Service Name / Rating:	Price:	Type:	Credit Reports Delivered:	Fraud Monitoring:	Mail List Removal:	ID Theft Insurance/ Guarantee:	Bottom Line:
Go to Site Read Full Review	Free 30 day trial; $8.50/mo or $84/yr individual; $16.99/mo or $161.49/yr family	Prevention - sets and renews fraud alerts, fraud monitoring, medical record protection	1 3-bureau credit report each year	Credit cards, public records, social security, bank accounts, medical records	Preapproved credit and general junk mail	$1,000,000	Best overall value, especially for families; Exclusive 30 day free trial & 15% off
Go to Site Read Full Review	Free 30 day trial; $9.00/mo or $99.00/yr	Prevention - sets and renews fraud alerts	1 3-bureau credit report each year	Credit card, social security, driver's license, address change	Preapproved credit and general junk mail	$1,000,000 Total Service Guarantee	Great value for identity theft protection; 30 days free & 10% off; Call 800-543-3562 and mention promo code NEXT
Go to Site Read Full Review	Free 30 day trial; $14.99/mo.	Detection - 3-bureau credit monitoring, fraud monitoring, internet security	Credit reports and scores from all 3 bureaus	Credit cards, Public records, social security, applications (cell phones, loans, etc), internet security	No	$20,000 insurance	Most complete ID theft detection service; Free Internet Security Suite; 30 Day Free Trial
Go to Site Read Full Review	Free 30 day trial; $9.99/mo, $99.00/yr or $229.99 for 3 yrs	Detection - credit monitoring	1 Experian credit report	Credit cards, public records, social security, applications, other	Preapproved credit and junk mail	$2,000,000	Excellent fraud monitoring and online tools; Dedicated toll free number 866-736-0165
Go to Site Read Full Review	$19.95/mo; 15 days free with $1.95 verification charge	Detection - monitors public records databases for misuse of personal information	No	Social security, driver's license, vehicle registration, criminal/court records, utilities and more	No	100% guarantee; no deductibles or limits	Most straightforward recovery guarantee we have seen; Dedicated toll free number 800-233-1845
Service Name / Rating:	Price:	Type:	Credit Reports Delivered:	Fraud Monitoring:	Mail List Removal:	ID Theft Insurance/ Guarantee:	Bottom Line:
Go to Site Read Full Review	$19.95/mo. for two adults and unlimited children	Detection - credit monitoring	Unlimited Experian credit reports	No	No	$2,000,000	Cost effective identity theft protection for families and children
Go to Site Read Full Review	$9/mo or $99/yr	Prevention - sets and renews fraud alerts	1 report from all 3 bureaus each year	No	Preapproved credit; telemarketing, too	$1,000,000	Innovative automated phone system makes managing fraud alerts easy
Go to Site Read Full Review	Free 30 day trial; $14.95/mo	Detection - 3 bureau credit monitoring	Free 3-bureau credit report and Equifax FICO score	No	No	$20,000	Great combination of credit monitoring and id theft detection
Go to Site Read Full Review	$9.95/mo with single bureau credit monioring; $12.95/mo with 3 bureau credit monitoring	Detection - 3 bureau credit monitoring	Free Experian credit report and score at sign up	No	No	No	Does not prevent identity theft but assists in recovery
Go to Site Read Full Review	$4.99/mo	Detection - credit monitoring	No	No	No	No	Cheapest id theft detection available

TRUSTED ID REVIEW:Go to Site | Back to Chart

TrustedID is an outstanding identity theft prevention service with features that are second to none, and with NextAdvisor's exclusive 15% discount and 30 days free, is the best overall value in identity theft protection. This is the best deal on TrustedID service and isn't available anywhere else. You will automatically be given this deal when you click a link from our site - no promo code necessary.

