Identity Theft Protection

Last updated: December 9, 2025 Recently updated

Identity Theft Protection Guide

Coverage and services to protect against and recover from identity theft

Not sure what coverage you need? Take our free 2-minute quiz to get personalized insurance recommendations.

What is Identity Theft Protection?

Identity Theft Protection provides essential protection for you and your family. Understanding how it works helps you make better coverage decisions.

Key Features

Coverage details and benefits
What’s typically included
Common exclusions to be aware of
Cost factors that affect premiums

Who Needs Identity Theft Protection?

Learn whether this type of coverage is right for your situation and how to determine the appropriate coverage amount.

How to Choose a Policy

Tips for comparing policies, understanding terms, and finding the best value for your needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about identity theft protection answered.

Starting a Business Checklist - Protecting business identity
Getting Married Checklist - Protecting shared finances

Cyber Liability Insurance - Business-level data breach protection
Homeowners Insurance - May include basic identity theft coverage

Home Insurance Guide - Many homeowners policies include identity theft coverage
Insurance for High Net Worth - Asset protection strategies

Data Sources

Identity theft protection data in this guide come from the FTC (opens in new tab) identity theft reports, Identity Theft Resource Center (opens in new tab) , and III (opens in new tab) (Insurance Information Institute). Learn more about our data collection methods on our Methodology page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does identity theft protection cover?

Identity theft protection services typically include credit monitoring, dark web surveillance, identity restoration assistance, and insurance covering expenses from identity theft (legal fees, lost wages, fraudulent charges). Some include proactive features like credit freezes and alerts.

Is identity theft insurance the same as protection services?

No. Identity theft insurance reimburses expenses incurred while recovering from identity theft (legal fees, lost wages, phone bills). Protection services actively monitor your identity and alert you to suspicious activity. Many protection plans bundle both, but insurance alone doesn’t prevent theft.

Do I need identity theft protection if I have credit monitoring?

Credit monitoring only watches credit reports. Identity theft protection is broader: it may monitor dark web activity, public records, address changes, and non-credit identity use. If you want comprehensive monitoring and recovery assistance, dedicated identity theft protection offers more than basic credit monitoring.