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Best Overall
The dark web is a hotspot for cybercriminals to trade stolen sensitive information, which makes identity theft protection with dark web monitoring services more crucial than ever. Our top three picks, Aura, Norton LifeLock, and IDShield, shine in this domain, providing standout cybersecurity features and competitive pricing.
Of our top three dark web monitoring services, Aura is the best overall thanks to its comprehensive secuity suite at an affordable price. LifeLock is the best for families, offering plans with dark web monitoring for couples and families with up to five kids. And IDShield is offers every type of identity monitoring you might need.
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| Starting price | Starts at $9.00/mo (billed annually) | Starts at $10.42/mo for first yr (billed annually) | Starts at $14.95/mo |
| Number of people covered | 5 adults and unlimited children | 1-2 adults and up to 5 children | 1-2 adults and up to 10 children |
| ID theft insurance | Up to $1 million | Up to $3 million | Up to $3 million |
| Types of identity monitoring | Credit, SSN, Home & auto title, Criminal & court records, lost wallet remediation | Identity and SSN, dark web, phone takeover, home title, social media | SSN, dark web, social media, public records, address change, and more |
| ID restoration services | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Dark web monitoring | |||
| Credit monitoring | |||
| 3-bureau credit reports | |||
| Extras | Safe Gaming, Antivirus, VPN, Password manager, Parental controls, AI spam call & message protection | Data removal services | Antivirus software, VPN, password manager |
| Details | Get Aura | Get LifeLock | Get IDShield |
To review identity theft protection services, we sign up for the service several days prior to our review. This allows the service time to begin populating our dashboard with identity and credit monitoring information and send us real-time alerts. During this time, we also evaluate the service's ease of use, contact customer support, and play around with the extra features.
After spending some time with the service, we use our proprietary grading rubric which calculates a star rating based on prices, identity monitoring features, credit features, and other criteria.
To learn more about how we test, check out our full ID theft testing methodology here.
#1 rated ID theft protection service with a full suite of monitoring tools
Includes up to $1 million in ID theft insurance for up to five adults
Protect your children with robust parental controls and gaming alerts
Aura caters to individuals who recognize the insidious dangers of the dark web. With a comprehensive suite tailored to both tech-savvy individuals and the everyday user, Aura provides a protective shield against potential threats, including phishing scams, hackers, and devious forums where stolen dark web data can be traded.
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We liked that Aura is an all-in-one digital security service that provides a wide range of services to protect you and your family from identity theft and also keeps your personal information from being sold to data brokers. In addition, it keeps you safe from financial fraud, spam calls and phone scammers, and other cybercrimes.
Aura monitors your personally identifiable information (PII), like your name, date of birth, Social Security number (SSN), and email addresses, as well as home and auto titles. It also monitors your financial information, such as your credit scores, credit card numbers, bank accounts, and more. You'll also be alerted when Aura finds your PII in a data breach or data leak.
Aura also comes with a virtual private network (VPN) to hide your IP address, antivirus software to protect your device against malware, a password manager to keep your login credentials secure, and parental controls to filter what your kids see while online.
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And according to customer reviews, Aura also excels in customer service, offering helpful and patient customer support agents.
We didn’t like that Aura doesn’t provide social media monitoring services to check if your identity has been compromised on popular social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, to name a few. While this may not be a big deal to some, this can be a huge drawback for those who use social media sites frequently and don’t want their personal information leaked.
Top-rated identity theft protection service
Provides up to $3 million in coverage
Multiple monitoring features including dark web, home title, and social media monitoring
Norton LifeLock is a vanguard against the rising menace of child identity theft. Families can have peace of mind knowing that the reputable Norton brand is monitoring and protecting their identity with its LifeLock services, thanks to its comprehensive features and pricing plans that cater to every family member, whether they are a minor or an adult.
Parents, especially, can feel safe knowing that their children's digital footprints are armored against potential cybercriminals and identity theft thieves.
We liked that Norton LifeLock offers at least $1.05 million in identity theft protection per individual for stolen funds reimbursement, personal expense compensation, and coverage for both lawyers and experts. Its family plans also provide up to $1.05 million in coverage per child.
