Identity Theft Protection FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions about Identity Theft Protection

    Will an identity theft protection service hurt my credit score in any way?

    No, subscribing to an identity theft protection service will not negatively impact your credit score. When you authorize a lender to check your credit, it is called a "hard pull," which may cause your credit score to drop slightly. However, when you check your own credit, or an identity theft protection service checks your credit report on your behalf, this is known as a "soft pull," which does not hurt your score.

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Top Identity Theft Protection Services

Identity Guard Total Protection

Bottom line: Most complete ID theft protection service; full credit report monitoring; free Internet security suite; 25% discount & free 30-day trial
TrustedID

Bottom line: Best value, especially for families; full credit report monitoring; exclusive 14-day free trial & 10% discount
LifeLock

Bottom line: Strong overall value and identity theft protection; exclusive 10% discount & free 30-day trial; no credit scores or credit report monitoring
PrivacyGuard

Bottom line: Great credit protection & data with our top-rated Internet security software
ProtectMyID.com

Bottom line: Best value for ID theft protection w/ credit report monitoring; exclusive 35% discount
Equifax Complete Premier

Bottom line: Useful combination of credit and identity theft protection features, a bit pricey.
Identity Theft Shield

Bottom line: Does not prevent identity theft but assists in recovery
Identity Guard Good Start

Bottom line: Cheapest ID theft detection available

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