The notion of “identity theft” implies any use of someone else’s personal information for obtaining the benefit. Yet, this word combination not accurately enough describes the essence of this phenomenon. Practically, someone’s personality cannot be stolen.
Cybercriminals steal personal data, a bulk of unique information about the person: full name, documents, credit card number and bank accounts, profession, salary, place of work, passwords and logins of social network accounts, area of interests, etc.
Such data breach always leads to irreversible consequences for each person. So, what can we do to protect our identities? First, to keep the digital hygiene. Second, to install IDShield to ensure extra security.
What is IDShield?
IDShield is a part of LegalShield, which was founded in 1969. IDShield provides identity theft protection services in the United States on a nationwide scale. Besides, it also serves 4 Canadian provinces. From the day of establishment, the company obtained 1 million loyal customers and gained credit as one of the best identity theft protection providers.
IDShield offers customer support 24/7 to make sure everybody is satisfied with the services. Also, IDShield specialists are recognized as the most proficient in the industry. The level of the IDShield team’s professionalism guarantees an outstanding experience.
Of course, like any other identity theft protection service, IDShield cannot prevent identity theft entirely because your identity security is your primary responsibility. But this service is created to help. IDShield will warn you, if your sensitive information is disclosed, and guarantees some reimbursement for your losses.
Best for
- Ensuring your data is protected to the maximum
- Knowing first hand when your information is disclosed
- Monitoring your credit securely
- Getting help from the private investigators, in case your data is stolen
- Obtaining personalized assistance in every suspicious case
The List of Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Unlimited access to the team of professional investigators
- Global monitoring of your personal, financial, and credit information
- Social media constant check
- Android and iOS apps for free
- 3-bureau credit monitoring
- Customer Support is available 24/7
- Reasonable price
- Free trial for 30 days
Cons:
- You cannot cancel your membership online
- Cancellation policy is confusing
- Like any similar service, IDShield only sends alerts about possible data disclosure
Highlights of IDShield
- 15 years of experience in the identity theft protection industry
- Licensed private investigators is by your side 24/7
- $1 million identity theft insurance
- The lowest price on the market (in comparison to other identity theft protection products)
- Best family protection plan
IDShield Membership Price and Package
IDShield provides 4 various packages with a particular set of features. Two of them are individual, and the other two are family packages. Primarily, they differ in the price, and the number of credit bureaus, which provide credit monitoring. Particularly, 3-Bureau plans not only track your credit score via TransUnion, but also check it via three major credit score bureaus.
All these features are the main selling points. But you should remember that there are some identity theft protection services that you can use for free:
- Checking your credit accounts online
- Setting specific alerts to monitor your account in case of suspicious activity
- Checking credit scores
- Monitoring credit reports
- Free assistance in identity recovery
IDShield Features and Services
According to a study by New Javelin Strategy & Research, 16.7 million Americans became victims of identity theft in 2017. Also, the heads of 69% of European companies do not understand how someone could steal and use their brand name and how to protect themselves from such “theft. 60% of large corporations never calculated risks from cyber attacks, although intruders resort to this type of fraud often.
It is a sad fact that people neglect the necessity of digital hygiene. Many Internet users forget that their data can be disclosed, and this will put them at risk. To prevent this, IDShield elaborated the range of features and services, which can help you to be more aware of your affairs on the web.
Identity, Privacy and Credit Monitoring
According to the official IDShield website, you will get powerful identity theft protection for you and your family with this service. This identity theft protection service guarantees monitoring of various types of personal data, which includes the following options:
- Social Media Monitoring
With the help of this feature, you can easily check all your social media accounts and get immediate alerts in case of the suspicious, violent, or discriminatory activity or inappropriate posting.
- Payday Loan Monitoring
This feature allows you to track all your fast cash loans, payday for social security loans, and possible incoming cash.
- Sex Offender Monitoring
The feature of Sex Offender Monitoring is helpful in search of all registered sex offenders. In case a criminal tries to use your sensitive data, you will be informed about it. Moreover, IDShield will warn you if any sex offender will appear around.
- Dark Web Monitoring
This function is necessary for cleaning your data from the darknet, including portals, blogs, or chat rooms, where your data can be sold.
- Fraud Monitoring
In the case of banks, mortgage companies, some dealers, or other agencies request your credit report copy. You will be notified about this in real-time. This will help you to prevent any attempts to create a new account or increase the credit limit without your permission.
- Court Records Monitoring
All information about criminal and court records is gathered with the help of this feature. It will notify you if you become a target of criminals.
IDShield Alert Features
To notify you about the deceitful and suspicious activity, IDShield utilizes all available types of alerts.
- Identity Threat Alert
You will get this alert in case of a high chance of sensitive information theft.
- Fraud Alert Reminder
In case your identity is in danger, and you still want to create a new credit line using your name, this option will come in handy. Placing Fraud Alert Notification on all your credit lines will prevent some potential frauds.
- Junk Mail Opt-out
This feature will be useful for monitoring your mailbox and trash folder and checking whether they contain your personal information. Junk Mail Opt-out finds your data in marketing databases and deletes them.
- SSN Tracker
In case someone uses your SSN, the Smart Social Security tracker will inform you about such a high chance of fraud.
- IDShield Credit Card Activity Monitoring
As you can judge from the name, this option will inform you about any financial transactions, which exceed the limit you established. Also, IDShield Credit Card Activity Monitoring tracks any possible bank-related frauds.
IDShield Control Features
The control features IDShields protect you in your daily life.
