Best Identity Theft Protection Services of 2025
With fraud losses hitting billions, protecting your identity has never been more important. The best services combine credit monitoring, fraud alerts, and recovery assistance – and LifeLock Standard is our #1 pick for 2025.
Updated October, 2025
Reviewed by Experts
20 Years
Helping You Live Richer
Reviewed
by Experts
Trusted
by Millions of Readers
Identity theft is one of the fastest-growing crimes in the U.S., affecting millions of people each year. From data breaches and phishing scams to unauthorized credit applications, identity thieves use increasingly sophisticated tactics to access sensitive information like your Social Security number, bank accounts, and online passwords. Once they have it, they can open new credit lines, drain your accounts, or even file false tax returns in your name.
That’s why having reliable identity theft protection is no longer optional – it’s essential. Services like LifeLock, IdentityForce, Avast, Aura, and Identity Guard help monitor your personal and financial information across the dark web, public databases, and credit bureaus, alerting you the moment suspicious activity occurs. The goal is simple: to catch threats early, prevent damage, and give you peace of mind knowing your identity is being watched 24/7.
Among the top providers, LifeLock stands out as the most trusted name in identity protection. Backed by Norton’s powerful cybersecurity technology, LifeLock offers broader monitoring than services like Aura and Identity Guard – including alerts for phone takeovers, social media misuse, and dark-web exposure – as well as hands-on recovery assistance if your identity is ever stolen.
While Aura focuses on family-oriented features and Identity Guard provides solid basic coverage, LifeLock delivers the most complete protection available, including up to $3 million in identity theft insurance and dedicated U.S.-based specialists who help restore your identity from start to finish. Whether you’re worried about unauthorized credit activity, hacked accounts, or digital privacy, choosing the right protection service matters. LifeLock’s advanced monitoring, real-time alerts, and proven track record make it the top choice for anyone serious about safeguarding their personal information and preventing identity theft before it happens.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a credit report and why does it matter?
A credit report is a detailed summary of your financial history compiled by credit bureaus like Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax. It includes personal information such as your name and Social Security number, along with records of your credit accounts, payment history, credit inquiries, and any public records like bankruptcies or collections.
Monitoring your credit is important because it helps you detect signs of identity theft early. For example, if someone tries to open an account in your name, you’ll receive an alert. It also allows you to catch and correct errors that could harm your credit score, such as incorrect late payments or account activity. Since your credit report plays a major role in getting approved for credit cards, loans, housing, and even some jobs, regularly monitoring it helps protect your financial future. In addition, credit monitoring keeps you informed about changes to your accounts or credit profile, so you can take action quickly if anything suspicious occurs.
LifeLock helps you maintain a healthy credit report by monitoring your credit and looking for signs that your personal information has been exposed or your identity has been stolen.
Why is it bad to not check your credit report?
If you don’t check your credit report, you could be letting identity thieves ruin your credit and be on the hook for bills they ran up in your name. By monitoring your credit report regularly, you’ll be able to see suspicious activity before it has potentially catastrophic results.
What is identity theft?
Identity theft is when thieves steal your personal information in order to take over or open new accounts, file fake tax returns, rent or buy properties, or do other criminal things in your name.
Identity theft is a serious crime in the United States. Over 29 billion dollars were stolen from identity theft victims in 2022.
LifeLock can detect a wide range of threats and will alert you when potentially suspicious activities are found.
How can I find out if someone is using my identity?
You can determine if someone is using your identity by closely monitoring bills, credit reports, and financial accounts to see if there’s any activity you didn’t initiate. LifeLock can help protect you against identity fraud by alerting you to suspicious activity.
The GBR Promise 
For 20 years, GOBankingRates has been a trusted leader in providing personal finance advice and information. Our commitment to free access and continuous innovation means we offer expert insights and top-quality financial products to help our audience Live Richer™.
Our editors are committed to bringing you unbiased ratings and information. Our editorial content is not influenced by advertisers. We use data-driven methodologies to evaluate financial products and companies, so that all are measured equally.
20 Years
Helping You Live Richer
Reviewed
by Experts
Trusted
by Millions of Readers
