How to choose an identity theft protection service
It’s not easy to decide between all the options on the market, but it’s vital you pick the identity theft protection that’s right for your needs. Here are some of the key aspects you need to consider before making your decision.
What the risks are
First, you need to determine what risks you’re exposed to, and this can vary greatly. The risks depend mainly on your financial circumstances, but there are other aspects to consider. For example, some solutions will provide monitoring for retirement funds but if you don’t have to worry about that yet, then there’s no need to seek out identity theft software with this service included. Indeed, your net worth is a crucial determiner of what solution suits you best. Most identity theft protection services offer up to $1 million in compensation, but if this is just a figure you dream about, then you can remove this from your list of necessities.
For all the family
It would be very strange to receive a pre-approved credit card offer for a toddler but it’s something many families have experienced. If this happens to you, chances are your child has had their identity stolen. This can happen more easily than you’d think. All that identity thieves need is a Social Security number, and they’ll be doing all sorts of damage in your child’s name. Many identity theft solutions have had to make sure they’re able to provide protection for entire families with extra insurance funds available just for them.
What needs protecting
You certainly have a lot to consider, as identity thieves thrive on any kind of personal information they can get their hands on. It’s therefore important to prioritize what you need to protect. Naturally you’ll want to protect your financial information above all else, and other solutions – like those offered by banks – will focus more on that than others.
However, if your finances are more modest, there are other things you might worry about. What you need to protect more than anything is your social security number in order to prevent anyone from using your details to rack up debt or commit crimes in your name. Then there’s the kind of identity theft that feeds off of your medical benefits or any other kind of insurance you may have. Regardless of your needs, there will be dedicated identity theft protection that will be perfect for you.
Research
Now that you know exactly what you need, it’s time to start looking at options. The best way to do that is by first reading expert reviews, exactly like the ones you’ll find here. We also have comparisons between different identity theft products to see how they do in a one-on-one contest. We weigh the pros and cons looking at the features of each product and which has the best price.
If there’s one service you find tempting, it’s always best to try it out first to make sure it’s the right one for you. Luckily, most identity theft solutions offer free trials for you to enjoy. In case there’s no free trial available, it’s worth checking to see if a money-back guarantee is provided so you can try the service risk-free and get your money back if you’re not completely satisfied.
When you’ve finally chosen the identity theft protection that’s perfect for you, it’s worth checking to see if you can save a little money at the same time. Searching around for coupons is a good way to make sure you get the best deal possible.
Family identity theft protection
As we’ve mentioned, not even children are safe from identity theft. Any Social Security number is enough for fraudsters to do a great deal of damage, and you’d be surprised at how much fraud can be committed using a child’s details. It’s also worth taking care of elderly relatives who may not be tech savvy, as they can be more susceptible to phishing attacks and may be less careful about who they give certain important details to online.
When it comes to your children, services with family plans will monitor their Social Security numbers just like they would for any individual, but the best options go much further. Many offer special features that you often find only in parental control software, like monitoring social networks for instances of cyber bullying. You can also expect extra insurance funds to cover any recovery that would have to be done for your family members’ identities.
Preventing identity theft
Even the greatest identity theft protection can’t give you a 100% guarantee that you’ll be free from having your identity stolen. Criminals could already have your details even before you register. It’s therefore important to consider taking some practical steps yourself to reduce the risk of identity theft.
The first thing you’ll want to do is freeze your own credit which will stop anyone from borrowing in your name. This involves going directly to the three credit bureaus asking them to put a stop on your account. Alternatively, you can use a free service like Credit Karma to do this for you.
Another crucial step is to be incredibly careful how you share your data online. It’s vital that you don’t share your Social Security number unless absolutely necessary. There are very few reasons why anyone would need your Social Security number, so you should always be very skeptical if someone asks for it. SSN requests are just one of the phishing techniques used by cyber criminals, but fortunately there are tips to avoid it.
Identity thieves often rely on data breaches, and most breaches are caused by weak passwords. Password managers are an ideal solution that will store complex passwords for you in an encrypted vault, greatly improving your online security. Likewise, VPNs will help keep your internet connection secure and give you anonymity online. This is especially important if you’re using a shared connection or public Wi-Fi.
Richard C.
