Our series on identity theft protection apps will evaluate the features, pricing options, competition, and also the overall value of using each app. However, these are not full hands-on reviews since evaluating identity theft protection apps is almost impossible. It would require several months of testing, purposefully hacking accounts to see if the protection app works, handing over personally identifiable information, performing multiple credit checks, and risking exposure of the reviewer’s personally identifiable information.
Within the vast digital landscape of the Internet, there exists a sinister underbelly that poses significant threats. Beyond the visible realm of social media platforms, where trolls relentlessly seek to humiliate and torment users, a more insidious danger lurks. Criminal organizations engage in the illicit trade of personal information, stealing sensitive data such as credit card numbers, home addresses, and birth dates. This stolen information is then sold to the highest bidder on the black market. The scope of this criminal activity is extensive, ranging from compromising retirement accounts (401K logins) to hijacking social media accounts. These hackers are actively seeking innovative methods to undermine individuals' financial interests, leaving no stone unturned in their quest for personal gain.
According to experts, illegal activity on the Dark Web, as it is currently known, constitutes approximately 5% of global internet traffic. This staggering statistic highlights the scale of the issue. While some apps offer a degree of support, such as safeguarding your credit card information on e-commerce websites and alerting you to insecure connections, others focus on protecting your personal information by allowing you to check your credit report and assess the extent of your online exposure.
Rather than attempting to piecemeal protection together, finding a solution that addresses multiple protection needs is a wiser strategy. IdentityForce, one of the most comprehensive identity theft protection programs, stands out with its extensive range of functions, including a VPN, a cornerstone of online security.
Beyond safeguarding your credit card and social security number, IdentityForce goes a step further by shielding you from potential data leaks rather than merely analyzing them. To assist in evaluating the program's features and pricing options, potent tools are available, such as the accessibility of an identity theft protection specialist through phone or chat 24/7. The only notable downside is that the premium plans come at a significantly higher cost compared to more affordable, basic theft protection apps.
IdentityForce: Plans and pricing
IdentityForce offers a range of service plans designed to cater to various needs. Individuals who opt for annual payments can take advantage of special discounts, which is particularly beneficial considering the higher cost of the top-tier plan. Furthermore, the 30-day trial period allows potential customers to thoroughly evaluate the service before committing to a long-term subscription.
The UltraSecure Plan, the most affordable option, starts at just $19.90 per month. For those who prefer to commit to a yearly subscription, we offer a discounted rate of $16.66 per month, bringing the total cost to $199.90 per year. Even at this low price point, the UltraSecure Plan delivers a robust suite of services, including comprehensive identity theft monitoring across the dark web and social media platforms.
In addition to these essential features, the UltraSecure Plan also provides up to $1 million in identity theft insurance, offering peace of mind in the event of a breach. This coverage can help cover the costs associated with restoring your identity and credit, ensuring a smooth recovery process.
To enhance your financial security, consider upgrading to the UltraSecure & Credit package, a premium offering. The monthly fee is set at $34.90, with an annual payment option of $349.90, effectively reducing the monthly cost to just $29.16. This plan not only includes all the features of the standard tier but also provides additional benefits. These enhancements encompass comprehensive credit monitoring from three bureaus, detailed credit reports, up-to-date credit scores, a credit score tracker, and a credit score simulator, giving you a total view of your credit standing.
In addition to individual plans, there are two tiers of family plans with identical services but a $5 monthly surcharge. Each family plan includes coverage for two adults and up to 10 children for this modest price increase.
IdentityForce: Interface and mobile app
When it comes to theft prevention, choosing the right software is crucial. The website plays a significant role in this process as it offers insights into the features provided and conveys the company's professionalism. Unfortunately, some identity theft protection organizations have poorly designed and confusing websites, creating a negative first impression. In contrast, IdentityForce stands out with its clear and comprehensive website, presenting a full list of features in an easily navigable format.
IdentityForce's dashboard revolutionizes identity theft protection with its intuitive and user-friendly design. It presents all crucial information in a visually appealing and easy-to-understand format, making it a breeze for users to manage and safeguard their identities.
The dashboard features a row of clearly labeled icons, each representing a different aspect of identity protection. Users can quickly navigate to sections dedicated to credit checks, banking details, car loans, retirement plans, and more. The spacious sections provide ample room for personal data, ensuring that users have enough space to fill in all relevant information.
To further enhance usability, IdentityForce's dashboard enables users to effortlessly input their personal data. The fields are clearly labeled, and the dashboard provides helpful prompts to guide users through the process. Whether they need to provide their driver's license number, passport information, or other sensitive details, users can do so with confidence, knowing that IdentityForce's secure platform will safeguard their data.