- Online Fraud Protection Tools
Today, people spend more time online, shopping, or making some other transactions. Sharing your sensitive details online is dangerous because it is connected with phishing, logging, and other deceitful actions. Online Fraud Protection Tools ensure your secure online activity. They will prevent criminals from knowing your keystrokes or stealing bank details.
- Mobile App
Useful features, especially in the conditions of the modern world, when people can’t part with their smartphones or tablets. With the help of the IDShield Mobile App, you will get instant access to your account and all functions.
- Lost Wallet Control
If someone steals your wallet, you will have the possibility to replace its lining or block the cards via the Lost Wallet Control option.
- Two-Factor Authentication
Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) increases your chances of improving your security level. After entering your Login and Password, you will get a verification code via SMS or email.
- Medical ID Fraud Protection
With the help of this option, you will be able to monitor everything related to your medical ID and prevent all deceitful actions directed on your medical data.
IDShield Recover Features
Without a doubt, IDShield is a client-centered service, which does everything to make them secured and satisfied. So, this identity theft protection service provides customers with a set of recovery options:
- $1 Million Theft Insurance
In case of any losses, connected with your identity theft, IDShield will cover costs and lost wages of yours and your family.
- Excellent Customer Service
IDShield provides its customers with free help 24/7. In any critical case, you can count on the Support Team members.
- Fully-Managed Restoration
Licensed Private Investigators are here to assist you and help with identity restoration, paperwork, filling out the necessary questionnaires, and making important calls to make your life a bit simpler.
IDShield for Business
IDShield doesn’t have a separate plan for business. So, it is not presented on the official website. Still, IDShield has a solution that will meet all business requirements. This solution is necessary to protect the employees from a possible data breach that can have hazardous results.
For instance, you can purchase several Family plans, depending on the number of employees your enterprise has. At the same time, you have the option to ask the Support team to know more about IDShield for Business.
To satisfy business needs, IDShield provides you with the following features:
- Rapid Alert
In case somebody makes a try to hack your data, you and your employees will know about it immediately. So, it will help you to prevent any sensitive data theft, which is dangerous both for the business and the clients.
- Online Protection Tools for Your OS
It doesn’t matter which OS or device you use, Mac or PC. The main thing is that every employee in your company, one way or another, uses the Internet and spends much time online. In this case, IDShield has a set of tools protecting you while working on the web.
Ease of Use
Today, usability is the primary criterion for choosing some particular service. I agree that you will not select the product with the broadest range of useful features but with a cumbersome app interface and lengthy and complex registration process. We, as users, need a convenient means to fulfill our requirements, which will not complicate our lives.
Speaking about IDShield’s ease of use, we will give it 4.5 points out of 5 not only because there is nothing perfect in the world. First, IDShield sign-up process is a bit confusing. The company, owning IDShield, tries to impose one’s services while the person is signing up. To reach the official account activation page, the user has to enter personal SSN. The authentication process includes answering specific authentication questions. The process is smooth, but not very fast, though.
The questions were designed in a specific way to detect the individuals who aren’t of the user’s life in detail. Moreover, some questions can be deceptive and force the user to know one’s credit score very well. After the authentication process, the user fills in some personal information and can be sure it is safe and sound. All in all, despite some meticulous authentication processes, the IDShield is easy to use service.
It is worth mentioning here that Better Business Bureau (BBB) rated IDShield with A+ grade, considering customers’ feedback and overall performance. Still, some customers commented on confusing cancellation policy.
IDShield Support and Customer Service
Modern customers want to communicate with the client service of companies, preferring to interact through digital channels. At the same time, customers wish to the online support provided to be as fast and personalized as possible, taking into account their specific needs.
The importance of this for customers is confirmed by the figures of the Accenture in Next Generation Customer Services study: 47% of consumers worldwide have stopped interacting with companies due to poor customer service or support. IDShield considered all possible negative experiences and provided convenient ways to contact the Support team. It also pays attention to the quality of the customer support services the company offers.
To get in touch with the Support team representatives, you can click the button “Contact Us” at the bottom of the page. “Contact Us” section provides the possibility to communicate with the IDShield representatives via social media (Facebook and Twitter). The company guarantees a quick response (in 1 hour). Well, we can say it’s true. We asked some questions about the service via the IDShield Facebook page and got the answer in 37 minutes.
Also, you can get in touch to clarify the issues connected with Member Services and Sales Associate Services. Also, you can ask the Broker/Insurance Agent via the telephone number mentioned on the site. At last, support via live chat is also available. The time of reaction is 5 minutes, which is quite satisfying.
FAQ section is also comprehensive enough to find the necessary answer. In other cases, you can address the Support team via other communication means.
Our Verdict
Identity theft is used for various purposes: theft of passwords and credentials, obtaining financial information and material assets – and often – simply for the sake of entertainment. The illegally extracted information is sold. With the password, it is easy to hack a person’s accounts in other services and to disclose sensitive data.
Nobody wants to become a victim of cybercriminals. It can result not only in some financial losses or temporary discomfort. Identity theft can damage your life, and you will be obliged to spend a lifetime to clear your name. To prevent this, you have two ways. First is to keep the digital hygiene and be very attentive with everything you do on the Internet and the traces you left there. The second is to install IDShield, which will become your reliable assistant.
This identity theft protection tool is one of the most effective in the industry. First, it has a reasonable price and a generous 30-days trial, if you are not sure you want to buy it. Besides, IDShield guarantees $1 million theft insurance, the assistance of licensed private investigators, three bureaus, and dark web surveillance. Each membership plan includes a wide range of features to make sure your data is safe.
If you tried IDShield already, leave a comment and share your experience with us!
