Reasons you may Need an Identity Monitoring Service

When it comes to protecting your digital identity, many people tend to overlook the importance of identity monitoring.

Malicious attacks caused by malware and phishing emails can be damaging to your personal information as they allow criminals to steal your sensitive data for illicit activity.

By subscribing to an identity monitoring service, you can get alerts if anyone unauthorized accesses your personal information when your email address appears in a phishing attack.

This can help protect your data and financial accounts and alert you to unusual activities that could imply a breach in security.

What is an Identity Monitoring Service?

An identity monitoring service screens the internet for your personal information, like Social Security Number, address, and credit card numbers, for any suspicious activity throughout the year.

While it doesn’t prevent theft of your confidential data, it gives you more options to protect yourself by alerting you to any suspicious activity.

Here are some reasons you might consider using an identity monitoring service:

You Often Use Public Wi-Fi

If you often use public Wi-Fi networks in coffee shops, airports, or hotels, you should consider using an identity monitoring service.

Cybercriminals looking for vulnerable victims can hijack your unsecured Wi-Fi hotspot, potentially giving them access to your personal information like passwords or banking information.

Attackers may be able to install malware onto your device when you connect to public Wi-Fi networks. The bad actors may then infect your device or steal your data.

The best way to protect yourself is to avoid public Wi-Fi networks unless necessary. If you must use a public Wi-Fi connection, use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to securely access the internet and shield your data from malicious cyberattacks.

You Own a Business

As a business owner, you have the responsibility and the liability to protect the data of your customers and employees.

Cybercriminals often target businesses to steal customer data, access sensitive accounts, or hijack funds. Identity monitoring services help protect your business from such threats by monitoring for risk factors like new account applications bearing your company’s name or login attempts from unfamiliar locations. If any suspicious activity is identified, you’ll get an alert so that you can take the necessary steps without delay.

You Want to Protect Your Credit

Identity theft isn’t just about stolen passwords—it can also involve someone stealing your credit card information or taking out loans in your name.

An identity monitoring service can help give you peace of mind by alerting you if any suspicious activity is detected on any of your accounts or with any of your personal information.

This way, you can take action quickly if something does happen and minimize the damage caused by fraudsters.

You Have a Large Online Presence

If you have a significant online presence—like social media accounts—it makes sense to get an identity monitoring service.

That’s because having multiple online accounts increases the chances that one account could be compromised somehow.

By using an identity monitoring service, you can monitor all of your accounts and act quickly if anything suspicious happens with any of them.

Final Thought

While you may not think you need an identity monitoring service, there are several reasons why signing up for one might be a good idea.

Protecting your information is crucial if you often use public Wi-Fi or have a large online presence. An identity monitoring service can help alert you if your personal information is compromised so you can take steps to protect yourself.