TrustedID starts with setting fraud alerts (they call this Lender Doublecheck) at all 3 bureaus. They have developed an automated tool to set these alerts, so they happen essentially as soon as you sign up. The downside to any preventive service that sets fraud alerts is that it might delay a credit application process because your identity must be confirmed, but this is a small price to pay to prevent ID theft and it will not hurt your credit or prevent you from getting credit. TrustedID's credit card monitoring service, which monitors your credit cards for any suspicious activity, also starts the moment you sign up, using the card number you use to pay for your order. Adding additional card numbers to your account is quick and easy. This service monitors the Internet's black market for your credit card numbers and immediately alerts you if it finds any of your numbers are being bought or sold. Trusted ID also monitors the internet and public records for any changes to or misuse of your name, address, social security number. They are the only service we've found that also gives you medical record protection. If authorized by you, TrustedID will request your medical benefit history from all your providers so you can make sure no one else has been receiving benefits in your name, then continue to review your accounts to make sure no fraudulent transactions occur. TrustedID's credit offer opt out and identity theft insurance start the moment you sign up as well. The credit offer opt out immediately prohibits credit card issuers from sending you preapproved credit card offers. Not only do these clog your mailbox and kill trees, but they are also a prime target for identity thieves to steal, gain your personal information and open a credit card account in your name. TrustedID has a pricing structure that makes it a particularly good value for large families. The family plan is about twice as much as the individual plan, but you can add everyone in your household, so it makes sense for households of more than two people.

TrustedID's ID theft insurance covers you for up to $1,000,000 in costs to recover from identity theft. While this is a great benefit, direct monetary losses from identity theft are almost always much less, since you are not legally responsible for paying any fraudulent debt accumulated by a thief. The real cost of identity theft is the loss of ability to get credit for an extended period of time, the time and effort it takes to restore your good name, and many other adverse consequences that can even include mistaken incarceration. Your free credit reports are mailed to your house, and the address is verified through the credit bureaus before doing so. As part of your account, you are offered a service called CreditLock, which makes your credit report at all 3 bureaus unavailable to everyone without permission. While this is a good option for those who rarely use their credit, or those who are stationed overseas, it does cost $44.95 to lock your credit reports with all 3 bureaus and $39.95 to unlock them - every time! We typically only recommend using this feature if you know you have been the victim of an identity theft. In that situation, it is extremely valuable. We've found TrustedID customer service representatives to be very helpful and you can reach an identity theft specialist 24/7 to help you with any questions or problems. Logging in to their system does not offer much information - just the ability to sign up for CreditLock and add card numbers to your watch list. TrustedID’s fraud alert service was activated fastest out of all the services tested, which could be extremely useful when locking down your information if your identity is ever stolen. Overall, TrustedID is a great preventive identity theft solution and an excellent option for those serious about preventing identity theft.

LIFELOCK REVIEW:Go to Site | Back to Chart

[Editor's Note: LifeLock has set up a toll free number where NextAdvisor.com visitors can speak to aLifeLock representative to ask questions and ensure that they are receiving the exclusive 30 day free trial and 10% discount for NextAdvisor.com visitors. If you are interested in ordering LifeLock, we recommend that you call the number: 1-800-543-3562 and mention the promo code NEXT to the LifeLock representative.]

LifeLock is a great identity theft prevention service at a great price. As a special offer for visitors to NextAdvisor.com, you can now get 30 days free AND $11 off the price of the service, paying just $9 per month or $99 per year after your free trial. You must click the link from our site to get this special promotion.

Preventive services, such as LifeLock, employ tools like setting fraud alerts on your credit file with all 3 bureaus, which means that lenders must call or write you for verification before they can issue new credit. Since most identity theft occurs when thieves use your personal information to open new credit accounts (credit cards, bank accounts, phone accounts, etc.), fraud alerts aim to prevent identity theft by stopping the fraudulent accounts from being opened in the first place. (There are also what we call detection services that monitor any changes to your credit report and are a great way to catch identity theft in its early stages and before damage is done. They do not, however, help prevent ID theft.) The CEO of LifeLock stands behind his product so firmly that he will gladly hand out his social security number on the website. While it is a great testimony for his service, we don't recommend you try it at home!