The dashboard also includes a progress bar that tracks the user's completion of their identity protection profile. This visual indicator motivates users to fill in all the necessary information, ensuring that they receive comprehensive protection against identity theft.
Overall, IdentityForce's dashboard sets a new standard for identity theft protection. Its user-friendly interface, spacious sections, clear prompts, and progress bar make it easy for users to take control of their identities and protect themselves from potential threats.
Both iOS and Android offer the app, but their user experiences differ significantly. The Android version of the app has received a moderate rating of 2.6 out of 5 stars, indicating dissatisfaction among many users. Numerous reports highlight unreliability, frequent crashes, and login issues as major pain points for Android users. These problems can be incredibly frustrating, as they can prevent users from accessing their accounts or using the app's features effectively.
In comparison, the iOS version of the app fares slightly better, with a rating of 3.0 out of 5 stars. While this rating suggests that the iOS app is more reliable than its Android counterpart, it still has its issues. Users have reported problems such as credit scores not updating, encountering "Server error messages," and experiencing account lockouts due to login difficulties. These issues, while less prevalent than on Android, can still be inconvenient and frustrating for iOS users.
IdentityForce: Features
IdentityForce, known for its identity protection services, surprisingly includes a VPN tool as part of its offerings. The VPN, accessible through the Mobile Defense Suite of the mobile app, boasts the ability to alert users to various threats such as rogue apps, spyware, and unsecured Wi-Fi connections. However, it is essential to note that this VPN is solely available for mobile devices and does not extend protection to PCs. Unfortunately, crucial details about the VPN remain unclear, including its location, "No logs" policy, and the presence of a built-in "Kill switch." Due to these uncertainties, we recommend considering a more established and comprehensive VPN for anything beyond casual use.
Another notable feature of IdentityForce is its ability to monitor "Payday loan" hacks, a security concern where someone fraudulently borrows money using your identity. This prompt notification allows you to immediately address the issue with your bank or credit card provider. Furthermore, IdentityForce also tracks sex offenders who may have utilized your personal information to circumvent local laws that require them to register their identity and location.
IdentityForce's premium plans provide a robust suite of features designed to offer comprehensive protection against identity theft and online threats. At the core of these plans is $1 million in theft protection, ensuring that members have access to financial assistance and resources in the event of identity theft. Additionally, the plans include lost wallet assistance, a valuable service that helps members quickly cancel and replace lost or stolen credit cards, driver's licenses, and other essential documents.
Furthermore, IdentityForce's premium plans feature Dark Web data analysis, continuously monitoring the dark web for any sign of compromised personal information, such as passwords, credit card numbers, and social security numbers. If any sensitive data is found, members are promptly notified and provided with guidance on how to mitigate the risk and protect their accounts.
To enhance convenience and security, IdentityForce provides a mobile password manager as part of its premium plans. This tool allows members to securely store and manage their passwords across multiple devices, making it easier to use strong and unique passwords for all online accounts. The password manager also includes a password generator, which creates complex and random passwords to enhance account security.
IdentityForce's premium plans also include social media identity monitoring, which proactively scans social media platforms for unauthorized use of members' personal information. This feature helps detect potential identity theft attempts early on, allowing members to take prompt action to protect their online reputation and prevent further damage.
By combining these features within its premium plans, IdentityForce offers a comprehensive solution that addresses various aspects of identity protection. The $1 million theft protection, lost wallet assistance, Dark Web data analysis, mobile password manager, and social media identity monitoring work together to provide members with peace of mind, knowing that their personal information is being actively monitored and protected.
IdentityForce: The competition
Among IdentityForce's notable competitors is Norton Lifelock. These solutions offer similar monitoring tools for bank accounts and credit cards, including credit check surveillance, malware blocking, and phishing scam prevention.
Norton LifeLock and IdentityForce offer $1 million in identity theft protection insurance, ensuring coverage for out-of-pocket expenses and lost wages if your bank accounts or credit cards are compromised. LifeLock offers a lower starting price of $11.99 per month, or even less when paid annually with a discount.
IdentityForce: Final verdict
IdentityForce provides more than just standard malware blockers, identity theft insurance, and credit check monitoring. The $1 million insurance included in both premium plans stands out, and the VPN service on smartphones is an added bonus. However, the service has some drawbacks. The apps are buggy and unsatisfactory, the pricing is more costly than some competing products, and furthermore child protection incurs additional fees.
Potential users of IdentityForce should also factor in that the app consolidates all identity protection features into a unified dashboard, eliminating the need for users to install and maintain numerous apps for this comprehensive protection. In our view, this is of significant benefit, with a streamlined approach offering a definite advantage.
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