What is credit monitoring?

Daily credit monitoring provides real-time updates to your credit report. Regular checks and monitoring enable you to detect and respond swiftly to unexpected developments in your credit profile, such as:

1. Address or personal info changes

2. Delinquent account reports

3. New credit inquiries

4. Fresh public records

5. Recent judgments

6. Newly opened credit accounts and loans.
   
   

What does credit monitoring do?

Your credit file contains details of your credit activity, including open accounts, debts, payment history, and personal information (PII). Credit report monitoring helps you track this information and notifies you of:

1. Hard credit inquiries, made when applying for loans or credit cards.

2. New accounts opened in your name.

3. Changes in payment and balance status.

4. Updates to your personal details.

5. New public records, like court judgments and bankruptcies.
   
   

What credit monitoring doesn’t do:

Credit report monitoring is vital for spotting suspicious activity and thwarting identity theft, but it doesn't:

1. Prevent credit applications in your name.

2. Safeguard your personal information from data breaches.

3. Notify you of job applications in your name.

4. Stop phishing emails.

What is PII?

Personally Identifiable Information (PII) encompasses personal details maintained by agencies, such as name, birthplace, SSN, mother's maiden name, biometrics, education, and employment history.

Identity theft can strike anyone at any time. Your identity is essentially your PII. When thieves get hold of this data, they can effectively assume your identity, constituting a personal breach of your identity.

What could an identity thief do with my PII?

Identity theft victims often wonder why someone would want their identity. Identity thieves can use your personal information for various illicit purposes, including:

1. Opening new credit cards in your name

2. Making fraudulent purchases

3. Accessing personal accounts (email, social media, bank, etc.)

4. Establishing phone and utility accounts in your name

5. Cloning your ATM or debit card

6. Changing your billing address

7. Obtaining a new driver's license or official ID

8. Using your identity when questioned by the police

Identity theft can affect anyone at any time. Your identity comprises more than just your Social Security number; it's the sum of your personally identifiable information (PII). When thieves gain access to this data, they can effectively become you, constituting a personal breach of your identity.

What is the dark web?

It's like the regular internet but tailor-made for criminal activities. Criminals access it via a special browser, and it's an unregulated, unrestricted marketplace for all kinds of illicit transactions. After a data breach, your information often ends up here, where it's sold alongside many others.

What is dark web monitoring?

Dark web monitoring, also known as internet or cyber monitoring, helps prevent identity theft by scanning the dark web for your personal information like SSN, name, and address in over 25 languages. If anything suspicious pops up, we notify you promptly.