The Best Identity Theft Protection With Dark Web Monitoring 2024
If you’re looking for identity theft protection with dark web monitoring, you can’t go wrong with Aura, Norton LifeLock, and IDShield.
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Last updated Mar 28, 2024
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Best Overall
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Editorial Rating
Learn More
On Aura Identity Theft's website
Aura Identity Theft
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Provides VantageScore and not FICO score updates
Excellent identity theft protection service
Provides VantageScore and not FICO score updates
View More
Best for Families
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View More
Best for Identity Monitoring
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View More
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.
Of our top three dark web monitoring services, Aura is the best overall thanks to its comprehensive secuity suite at an affordable price. LifeLock is the best for families, offering plans with dark web monitoring for couples and families with up to five kids. And IDShield is offers every type of identity monitoring you might need.
In this article
The best identity theft protection services with dark web monitoringAura: Best overall
Norton LifeLock: Best for families
IDShield: Best for identity monitoring
Honorable mentions
How we tested the best identity theft protection with dark web monitoring
How to choose the best identity theft protection service
Best identity theft protection with dark web monitoring FAQs
Bottom line: The best ID theft protection with dark web monitoring
The best identity theft protection services with dark web monitoring
- 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 | 
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| Starting price for individuals | Starts at $9.00/mo (billed annually) | Starts at $8.29/mo for first yr | Starts at $14.95/mo |
| Starting price for families | Starts at $17.00/mo (billed annually) | Starts at $18.99/mo for first yr | Starts at $29.95/mo |
| ID theft insurance | Up to $1 million | Up to $3 million | Up to $3 million |
| Dark web monitoring | |||
| Credit monitoring | |||
| 3-bureau credit reports | |||
| Details | Get Aura | Get LifeLock | Get IDShield |
Aura: Best overall
Aura Identity Theft
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Excellent identity theft protection service
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Includes a password manager and VPN
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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.
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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. You'll also be alerted when Aura 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.
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And 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
| Plan | Aura Individual | Aura Couples | Aura Family |
| Paid annually | $9.00/mo (billed annually) | $17.00/mo (billed annually) | $25.00/mo (billed annually) |
| Paid monthly | $12.00/mo | $20.00/mo | $30.00/mo |
| Money-back guarantee | Yes — 60 days | Yes — 60 days | Yes — 60 days |
| Number of people covered | 1 adult | 2 adults | 5 adults |
| ID theft insurance | Up to $1 million | Up to $2 million ($1 million per adult) | Up to $5 million ($1 million per adult) |
| Dark web monitoring | |||
| 3-bureau monitoring | |||
| Credit reports | |||
| Identity recovery | |||
| Learn more | View Plan | View Plan | View Plan |
Norton LifeLock: Best for families
LifeLock
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Top-rated identity theft protection service
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Provides up to $3 million in coverage
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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're an individual, couple, or family, LifeLock has a solution for you.
Norton’s family plans cover two adults and up to five kids, so it's also attractive for families. With the Ultimate Plus plan, you can monitor your families' identities and protect them from being leaked on the dark web, and you'll get the following features:
- 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
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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. Overall, it was a very frustrating customer service experience.
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Norton LifeLock features
| Plan | LifeLock Standard | LifeLock Advantage | LifeLock Ultimate Plus |
| Paid annually | Starts at $8.29/mo for first yr | Starts at $15.99/mo for first yr | Starts at $24.99/mo for first yr |
| Paid monthly | Starts at 11.99/mo | Starts at $22.99/mo | Starts at $34.99/mo |
| Money-back guarantee | Yes — 30 days | Yes — 30 days | Yes — 30 days |
| ID theft insurance | Up to $1.05 million | Up to $1.2 million | Up to $3 million |
| Dark web monitoring | |||
| 3-bureau monitoring | |||
| Credit reports | |||
| Identity recovery | |||
| Learn more | View Plan | View Plan | View Plan |
Read Our Norton LifeLock Review
IDShield: Best for identity monitoring
IDShield
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Full identity protection features included on all plans
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Comes with bonus VPN and password manager
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Affordable pricing compared to other options
- Limited customer support
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.
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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
| Plan | IDShield Individual Plan | IDShield Family Plan |
| Price per month (1 credit bureau monitoring) | $14.95/mo | $29.95/mo |
| Price per month (3 credit bureau monitoring) | $19.95/mo | $34.95/mo |
| Free trial | Yes — 30 days | Yes — 30 days |
| Number of people covered | 1 adult | 2 adults + unlimited dependents |
| ID theft insurance | Up to $3 million | Up to $3 million |
| 3-bureau monitoring | ||
| Credit reports | ||
| Identity recovery | ||
| Learn more | View Plan | View Plan |
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
- OmniWatch: OmniWatch is the new kid on the block when it comes to identity theft protection, but we're impressed by its user-friendly service so far. It also monitors the dark web and it provides up to $2 million in identity theft insurance coverage.
Get OmniWatch | Read Our OmniWatch 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.
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?
Best identity theft protection with dark web monitoring FAQs
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Can you be tracked on the dark web?
The dark web promises anonymity, but it isn't foolproof. Savvy cybercriminals might potentially trace users who use it. This is a reminder of why ID theft protection is worth it to bolster one's cybersecurity.
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Should I pay for dark web monitoring?
Given the increasing identity theft losses each year, investing in dark web monitoring can be pivotal. Such services are a crucial part of identity theft protection and credit monitoring, offering alerts if your PII surfaces in these hidden corners of the internet.
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What does Norton dark web monitoring do?
Norton delves into the dark web, scouting for any traces of your personal data. If found, you get alerted. It forms a protective layer, emphasizing why Norton is often considered among the best identity theft protection services, especially to prevent child identity theft.
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 $9.00/mo (billed annually) | Best overall | Get Aura |
Norton LifeLock |
Starts at $8.29/mo for first yr | Best for families | Get Norton LifeLock |
IDShield by LegalShield |
Starts at $14.95/mo | Best for identity monitoring | Get IDShield |
Aura Identity Theft
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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
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Mars is a California-based cybersecurity professional and writer currently pursuing a B.S. in Cybersecurity. With interests ranging from OSINT to ethical hacking and threat intelligence, Mars leverages his two years of writing experience to produce informative content on topics such as Internet guides and VPNs.
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