LifeLock is a preventive identity theft service - their sole purpose is identity protection and recovery for you and your family. LifeLock also offers an excellent solution to protect children from identity theft. Child identity theft is an even faster growing crime than identity theft against adults. LifeLock works by installing and maintaining fraud alerts on your data with the 3 major credit bureaus. What this does is force a bank or other credit issuer to contact you personally before any new account can be opened in your name. Fraud alerts are a method of extra protection and they do not hurt your credit or score in any way. They also send you a 3-bureau credit report annually, at the time of and the anniversary of your signup with the company. LifeLock also reduces pre-approved credit offers and junk mail with your name on it from circulating, thereby reducing your chance of having your identity stolen. LifeLock recently added a new feature that is included in their service called WalletLock, which we think is excellent. If your wallet is ever stolen, you just call LifeLock and speak to a WalletLock specialist, who will contact each credit card, bank or document issuing company, cancel your affected accounts and complete the paperwork and steps necessary to replace your lost documents, including your credit/debit cards, driver's license, social security card, insurance cards, checkbook - even travelers checks - at no additional cost. LifeLock recently added two new services included in your membership to further protect you. The first, eRecon, monitors the internet's black markets for any use of your credit card numbers, driver's license, social security number and email. The second, TrueAddress, notifies you if your address has been changed in any national databases, a common tactic of identity thieves. LifeLock's guarantee is one of the best out of any of the top companies for identity protection, and it is clearly stated on their web site. They guarantee your good name up to $1 million if your identity is ever stolen. While this guarantee is great, direct monetary losses from identity theft are almost always much smaller since you are not legally responsible for paying any fraudulent debt a thief accumulated. The real cost of identity theft is the loss of ability to get credit for an extended period of time, the time and effort it takes to restore your good name, and many other adverse consequences that can even include mistaken incarceration.

Signing up was quick for us, and after 2 screens the company clearly labeled what we could expect from our account over the next 12 months or so. (For example, within 2 weeks we will be notified about the fraud alerts from the bureaus, within 2 months our junk mail will be drastically reduced, and every 90 days our fraud alerts will be reissued.) Upon contacting customer service by phone with some questions, we didn't have to wait more than a moment for someone to pick up the phone, and they are available 24/7 for any questions or problems. LifeLock offers both monthly and yearly payment options for individuals and families, as well as a Business-class service. Overall, LifeLock is a pioneer in identity theft protection and still offers one of the best values for identity theft prevention.

IDENTITY GUARD LEVEL 4 TOTAL PROTECTION REVIEW:Go to Site | Back to Chart

Identity Guard Total Protection is by far the most comprehensive identity theft detection service and really lives up to its Total Protection moniker. Total Protection has the most extensive fraud monitoring we've found and offers its whole service at a great price, just $14.99 per month after the 30-day free trial. The service has recently added several new features, most notably free Zone Alarm Internet Security Suite, an award-winning internet security solution including anti-virus, firewall, anti-phising and anti-spam software with hourly security updates. This normally costs $49.95 to buy but is free with your Total Protection enrollment and includes all virus definition updates and annual renewals as long as you maintain your membership. Of course if you don't want or need this security software you don't have to download it. In addition Identity Guard Total Protection now also gives you a 30-day free trial of their service.

Identity theft detection services like Identity Guard help to detect that you have become a victim of identity theft by monitoring your credit file at all 3 credit bureaus (commonly called credit monitoring) as opposed to identity theft prevention services (such as LifeLock) that aim to stop identity theft from happening in the first place by setting fraud alerts on your credit file at all 3 credit bureaus, meaning a lender must take the extra step of calling you to verify your identity before processing a new application from you. Identity Guard goes far beyond other ID theft detection services by also monitoring public records for any changes in your name, scanning for application or social security fraud, and monitoring the Internet's black market for any use of your credit cards or other personal information. They've also recently added anti-keylogging software, lost wallet protection (they can cancel your credit card accounts and give you up to $2,000 advance if you need it) and a Personal ID Risk Assessment. With the addition of Zone Alarm Internet Security software, Total Protection now also protects your computer and all your internet activity from fraud. Like many credit monitoring services, Identity Guard Total Protection completes daily scans of all 3 of your credit files and notifies you of any changes. It also gives you all 3 of your credit reports and all 3 of your credit scores every quarter. If anything is found, they will alert you by e-mail immediately. They also make it very easy to place fraud alerts with the bureaus yourself if you want to take that extra preventative step. You get all those for free with your 30-day trial so even if you decide you don't like it, you get to keep at no cost all 3 credit reports and scores, a public records report and the Zone Alarm Internet Security Suite for free. Buying all these separately would cost you over $100.

