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If there’s a particularly clear picture that’s developed over the past couple of years, it’s that our privacy and our personal identities are worth looking out for. We have your back. And here’s why.
In the U.S., reported cases of identity theft continue to rise. Comparing the first three quarters of 2020 to the first three quarters of 2021, we can see that the number of identity theft cases reported to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC)are up. Moreover, fraud connected with government documents and benefits has jumped by nearly 100,000 reported cases. Likewise, bank fraud saw a jump as well with a solid 30% increase.
Figure-1-2021-FTC-Fraud-Reports-Q1-Q3
Figure 2- 2020 Fraud Reports, Q1-Q3
Likewise, compare 2021 to the same period in 2019 and the contrast is yet more striking: well over double the number of reports of identity theft. Also note the massive bump in fraud across the board as well—notably in government documents and benefits, which went from nearly 18,000 reported cases to more than a quarter-million cases.
Figure 3- 2019 Fraud Reports, Q1-Q3
And that’s just what’s been reported in the U.S. Far more crime goes unreported, and it is estimated that the cost of identity theft and fraud goes well into the billions of dollars.
Yet behind each stat is a person, a family, and a household that dealt with anything from a financial headache to a major life event no thanks to identity theft and fraud. Accordingly, we’re seeing to it that each and every person has the tools to prevent this from happening to them.
Here’s a little bit about our approach. We looked at some of the key areas where people’s private information can be vulnerable and designed a tool that offers easy-to-use, intelligent protection for Windows, Android, and iOS devices, with a consistent feel on whichever device you’re using it.
Connect safely a VPN
Unsecured networks can leave us vulnerable, like when we use public Wi-Fi. What’s at issue is that a cybercriminal can potentially capture your login credentials and other personal information as you use a public network in a hotel, airport, coffee shop, library, and so forth.
So, we made sure to include a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to keep your information protected from prying eyes. It does this easily by detecting when you’re on a public network and automatically turning on on your VPN. The VPN then scrambles or encrypts, your data as it flows over the network. Unlike some VPNs that require advanced settings to shield your data, our app offers seamless security.
Dark Web Monitoring
Given that data breaches large and small continue to occur with more regularity than any of us would like, always-on monitoring of your private information is key.
Whether one of your personal accounts is hacked–or worse–another website somehow gets ahold of your data and subsequently gets breached, your data may end up on the dark web. This is where cybercriminals buy and sell information.
To detect these dangerous leaks, we included dark web monitoring, which alerts you if your log-in credentials have been exposed. It can even provide you with a link to the site that uses those credentials when the information is available. This allows you to swiftly reset your passwords, mitigating the risk.
Identity theft insurance and recovery support
Should the unfortunate happen to you, we have your back. In several ways.
Recovering from identity fraud or theft can be expensive. We’ll help relieve the burden with $1M coverage for lawyer fees, travel expenses, lost wages, and more. If money was stolen directly from a bank account, we’ll also reimburse up to $10,000 stolen funds.
No question about it, recovery can be time-consuming, confusing, and even frustrating. With that, we offer licensed recovery experts who can work with you any time, around the clock, all year long. These pros can use a limited power of attorney to do the heavy lifting for identity recovery, taking all necessary steps to repair identity and credit.
In all, we protect your time and your money as part of protecting your identity too.
New: Identity Protection Score
Knowing your safe and staying that way just got far simpler. With a colorful view, you can see exactly what your Identity Protection Score is at a glance, which compiles your overall levels of security, privacy, and identity theft protection. Better yet, if it spots gaps in your protection, it guides you through straightforward fixes that can make you safer than before.
It’s an industry first, and something we all deserve—the ability to clearly see exactly how secure you are and to quickly shore up your protection whenever it’s needed.
Ease of Use
Also on our list, we wanted to make personal protection easy to use and available across all your compatible devices. So, whether you’re out with just your phone, or at home working at your PC, you have access to your protection, and can even pick up where you left off on a different device.
It’s about enjoying the internet
Ultimately, that’s what any of us want—to enjoy the internet with confidence, knowing that whatever it is we’re doing online is secure.
The way we use the internet continues to evolve. After all, it wasn’t long ago that the idea of using a phone to see who’s at the front door may have seemed a bit odd. Let alone having a little chat with the speaker on your kitchen counter. Yet that’s where we are today. And as the internet evolves, so will we. The protection we offer will cover your increasingly connected life in whatever shape that takes.
No question about it. We’re committed to protecting you, your privacy, identity, and certainly your devices too—and making all of it simple.
Here’s to a happy and secure year!
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