All plan tiers come with dark web monitoring, identity restoration specialists, 24/7 live customer support, identity and utility alerts, credit monitoring, stolen wallet protection, and USPS address change verification. Whether you're an individual, couple, or family, LifeLock has a solution for you.
Norton’s family plans cover two adults and up to five kids, so it's also attractive for families. With the Ultimate Plus plan, you can monitor your families' identities and protect them from being leaked on the dark web, and you'll get the following features:
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We didn’t like that we found Norton LifeLock’s customer support to be lackluster. First, the customer service agent we chatted with copied and pasted information that was irrelevant to our inquiry about which credit bureau monitors credit under LifeLock’s Standard and Advantage plans.
Second, we chatted with another representative who stated that both Equifax and TransUnion monitor credit under the LifeLock’s Advantage plan, even though the website states that it’s Equifax only. Third, we spoke with another customer support agent who told us the same information and then changed their answer to Equifax. Overall, it was a very frustrating customer service experience.
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Full identity protection features included on all plans
Comes with bonus VPN and password manager
Affordable pricing compared to other options
IDShield is suited for individuals seeking comprehensive identity monitoring. Its identity protection features include dark web monitoring, SSN monitoring, court records monitoring, medical data reports, reputation management, and many more.
IDShield extends beyond preventive measures, offering guaranteed identity restoration that includes live member support, 24/7 emergency assistance, up to $3 million reimbursement for unrecovered costs, and more. In a world of escalating digital threats, IDShield is a reliable ally for enhanced security.
IDShield collects your PII to monitor the dark web and sends you alerts of potential identity threats. The service's dedicated protection team is quick to act, offering licensed private investigators who engage in timely interventions to mitigate and resolve identity theft events.
Its real-time credit monitoring and alerts ensure you’re promptly informed of any unusual financial activities. Additional features like social media monitoring, address change reporting, public records monitoring, and more keep you aware of any cyberthreats.
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Each of IDShield’s features is designed to not only detect threats but also offer actionable solutions to ensure your digital safety. Plus, it offers up to $3 million in coverage for lawyers and experts to resolve any identity theft-related crimes in your name.
Our experience with IDShield's customer support was less than optimal. During the registration process, we encountered issues with the website not accepting our address, and the only avenue for assistance was a phone call. The support representative was not particularly helpful or attentive to our concerns, cutting off our explanation.
The lack of an online option for account cancellation, in this digital age, also stood out as a significant inconvenience.
Selecting the ideal ID theft protection service hinges on various criteria. Each service has its unique strengths, so you must consider your personal and financial priorities when making a choice.
Here are some considerations when choosing an identity theft protection service:
The dark web promises anonymity, but it isn't foolproof. Savvy cybercriminals might potentially trace users who use it. This is a reminder of why ID theft protection is worth it to bolster one's cybersecurity.
Given the increasing identity theft losses each year, investing in dark web monitoring can be pivotal. Such services are a crucial part of identity theft protection and credit monitoring, offering alerts if your PII surfaces in these hidden corners of the internet.
Norton delves into the dark web, scouting for any traces of your personal data. If found, you get alerted. It forms a protective layer, emphasizing why Norton is often considered among the best identity theft protection services, especially to prevent child identity theft.
As cyber threats loom larger each day, identity theft protection services have become indispensable, which is why we recommend Aura as our top choice. Aura, Norton LifeLock, and IDShield by LegalShield are not just about guarding data; they're about fostering peace of mind. Identity theft losses can be crippling, both emotionally and financially. However, with the protective shield offered by these services, users are better poised to face the digital age's challenges.
While Identity Guard and IdentityIQ might not be in the top three, their features make them worthy service providers. When choosing, remember that ID theft protection is worth it, and investing in the right service can prevent devastating consequences.
#1 rated ID theft protection service with a full suite of monitoring tools
Includes up to $1 million in ID theft insurance for up to five adults
Protect your children with robust parental controls and gaming alerts
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