The signup process is relatively quick - you will go through a short series of screens asking you for information, including payment information. To verify your identity, you will be asked for your social security number, date of birth, and the answers to 5 multiple-choice questions of information in your file. By default, the credit reports and alerts are available online and through e-mail. If you want hard copies mailed to you however, you can call their customer service number and get them at no extra charge. Your subscription includes access to a very useful credit analyzer. You can try out different scenarios, such as paying off your credit card by a certain amount or opening up a new loan, to see how your credit score will be affected. If you are monitoring your credit, this analyzer can help you to make the best choices to raise your credit score. In the event of a credit card theft, you can report the incident to Identity Guard and they will handle all the details for you, including reporting the cards as stolen and getting new cards issued to you. Identity Guard offers generous customer service phone hours (8am-11pm M-F and 9am-6pm Sat) as well as postal mail and e-mail contact methods. When we tried contacting them, a customer service representative answered almost immediately, and was able to provide useful advice about the service. Reporting for lost or stolen cards can be done on the phone or through your account, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For those really serious about identity theft protection, Identity Guard Total Protection is the best way to go.

IDENTITY TRUTH REVIEW:Go to Site | Back to Chart

[Editor's Note: Identity Truth has set up an exclusive toll free number where NextAdvisor.com visitors can speak to an Identity Truth representative Monday through Saturday from 8am to 6pm EST to ask questions and ensure that they are receiving the exclusive 30 day free trial of Identity Truth that is only available through NextAdvisor.com. If you are interested in ordering Identity Truth, we recommend that you call the number: 1-866-736-0165.]

Identity Truth is an identity theft detection service in that it monitors your Experian credit report, but it also monitors many other data sources and claims to be able to predict when you are at high risk for identity theft. One of the best aspects of their service is their online interface that gives you access to all your personal information they have on file and everything they are monitoring for you. Identity Truth has even come up with an identity health score to give you a numerical indication of the level of risk you are facing for identity theft. In terms of what is actually being monitored, it is a bit hard for the average consumer to tell but Identity Truth starts with data from your Experian credit report. They then take that information, along with additional information you give them such as credit card and bank account numbers, and monitor multiple sources for any suspicious activity in your name, social security number, phone numbers or bank account numbers. They also give you a copy of your Experian credit report when you sign up. In addition, Identity Truth tracks data breaches across the country and lets you know of all the latest known data breaches at any institution so you can see if you might be at risk. It's hard to verify Identity Truth's claim of predicting fraud based on all their monitoring, but it certainly sounds good. Based on our tests so far, they do a good job of flagging incosistencies in your data and giving you instructions on who to contact in order to make sure there is not a problem. Identity Truth also one ups LifeLock in the insurance/guarantee area, giving you a $2 million in insurance. As we always try to point out, the importance of these numbers is overblown as all they cover are the direct costs of restoring your identity, not any actual financial losses or indirect costs such as your time and the difficulty getting credit after identity theft. One area Identity Truth falls a bit short is that when you sign up they make it seem as though they will set fraud alerts at the credit bureaus for you but actually they just give you the contact information to set them yourself. For those that want to have continous fraud alerts set, this is a little difficult to manage as they must be renewed every 90 days at each of the three credit bureaus. Also, Identity Truth only monitors data from one credit bureau, Experian. It would be nice if they got it from all three.

Identity Truth offers NextAdvisor.com visitors an exclusive 30 day free trial of their product with very competitive pricing after the trial period is complete. We suggest you sign up for the $99.99 annual plan or the $229.99 3 year plan because they represent a better value than the monthly plan. You will save about $20 per year, or 17%, with a one year subscription and about $23 per year, or 36%, with a three year subscription. The sign-up process is simple and you get access to your slick online interface very quickly. When we first started testing the site it was pretty slow but they seemed to have increased the speed to adequate levels. From our experience customer service is easy to reach during their generous 8am - midnight ET 7 days a week hours.

