of our top identity theft protection [...]

Does Identity Guard Monitor Checking and Savings Accounts?
Q:  Does Identity Guard monitor checking and savings accounts and notify members if any questionable activity is seen? A:  Identity Guard TOTAL PROTECTION® does monitor for potential fraud activities involving your registered bank account numbers on a daily basis. If suspicious activity is seen you will be alerted in order to verify any changes and take [...]

Trojan Horse Software that Can Steal Credit Card Info Is Being Sold on the Bl...
Did you know there is a black market for computer viruses and malware? It turns out that a computer Trojan horse that is capable of stealing credit card information from software on hotels' computers is being shopped around on the underground forums, according to a leading security firm. The seller is apparently shopping the Trojan [...]

Will an Identity Theft Protection Service Prevent a Lender from Getting Infor...
Q:  I am in the process of refinancing my home. I completed and submitted the applications, giving my social security number and other important information. I decided not to go with that Broker and now I am concerned about the information I provided. Will identity theft protection make it difficult for a lender to obtain information? A: [...]

1.5 million Visa, Mastercard and Discover account numbers stolen
In an update to our previous post about the security breach at Global Payments, this morning the credit-card processor reported that 1.5 million Visa, Mastercard and Discover account numbers were stolen. The breach did not include cardholder names, addresses and social security numbers – just account numbers. Since the announcement this morning, Visa has dropped Global Payments [...]

Visa and Mastercard Warn Banks of Security Breach
Credit card processor Global Payments was hit by a security breach putting an estimated 50,000 Visa and Mastercard cardholders at risk, according to a report filed by the Wall Street Journal today. Visa and Mastercard began warning banks of the breach last week, and the estimated timing of the breach is between Jan. 21, 2012 and [...]

Can TrustedID Help Protect My Computer from Hackers?
Q:  I'm having a great deal of problems with a person who gains access to my computer. The person is using remote access and logging on to my computer, without my permission. This is a ongoing problem. Can TrustedID help with privacy invasion? A:  Yes, TrustedID can help protect your computer from unwanted access. However, [...]

National Consumer Protection Week: How to Protect Your Customers' Data
Part of your business requires gathering personal data about your customers, but how do you make sure that data is stored securely? As part of National Consumer Protection Week, we've put together some key points to remember when dealing with customers' data, via the Better Business Bureau's data security site: 1. Take inventory of everything. [...]

National Consumer Protection Week: Tips to Protect Your Child's Information a...
Yes, even at a young age, your child can still be a victim of identity theft. A social security number is all someone needs to open up bank and credit accounts in your child's name. While most parents are very protective about their child's personal information, the one place that most don't realize identity theft [...]

National Consumer Protection Week: What to Do if Your Identity Has Been Stolen
This week is National Consumer Protection Week, and we're celebrating by giving you the top tips to protect yourself as a consumer. Today's topic is identity theft. Do you know what to do if your identity is stolen? The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has put together a guide of what to do in case you [...]

Identity Theft Tops FTC List of Consumer Complaints
Identity theft still seems to be a growing problem in the country. For the 12th year in a row, identity theft topped the list of consumer complaints that the Federal Trades Commission received in 2011, showing that people still aren't being proactive about protecting their identity. Of the 1.8 million complaints the the FTC received, [...]

If I sign up for Identity Guard, will I be able to open accounts without cont...
Q: If I sign up for Identity Guard, will I be able to open accounts without contacting them first? A:  Yes, when you sign up for Identity Guard TOTAL PROTECTION® you'll still be able to open new credit accounts without contacting anyone first.  Identity Guard doesn't prevent you from opening new accounts, instead it features [...]

Does Identity Guard have a toll-free phone number to call for more information?
Q:  Does Identity Guard have a toll-free phone number to call for more information? A:  Yes, Identity Guard does have a toll-free phone number you can call for more information about their product: 1-855-727-5801. Identity Guard customer service representatives are available via that phone number from 8am to 8pm EST Monday through Friday. This is [...]

Identity
Theft
Protection
Overview

What Is Identity Theft Anyway?

Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information, such as your Social Security number, name or credit card number, without your permission, to commit fraud or other crimes. A thief could take out a mortgage in your name or commit a crime and pretend to be you when caught. Thieves can even use your personal information to apply for a job or use your medical insurance!

Learn more about identity theft.

How To Protect Yourself

It's actually easy to help protect yourself against identity theft. Identity theft protection services do the work for you by monitoring your personal information to detect and/or prevent identity theft. We recommend identity theft protection services that monitor several different types of information for fraudulent activity, including your credit reports, public records, and black market websites where stolen information is bought and sold. Identity thieves can strike in numerous ways, so the more protection you have, the better.

View our full comparison for more details.


Free Trials

Not sure if identity theft protection is for you? Try one of our risk-free trials. We've negotiated exclusive free trials with our most highly recommended services, so you can take one for a spin, kick the tires, and see if you like it. If you decide you don't want the service, simply cancel during the trial period and you will be charged nothing.

View our full comparison for more details.


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