Unlock the benefits of identity theft protection for safeguarding your data

Bryan M Wolfe
·5 min read
Malware.
Malware.

Identity theft can cause the victim much trouble and stress as personal information such as Social Security numbers is stolen and misused. It can be expensive and take a long time to recover from. Investing in an identity theft software package is a great idea to avoid these issues.

Thankfully, such packages are affordable and can help prevent identity theft while aiding in tracking criminals. These packages offer a range of services, including credit and financial monitoring, dark web scans, criminal activity tracking, and more. It's all rolled into one easy-to-use package. Furthermore, an identity theft protection package can keep tabs on any change of address requests, court records information, and more.

A Techradar Choice for Best Identity Theft Protection Aura is an excellent choice thanks to its user friendly interface, antivirus service and detailed reporting dashboard. Save up to 50% with a special Techradar discount. View Deal

Secure benefits

When it comes to available options, there are various protection products available from companies like LifeLock, Identity Guard, IdentityForce, IdentityIQ, ID Watchdog, Experian IdentityWorks, Credit Sesame, PrivacyGuard, Zander Insurance, IDShield, IDnotify, and more.

And, thanks to healthy competition, the prices for these products are currently lower than ever, with all of them offering services for just a few dollars a month. Of course, you'll probably want to dive deeply into the best identity theft protection software packages to decide which will suit your needs.

Different users have different requirements, so pick through each and identify your essential needs. For example, check if they're best for family use, best at offering free credit reports, best for having bundled anti-virus included, and so on. The great thing about these identity theft protection software packages is that they've been around for a while and have evolved with customers' ever-changing needs. Cybercriminals are constantly changing their tactics. Thankfully, the identity theft protection suites you can buy are doing the same.

Credit cards
Credit cards

Smarter security

The evolution of identity theft protection packages has meant that you now have a greater range of features and functions. Look out for features you'd expect as a given, such as theft prevention, credit monitoring, identity recovery assistance, and, crucially, identity theft insurance, which in many cases can be up to $1 million. All of these things offer peace of mind.

Adding to the value of a quality identity theft protection package is the way your chosen software option might be able to help family members. For example, having functionality that can keep your children safe when they're online is a prominent feature to find. Meanwhile, features such as anti-phishing technology and an included VPN can mean everyone in your family is more protected when connected to the internet.

A complete solution

Buying an identity theft protection software solution can often mean you can roll many security tasks into one package too. This can be hugely beneficial, especially if you don't have a lot of extra time to try to secure not only your computer but also any additional laptops and multiple mobile devices that might be present in your household.

If you invest in an excellent all-around identity theft protection package, you might get not only the ID theft features but also a full-on, bells-and-whistles antivirus package. This will not only mean that your ID can be better protected, but your hardware will benefit from around-the-clock protection against phishing, spyware, malware, computer viruses, and all of those other net nasties that never seem to go away.

Additional benefits

Investing in an identity theft protection package can be very wise to prevent a broader level of ID fraud. For example, if you’re out and about and have the misfortune of losing your wallet, something like LifeLock allows you to lock down your credit. The same applies if you detect identity fraud after spotting some tell-tale signs concerning changes to your details.

The right package can let you freeze your accounts and prevent inquiries from being made against your credit accounts held by the leading bureaus, including Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.

Of course, not all packages do the same thing or have the same features and functions. How much protection you get can also depend on which package you purchase, but that’s a good thing, as the range of options available means you can tailor a package to suit your specific needs. Getting the proper ID theft protection is both time and money well spent.

Cyberattack
Cyberattack

Better protection

Signing up for identity theft protection is a quick and easy process that is worth exploring. It is recommended that you take the time to review the different package options and subscribe to the one that suits you best. The best thing about identity theft protection is that the service provider will do most of the hard work for you by monitoring everything. You only need to react when the software notifies you of any possible criminal activity. Thankfully, by that point, the software will have already done its job of minimizing the threat.

The cost of subscribing to an identity theft protection package is relatively low, and it offers peace of mind while getting the job done more efficiently. This is especially true if you have a family that spends a lot of time online, which is something that most people face daily these days.

More from TechRadar Pro