ID WATCHDOG REVIEW:Go to Site | Back to Chart

[Editor's Note: ID Watchdog has set up an exclusive toll free number where NextAdvisor.com visitors can speak to an ID Watchdog representative 24 hours a day, seven days a week to ask questions and ensure that they are receiving the best possible deal on the ID Watchdog service. If you are interested in ordering ID Watchdog, we recommend that you call the number: 1-800-233-1845.]

ID Watchdog takes a unique approach to detection based identity theft protection. Instead of monitoring credit reports, ID Watchdog monitors a very long list of public records databases including the Social Security Administration, drivers or pilots licenses, auto, boat or plane registrations, criminal records, Homeland Security watch lists, address or name changes, bankruptcy, liens and other judgments or filings.

Each month, ID Watchdog's patent pending technology scours each of these public databases for misuse of your personal information. What makes ID Watchdog unique is that, in theory, their monitoring should catch not only traditional financial identity theft attempts but also things such as employment fraud where a criminal uses your social security number to secure employment. There are many types of identity theft that don't show up on your credit report immediately, or at all, but are likely to be identified by ID Watchdog's monitoring system. Once you sign up for the service and provide them with all of your personal information they will begin the monitoring process. ID Watchdog provides a monthly report which includes a detailed breakdown of all the checks they have run against your identity.

If the system finds any potential identity theft then you are alerted and a recovery counselor from ID Watchdog handles all aspects of recovering your identity. ID Watchdog has the most straightforward and extensive recovery guarantee that we have ever seen. There are no limits on how much time or money they will spend to recover your identity if is stolen while you are a member of their service. Their guarantee covers essentially every foreseeable form of identity theft including financial, medical, benefits, employment, criminal, tax or utilities fraud. The only items that the ID watchdog guarantee won't cover are actual reimbursement for financial losses or loss of income related to an identity theft. ID Watchdog claims a 100% success rate in recovering stolen identities and says that most recoveries take 3 to 6 months, although some can take up to two years.

ID Watchdog does have a few downsides from our perspective. At $19.95 per month, the service is nearly two times as expensive as many other services we have reviewed. Also, while the monitoring is extensive, ID Watchdog doesn't provide any credit report data which is not only useful for detecting identity theft but also helps inform consumers about their overall financial health.

We highly recommend ID Watchdog due to the unique approach to detecting identity theft and the 100% recovery guarantee. However, you may want to consider another service if you prefer a more preventative approach to identity theft protection or would like access to credit report data.

FAMILYSECURE REVIEW:Go to Site | Back to Chart

FamilySecure is a new identity theft protection service that focuses on protecting the entire family, including children, from identity thieves. While the FamilySecure product itself is relatively new, it is backed by Experian which is the largest of the three national credit bureaus. FamilySecure is one of the most cost effective ways to protect an entire family unit from identity theft as one membership will cover any two adults, including spouses, significant others, relatives or just good friends, and an unlimited number of children for just $19.95 per month.

Adult members receive unlimited online access to their Experian credit reports plus ongoing monitoring of their Experian credit file. If any changes post to their credit file they are alerted with real-time email notifications. Credit report monitoring is an effective tool in the early detection of both new account fraud, where criminals open new financial accounts in a victim's name using their personal information, as well as identity theft related crimes perpetrated against existing accounts.

FamilySecure uses a similar tactic to protect the identities of children. Since most kids shouldn't have an existing credit file, FamilySecure monitors each covered child's personal information to ensure that no credit file exists or is created in their name. Unforntunately, children are one of the fastest growing segments of identity theft victims. We think FamilySecure's child credit monitoring feature is one of the best tools we have seen to help prevent most types of child identity theft. In particular, we like that FamilySecure is frequently monitoring for any instance of credit secured in a child's name. This ensures that any suspect activity can be identified and addressed immediately versus going undetected for months or even years and wrecking havoc with the child's credit history for years to come.

