Identity theft is a serious and ever-growing problem that hurt the finances of well over a million U.S. families in the past year. Hackers often target the less tech-savvy, such as the elderly, who can unknowingly give away their private information. Children are also preferred victims since it takes a long time to discover the consequences of any identity theft crime. Usually, it’s only noticed when they get older, with the opening of a bank account or application for a first loan. Luckily, many reliable identity theft services know this and offer dedicated family plans to protect you and your loved ones. With personal information now accessible everywhere and hacking methods getting even more sophisticated, it’s essential to have software that can alert you as well as help you recover from any attack.
No one wants to go through the distress of becoming a victim of identity theft, but it can happen to even the most vigilant people. Arizona-based LifeLock is one of the most popular identity theft protection companies out there, gaining over 4 million customers in the U.S. since its 2005 inception. Now, LifeLock falls under the Symantec umbrella – a brand familiar to the many users of Norton’s security products. It’s now possible to combine Norton’s products with LifeLock for further protection, allowing you to stay safer online and reduce the risk of becoming a target for identity theft in the first place. Not only does LifeLock aim to monitor threats to your identity, it will swiftly resolve them and reimburse you for up to $1,000,000 in damages. Although LifeLock doesn’t offer a free trial, you can still take advantage of its 60-day money-back guarantee. Prices start at just $8.99 per month for standard membership.
With the endless stream of TV shows and news reports telling horror stories about innocent people’s lives getting completely ruined by identity theft, it’s hard not to get freaked out. While these extreme cases are rare and most people won’t fall victim to them, the fact that more and more aspects of our lives are becoming digital means hackers are having a field day and smaller privacy breaches are becoming increasingly common. Luckily, we aren’t alone in combatting these online bullies, as there are plenty of companies out there to help protect our identity as well as repair the damages if we happen to get affected by one of them. One of these solutions is Identity Guard, with over 20 years of experience. Having teamed up with the renowned powerhouse in artificial intelligence, IBM® Watson™, this collaboration has resulted in loads of proven success in the industry and an impressive range of identity protection tools to offer. Starting at a fair $7.50 per month, Identity Guard offers a variety of plans adapted to every type of user and their security needs.
Identity theft is a difficult process to go through. Not only does it hit you financially, but it can also take a great toll on you emotionally. Companies like IdentityForce set out with the purpose of making identity theft less likely and, if it does happen, give you the help you need to get back on your feet. Based in Massachusetts, IdentityForce has carved a solid reputation in the identity theft protection industry since its 2005 inception. The IdentityForce website has a page filled with awards it has won for its security expertise and outstanding customer service. It’s not too surprising: IdentityForce is filled with features that keep you protected from more than just fraudsters, with added bonuses like mobile and PC protection. There are daily credit reports from all three major bureaus and alerts about your bank transactions and investments. If you want to give IdentityForce a try before you commit, you can take advantage of its free 14-day trial.
Cybercriminals can focus on any age group, but children and senior citizens are usually the most vulnerable. It is estimated that roughly two in every 100 minors in the U.S. have had their data breached, either through medical or school reports, or social media. The majority of reported identity theft cases involve victims over 60 years old, with phishing one of the most common methods. With both age groups, hackers take advantage of a naivety and lack of internet proficiency, so, naturally, you’ll want to keep an eye on your family’s safety.
Oversharing on social media – platforms that are filled with scammers – can be dangerous since practically everyone (including children) has a profile full of personal data and soft privacy settings. Even standard websites ask you to accept their cookies to collect your information, so remember to be selective. On a separate note, using the same password for all your accounts is a big no-no: once a hacker gets ahold of your credentials, they have access to almost everything you own.
Additionally, if you or your family members aren’t in the habit of regularly checking bank and credit transactions, you can often miss fraudulent activity. Although this won’t necessarily prevent identity theft, it can avoid considerable financial damage. Someone in your family being a victim means it could only be a matter of time before hackers get to you too, since you probably share the same last name and address.
Thankfully, there is a lot you can do to protect yourself and your family from identity theft. For starters, make sure you trust the caregiver of any family member, as they have access to financial and medical records. In fact, be aware that caregiver scams are among the most common elder fraud schemes. Additionally, advising your older relatives on what type of scams to look out for can help since they may not otherwise spot spam emails and phone calls. When it comes to your children, try to limit their internet access and remind them not to overshare personal information on social media and other websites.
As for us adults, you can help by only shopping on trusted websites and using unique passwords that are hard to guess. Collecting your mail daily and checking your bank and credit reports frequently are also obvious ways to keep track of any suspicious activity. Furthermore, not leaving a paper trail is a very good practice: shred any sensitive documents before disposing of them to avoid dumpster diving. However, if you feel that you need further protection, identity theft protection services may be the solution, as they do all the scanning for you and can make your recovery journey much easier.
Identity theft protection services act like guardians of your personal information. Generally, these companies offer three primary services: monitoring, alerts, and recovery plans. Monitoring usually includes credit score checking and monthly or quarterly reports from the three credit bureaus (TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian). Some services also include dark web monitoring and a Social Security number tracker.
Alerts are a handy tool that notify customers if their personal information has been used, like when new accounts are opened in their name. Many people don’t realize they’re victims of identity theft until their credit is damaged, and that’s why having real-time notifications can be a lifesaver.
Finally, recovery plans are a must-have for customers that fall victim to hackers. Through the companies’ insurance policies, you can get reimbursed – generally up to $1 million – and undo your credit damage with the help of a designated specialist.
When choosing which identity theft service to sign up for, there are many factors to consider. For starters, if you have a big family with lots of kids, you might want to think about a service plan with unlimited entries for children. If this is the case, IdentityForce will suit you best, and its excellent ChildWatch feature will also come in handy.
If you think your family members may often explore unprotected websites, maybe LifeLock is a good option, as the bonus of the Norton 360 subscription adds an extra layer of protection against malware. Last but not least, for those consumers who want the most top-notch account monitoring, Identity Guard could be a great choice. Its use of IBM Watson’s artificial intelligence can do wonders in going that extra mile to protect your family’s data. Whichever identity theft protection service you do choose, you can rest assured that you’re doing what’s necessary to protect your family.
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