Product Overview of ID Watchdog
ID Watchdog is a comprehensive identity theft protection service designed to safeguard individuals and families from various forms of identity theft. Developed by Equifax, one of the major credit bureaus, ID Watchdog offers a robust suite of features to monitor, protect, and restore your identity.
Key Features
Identity Monitoring
ID Watchdog conducts extensive monitoring across multiple domains, including:
- Dark Web Monitoring: Scans the dark web, chat rooms, and other forums for any traces of your personal and financial information that may have been compromised in data breaches or leaks.
- Public Records Monitoring: Searches billions of public records to identify any unexpected activity that could indicate potential identity theft.
- USPS Change of Address Monitoring: Alerts you if there are any unauthorized changes to your physical address, helping to prevent mail rerouting and associated fraud.
Credit Monitoring
ID Watchdog provides credit monitoring services that include:
- Credit Report Monitoring: Tracks changes to your credit reports from one or all three major credit bureaus (Equifax, TransUnion, Experian), depending on the plan you choose. The Premium plan offers daily monitoring from all three bureaus.
- Credit Score Tracking: Offers daily credit score updates and VantageScore credit scores from the three bureaus.
- Credit Report Locks: Allows you to lock and unlock your credit reports to prevent unauthorized access, a feature available with the Premium plan.
Financial Account Monitoring
The Premium plan includes monitoring of your financial accounts, such as credit cards, investment accounts, and savings accounts, to detect any suspicious activity.
Additional Protection Features
- Social Media Monitoring: Keeps an eye on your social media accounts for suspicious activity and potential imposters.
- Registered Offender Alerts: Provides alerts about registered sex offenders in your area, enhancing personal safety.
- High-Risk Transaction Alerts: Notifies you of any high-risk transactions or subprime loans opened in your name.
Assistance and Restoration
ID Watchdog offers:
- Lost Wallet Assistance: Helps you cancel credit cards, gym memberships, and other accounts if your wallet is lost or stolen.
- Identity Restoration Services: Provides fully managed resolution support, including up to $1 million in identity theft insurance, to help you recover from identity theft.
Bonus Features
The service includes additional security tools such as:
- Bitdefender Antivirus: Offers antivirus protection to safeguard your devices from malware and other threats.
- NordVPN and NordPass Password Manager: Provides a VPN and password manager to enhance your online security and password management.
Plans and Pricing
ID Watchdog offers two main plans:
- ID Watchdog Select: This plan includes monitoring of one credit bureau, credit score tracking, and various identity monitoring features, starting at $14.95 per month for individuals and $23.95 per month for families.
- ID Watchdog Premium: This plan extends monitoring to all three credit bureaus, adds financial account monitoring, and includes other enhanced features, starting at $21.95 per month for individuals and $34.95 per month for families.
Security and Trust
ID Watchdog uses Transport Layer Security (TLS) to encrypt your data, ensuring secure connections and sessions. While the service retains your personal information even after cancellation, it does not share this data with third parties for marketing purposes.
In summary, ID Watchdog is a robust identity theft protection service that offers comprehensive monitoring, credit protection, and restoration services, making it a valuable tool for individuals and families seeking to safeguard their identities.