FamilySecure offers two levels of identity theft recovery services for all of their members. First, any member who believes that they have been victimized by an identity thief can contact a FamilySecure representative on their toll free fraud resolution hotline. These specialists are able to help FamilySecure members investigate any irregularities in their Experian credit file and will assist in resolving any issues. Second, FamilySecure offers a $2 million dollar guarantee. While we typically discount the guarantees offered by identity theft protection services, FamilySecure's guarantee offers much more coverage in certain areas than we have seen from similar guarantees from other providers. Most identity theft protection service guarantees only cover the costs of recovering your identity and not the actual losses that may occur. FamilySecure will not only cover the expense of recovering your identity should you be victimized, but they will also reimburse you for stolen funds and some lost wages resulting from the identity theft, like cases where an identity theft victim needs to take time off work to file a police report. There is one catch- in order for a FamilySecure member to be covered by the guarantee the identity theft must be related to one of the accounts listed on their Experian credit report. Since Experian is the largest of the three major credit bureaus it is very likely that most accounts would show up on your Experian credit report, but that caveat in the guarantee is something to be aware of.

Overall, we believe that FamilySecure is a cost effective way for entire families to protect themselves from identity theft. It is particularly effective in quickly identifying potential identity theft crimes committed against children. The main limitation of the service is that it only monitors Experian credit files for its members. While it would be best if FamilySecure monitored all three credit bureaus, Experian is the largest of the three and should be sufficient for most consumers.

LOUDSIREN REVIEW:Go to Site | Back to Chart

LoudSiren has done a nice job of differentiating themselves from similar services LifeLock and TrustedID by developing an easier system to manage fraud alert inquiries. All three of these identity theft prevention services work by setting and renewing fraud alerts on your credit files with the three bureaus, meaning that whenever you (or a potential ID thief) applies for credit, the lender must call you to verify that it is indeed you submitting the application. If the lender cannot reach you, your application will be held up until you are able to speak with them. LoudSiren avoids this problem by creating a new contact number for lenders to call and leave their information. LoudSiren then automatically contacts you at up to 3 numbers, where you can approve or disapprove the application through their automated system. If you cannot be reached, you can call back to LoudSiren at any time and approve or disapprove the application at your convenience. In addition to saving time and being more efficient, LoudSiren's system adds extra levels of security because you have a PIN number that you enter to approve every transaction and a recording of your own voice assures you that each call is legitimate.

Other than their automated fraud alert system, LoudSiren is very comparable to LifeLock. Just like LifeLock, you can get a copy of your credit report from each of the three credit bureaus, you can stop getting preapproved credit offers through the mail, and you've got a $1 million insurance policy in case your identity gets stolen. LoudSiren also will automatically put your phone numbers on the national Do Not Call Registry to stop unsolicited telemarketing calls. However, LoudSiren's customer service hours (M-F, 9am-5pm CT) are not as generous as LifeLock's. Overall, though, LoudSiren has added a valuable level of automation to identity theft prevention and is an excellent choice for those that will be using their credit often.

EQUIFAX GOLD 3-IN-1 MONITORING W/ SCOREPOWER REVIEW:Go to Site | Back to Chart

Equifax Credit Watch Gold 3-in-1 Monitoring Plus Score Power is another great identity theft detection service. Designed primarily as a service to monitor your credit reports and scores (it is our top rated service in our credit monitoring reviews), it also works very well in detecting identity theft. As a special promotion for our visitors, you now get a free 30-day trial when you sign up from our site. When you sign up for the free 30 day trial, you also get a free Equifax FICO score and a free 3-Bureau credit report (reports from 3 bureaus laid out side-by-side for easy comparison). Since the FICO score is the score most lenders use to make decisions, this is the best score you can get. Equifax actually gives you an entire Score Power report which not only includes your FICO score but also a FICO Score Simulator that estimates what your score would be if you took certain actions, as well as a full explanation of factors affecting your credit score. Equifax is giving you both the report and score free just for trying their monitoring service for 30 days, so if you don't like it you can cancel and have paid nothing for your FICO score and 3-Bureau report, which you would have to pay $40 for if you bought it separately. Canceling would defeat the purpose, though, since what is going to detect identity theft is their excellent 3-bureau monitoring service. We think monitoring all three bureaus is very important for both monitoring your credit and protecting against identity theft because sometimes lenders will only report a credit event to one bureau. Equifax constantly monitors all 3 bureaus and sends you an email alert within 24 hours of a change to any one of your 3 credit reports. You can also get an updated Equifax credit report any time you want. At only $14.95 per month after the free 30-day trial, this service is an excellent value. If you're looking for an identity theft detection service and also want to keep tabs on your credit reports and scores, Equifax Credit Watch Gold 3-in-1 Monitoring Plus Score Power is a great solution.

