The broadest identity theft protection available

Identity theft is a crime that happens when someone steals your personal information (like your name, SSN, or credit card number) and uses it to commit fraud or impersonate you, typically for financial gain. Various types of identity theft include financial, medical, criminal, and employment identity theft, each targeting different aspects of your personal information for fraudulent purposes.

Identity theft protection services monitor your personal and credit information across multiple sources (such as the dark web and credit reports) to detect unauthorized use early. When they spot suspicious activity, they notify you so you can take action to protect your accounts. If your identity is stolen, identity theft protection services also provide expert guidance and financial assistance to help you recover.

Yes, it is, and early detection is among the main reasons why identity theft protection is worth it. You get an alert when your ID theft protection service detects your information on the dark web or when it spots suspicious credit activity, so you can act fast before criminals cause serious harm. Without identity theft protection, it’s likely you’d find out about the theft only after the criminal had already racked up debt in your name or taken out a loan without your permission. Plus, services like NordProtect give you expert guidance and up to $1 million for eligible recovery expenses like legal fees and lost wages, so you don’t have to tackle ID theft consequences alone.

Everyone needs identity theft protection because criminals target people of all ages and financial backgrounds. Identity theft protection for seniors is as relevant as it is for adults or children. Some seniors are more vulnerable to ID theft because they aren’t familiar or comfortable with digital security practices. Fraudsters also target children because their identity theft often goes unnoticed for years. Criminals can use a child’s SSN to open accounts and build credit, and no one discovers the fraud until the child applies for their first credit card or loan as a young adult. Solution? Identity theft protection for families.

Identity theft protection services come in several types:

• 3-bureau credit monitoring tracks changes to your credit reports and scores.
• Identity monitoring scans the dark web for your personal information.
• Financial account monitoring watches your bank accounts for suspicious activity.
• Medical identity protection monitors healthcare records for fraud.
• Identity theft recovery services provide expert assistance and financial reimbursement to help restore your identity.

NordProtect combines dark web monitoring, credit monitoring, financial account monitoring, criminal records monitoring, identity theft recovery with up to $1 million coverage, cyber extortion protection, and online fraud coverage.

Identity theft protection services can only monitor the information you provide, so the more personal details you add, the broader your protection will be. However, no service can stop identity theft from happening — they can only detect suspicious activity after your information has already been compromised.

Keep in mind that ID theft protection services don’t filter out your personal activity, which means you’ll receive alerts about your own actions, like opening new accounts or applying for loans.

Also note that identity theft insurance typically doesn’t cover direct financial losses like money stolen from your accounts — it will only cover the losses you suffer while recovering your identity and clearing your name.

It’s impossible for any service to monitor every possible way your identity could be stolen due to the variety of systems and databases where your information exists.

Look for services that combine dark web surveillance with financial account monitoring, security alerts, and identity recovery with substantial financial coverage and expert guidance. You want 24/7 customer support, easy setup, and a service created by cybersecurity professionals you can trust. NordProtect offers all these essential features. Plus, with its most comprehensive plan, you get additional cybersecurity features like VPN protection, an anti-phishing tool, a tracker and ad blocker, and a personal data removal service. To know more about NordProtect, see all features.

For maximum protection, provide as much personal information as possible when setting up your account. Include all email addresses, phone numbers, credit card numbers, and your SSN so that the service can search for your data on the dark web and other sources. Keep your contact information updated so you receive relevant alerts, and act quickly whenever you get one — always review alert details and follow the steps on what to do next.

Using identity theft protection services is like having a security system for your home, but being proactive about your everyday protection is like locking your doors and windows. Some things you should do to protect yourself day to day include:

• Use unique, complex passwords for each account and enable two-factor authentication where possible.
• Keep your Social Security card secure at home.
• Shred documents with sensitive information before discarding them.
• Monitor your bank and credit card statements regularly for unauthorized transactions.
• Don’t share personally identifiable information on social media, like your address or location.
• Never share personal information via email or text or with unsolicited callers.
• Keep your devices and software updated with the latest security patches.
• Consider activating credit lock if you’re not actively applying for new accounts.
• Use secure Wi-Fi networks and avoid public Wi-Fi for accessing sensitive accounts. If you must use public Wi-Fi, make sure to protect your connection with a VPN.