Best Overall

4.9

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On Aura Identity Theft's website

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Aura Identity Theft

• Excellent identity theft protection service
• Includes a password manager and VPN
• Robust tools for children’s security
• Provides VantageScore and not FICO score updates

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Best for Families

4.9

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On LifeLock's website

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LifeLock

• 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
• Customer support experience is lacking

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Best for Identity Monitoring

4.7

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On IDShield's website

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IDShield

• Lots of included features
• Lower cost than most ID theft protection
• Can be buggy

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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.

In this article, we’ll cover the features, pricing, and other benefits of our top three dark web monitoring services, Aura, Norton LifeLock, and IDShield.

The best identity theft protection services with dark web monitoring 2024

• Aura: Best overall
• Norton LifeLock: Best for families
• IDShield by LegalShield: Best for identity monitoring

Top 3 identity theft protection services with dark web monitoring compared

Password manager	Aura	Norton LifeLock	IDShield by LegalShield
Individual monthly plan	Starts at $12.00/mo	Starts at $7.50/mo for first yr	Starts at $14.95/mo
Family monthly plan	Starts at $22.00/mo	Starts at $18.99/mo for first yr	Starts at $29.95/mo
ID theft insurance	Up to $1 million	Up to $1 million	Up to $3 million
Dark web monitoring
Credit monitoring
3-bureau credit reports
Details	Get Aura	Get LifeLock	Read IDShield Review

Aura: Best overall

4.9

Learn More

On Aura Identity Theft's website

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Aura Identity Theft

• Excellent identity theft protection service
• Includes a password manager and VPN
• Robust tools for children’s security
• Provides VantageScore and not FICO score updates

Who it’s best for

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.

What we liked

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. Furthermore, Aura alerts you when it 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. According to customer reviews, Aura also excels in customer service, offering helpful and patient customer support agents.

What we didn’t like

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.

Aura features

Read Our Aura Review

Norton LifeLock: Best for families

4.9

Up to 30% off first year when paid annually

Learn More

On LifeLock's website

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LifeLock

• 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
• Customer support experience is lacking

Who it’s best for

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.

What we liked

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 are an individual, couple, or family, LifeLock has a solution for you.

Norton’s Ultimate Plus plan covers two adults and up to five kids, so it is also attractive for families. Not only does it monitor and protect your identity from being leaked on the dark web, but it also provides the following:

• Identity and SSN alerts for each family member
• Three-bureau credit monitoring
• Home title monitoring
• Social media monitoring
• Phone takeover monitoring
• Sex offender registry reports
• Fictitious identity monitoring

What we didn’t like

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. So obviously, this was a very frustrating customer service experience.

Norton LifeLock features

Read Our Norton LifeLock Review

IDShield: Best for identity monitoring

4.7

Learn More

On IDShield's website

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IDShield

• Lots of included features
• Lower cost than most ID theft protection
• Can be buggy

Who it’s best for

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.

What we liked

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.

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.

What we didn’t like

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.

IDShield features

Honorable mentions

While our top three identity theft protection services rightfully own the spotlight, a couple of other services are also worth mentioning:

• Identity Guard: Recognized in many identity theft protection and credit monitoring guides, Identity Guard harnesses AI to detect threats to personal data rapidly. This service expertly combines technology and human intelligence to ensure safety.

  Get Identity Guard | Read Our Identity Guard Review

• IdentityIQ: Taking both prevention and recovery seriously, IdentityIQ is often recommended for those looking to prevent child identity theft due to its award-winning ChildWatch feature. Its proactive methodology combined with user-centric features makes it a strong competitor in the market.

  Read Our IdentityIQ Review

Best identity theft protection with dark web monitoring FAQs

Bottom line: The best ID theft protection with dark web monitoring

As cyberthreats loom larger each day, identity theft protection services have become indispensable. 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.

3 best ID theft protection services with dark web monitoring 2024

	Starting price	Best for	Learn more
Aura	Starts at $12.00/mo	Best overall	View Plans Read Aura Review
Norton LifeLock	Starts at $7.50/mo for first yr	Best for families	View Plans Read Norton LifeLock Review
IDShield by LegalShield	Starts at $14.95/mo	Best for identity monitoring	Read IDShield Review

How we tested the best identity theft protection with dark web monitoring

To identify the top three services in ID theft protection with dark web monitoring, we delved deep into their features, assessed customer reviews, and evaluated their overall efficacy. A service's ability to provide rapid alerts, its encompassing coverage for various cyberthreats, and its commitment to customer safety were all important in our assessment.

Features we evaluated:

• Real-time alerts: Does the service send immediate notifications when suspicious activity is detected?
• Comprehensive monitoring and alerts: Does the ID theft protection service check your PII as well as financial information on the dark web and alert you when it has been leaked or involved in a data breach?
• Customer service: Does it dispense swift and effective responses to customer queries and concerns?
• Credit bureau monitoring: Does it deliver surveillance across all major credit bureaus for any discrepancies provided?
• Data encryption: Does it supply encryption to ensure that sensitive data is always kept under layers of security?

How to choose the best identity theft protection service

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:

• Cost: Is the service in alignment with your budget and offer crucial features you cannot compromise on?
• Breadth of monitoring: Does the service alert users about breaches in multiple areas?
• Credit bureau surveillance: Does the service cover all three major bureaus — Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax?
• Frequency of credit score updates: Are regular credit updates provided so you can gauge your financial health?
• Identity recovery assistance: Does the service offer this crucial feature that aids in the aftermath of a breach?
• Insurance: Does it offer identity theft insurance to cover identity restoration costs, which may also include lawyer fees?
• Data encryption: Is AES-256 encryption provided for data safety?
• App compatibility: Is the service available across all your devices?
• Privacy policy: Does the service provide a transparent privacy policy that doesn’t sell your data?

4.9

Learn More

On Aura Identity Theft's website

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Aura Identity Theft

• Excellent identity theft protection service
• Includes a password manager and VPN
• Robust tools for children’s security
• Provides VantageScore and not FICO score updates

Author Details

Mars Groves

About the Author

Mars is a cybersecurity professional and writer based in California. He serves as an Advisory Board Member for WEBGAP, specializing in browser isolation.