IDENTITY THEFT SHIELD REVIEW:Go to Site | Back to Chart

Identity Theft Shield from PrePaid Legal and Kroll, Inc provides solid identity theft recovery support for victims but takes no steps to protect subscribers from having their identities stolen in the first place. The service offers single bureau credit report monitoring of your Experian credit file for $9.95 per month which also includes a free Experian credit report and score at sign up. Experian is the largest of the three credit bureaus and will likely reflect most major changes to your credit report, but we believe that three bureau credit monitoring is a better option since it eliminates the risk that a potentially fraudulent account or entry may not show up on your Experian credit report but end up on one of the other two bureau files in your name. Identity Theft Shield also offers a Gold package which includes credit report monitoring of all three bureaus, including Experian, Equifax and TransUnion, for $12.95. The Gold package also includes a credit report from each of the three credit bureaus at sign up.

Credit report monitoring is a good tool to help identify inconsistencies in your credit report that could be caused by identity thieves, but it doesn't prevent identity theft in any way. Other services we have reviewed, such as LifeLock, Identity Guard, Identity Truth and Trusted ID, take proactive measures to prevent identity theft crimes from being perpetrated against their subscribers. Identity Theft Shield, on the other hand, offers no tools that actually prevent identity theft.

Identity Theft Shield does offer extensive recovery services to its subscribers if they are the unfortunate victims of identity theft. Identity Theft Shield sets fraud alerts and sends notifications to all applicable government agencies and financial institutions on behalf of the victimized subscriber. It also monitors an extensive list of public and private databases in an effort to identify any misuse of a subscriber's personal information. Identity Theft Shield's recovery services also help reduce some out-of-pocket expenses and fraud resolution specialists are able to handle much of the heavy lifting when it comes to recovering a stolen identity.

Setting fraud alerts and proactively searching national databases for suspicious activity are both great services for victims, but they are also extremely effective in preventing and identifying potential identity theft crimes. In fact, many of the other services we have reviewed offer these tools to all subscribers as preventative measures rather than after a crime has already been committed as Identity Theft Shield does.

We do believe that it is a good service for victims, but many of the solutions it offers to help recover a stolen identity are used by other identity theft protection services to actually prevent identity theft in the first place. The lack of proactive identity theft prevention measures is the biggest downside to the Identity Theft Shield service.

IDENTITY GUARD GOOD START REVIEW:Go to Site | Back to Chart

Identity Guard Good Start is a stripped down version of ID Guard's all-encompassing Total Protection program but still packs enough features to be a decent identity theft detection solution. What sets it apart is its tiny price of just $4.99 per month. Good Start doesn't do things like stop some of your junk mail or order your free credit reports for you like LifeLock, but it does give you something extremely valuable that they don't: credit monitoring of your Equifax credit file. Plus, it comes with Identity Guard's excellent customer service. Compared to its big brother Identity Guard Total Protection, Good Start has fewer features, including monitoring only one of the three bureaus (we recommend monitoring all three), no credit scores or reports and no additional fraud detection. So while we still recommend Total Protection for those most serious about protecting themselves from identity theft, Good Start is a viable option for those looking for a lower priced alternative that performs credit monitoring services at a very reasonable price. If price is a major concern, then Good Start lives up to its name, and is a good start for protecting yourself.