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What is identity protection? 

Keep your identity and sensitive data safe from threats.

Identity protection defined

Identity protection refers to the policies, practices, and technologies used to prevent unauthorized access, use, or disclosure of personal and professional information. It includes measures like monitoring, authentication, and threat detection that work together to reduce the risk of identity theft and fraud.

Why does identity protection matter?

Data breaches, phishing scams, and other cyberthreats are increasingly common. Identity protection helps you keep your information safe from misuse, fraud, and unauthorized access. Whether it’s your Social Security number, login credentials, or financial info, identity protection helps keep your data secure and private.

What about identity theft prevention?

Identity crimes are offenses involving the unauthorized use of someone’s personal or financial information, often for fraud or deception. Identity theft prevention is the practice of reducing the risk of identity-related crimes. It involves identity theft monitoring, using strong authentication methods, and minimizing unnecessary data exposure.

How identity protection services help 

Identity protection services help stop identity theft by monitoring and securing your personal data. They typically include credit monitoring, identity monitoring, dark web surveillance, and alerts about suspicious activity. Some plans also offer identity theft insurance and professional support for restoring your identity if it's been compromised.

The benefits of adopting these solutions go beyond risk mitigation and early detection. Identity protection gives you peace of mind, adds an extra layer of financial security, and helps you act quickly if something goes wrong. Many services send real-time alerts when your information is at risk, making it easier for you to stay informed and take action.

Practical steps for identity protection

Identity theft protection doesn’t have to be complicated. A few practical steps can go a long way toward protecting your information and lowering your risk. Whether you're getting started or looking to strengthen your existing habits, these actions can help you lay a stronger foundation for identity protection.

Here are some simple practices that help protect your identity online:
 
  • Use strong, unique passwords for every account. 
  • Store passwords in a secure password manager. 
  • Turn on multifactor authentication wherever it’s available. 
  • Use antivirus and anti-phishing protection. 
  • Keep software and devices up to date to patch known vulnerabilities. 
  • Shred your sensitive documents. 
  • Avoid sharing personal information over unsecured public Wi-Fi. 
Taking these steps will help shift your approach from reactive to proactive. That said, they’re meant to prevent identity theft—not address it after the fact. If you suspect your identity may already be compromised, watch for these common warning signs:
 
  • Unfamiliar charges on your accounts. 
  • Accounts you didn’t open.
  • Changes to your credit score.
  • Unexpected bills or debt collection notices. 
If you notice any of these, it’s important to act quickly by contacting your financial institutions, asking one of the major credit bureaus to place a credit freeze on your accounts, and filing a report with the Federal Trade Commission.

To help you catch issues early, identity protection apps and services often include real-time alerts about suspicious activity, credit monitoring, and dark web scanning capabilities. These tools also help you securely store sensitive documents and stay ahead of new threats.

Protecting sensitive information

Cybercriminals don’t just go after credit card numbers or passwords—they’re looking for any opportunity to access sensitive information. These best practices are intended to help you prevent data theft, strengthen device protection, and stay one step ahead of common online threats. 

Best practices for preventing data theft 

Strong identity theft protection includes multiple layers of defense. In addition to the practical steps you can take on your own, antivirus software, antiphishing tools, and multifactor authentication all play a role in stopping malicious activity before it causes harm. These tools help block attacks at multiple entry points—your inbox, your devices, and your login pages.

Security software helps prevent unauthorized access by detecting and blocking malware, phishing attempts, and other types of suspicious behavior. Look for solutions that offer safe browsing, real-time alerts, and protection across devices.

Antiphishing protection—often included in comprehensive security software like Microsoft Defender—helps filter malicious emails, block suspicious links, and provide warnings about fraudulent websites designed to steal credentials.

Multifactor authentication solutions, like Microsoft Entra multifactor authentication, add an extra layer of security by requiring a second form of verification before access to a resource is granted. This makes it significantly harder for cyberattackers to get access to your data. Even if they have your password, they won’t be able to get in without an additional factor—like a code sent to your phone or a fingerprint scan.

Keeping your software and operating systems up to date is another extremely important part of preventing data theft. Many cyberattacks take advantage of known vulnerabilities that haven’t been patched. Regular updates and routine scans help close those gaps.

Comprehensive identity protection 

Protecting your identity starts with visibility, control, and the ability to act fast when threats arise. Microsoft Defender1 supports that through continuous dark web monitoring of 60+ types of personal info, alerts and guidance about suspicious activity, and protection across devices and accounts.2 Early detection helps you mitigate risks before they escalate or lead to identity compromise.

If your identity if your identity is stolen or compromised, Defender can help with 24/7 identity theft support to help restore your identity.

Plus, you’ll get peace of mind with up to $1 million identity insurance coverage for restoration-related legal and expert fees and up to $100,000 for lost funds3 recovery.

Strengthening your identity protection 

Effective identity protection combines everyday habits and security solutions that work across devices, accounts, and networks.

Start with the basics. Use secure passwords, stay current on software updates, and turn on available protections. As you build stronger habits, consider exploring additional services and tools from Microsoft Security that fit your needs.

The earlier you act, the easier it is to limit damage and maintain control. Taking a few proactive steps now can help safeguard your personal and professional information against future threats. With the right habits and tools in place, you’ll be ready to respond before small vulnerabilities turn into serious problems.

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Frequently asked questions

  • A strong defense combines using unique passwords, setting up multifactor authentication, staying aware of threats, and using identity protection services. Together, these practices can help you detect suspicious activity early and make it harder for attackers to access your personal information.
  • In most cases, yes. Identity protection services provide alerts, monitoring, and support that can reduce the risk of identity theft and help you resolve incidents faster.
  • Watch for unexpected account activity, new accounts in your name, unfamiliar charges, changes to your credit score, and notices from debt collectors. 
  • Act quickly by contacting affected institutions, freezing your credit, setting up fraud alerts, and reporting the issue to the Federal Trade Commission.
  • Use strong, unique passwords, turn on multifactor authentication, limit data exposure, and consider adopting identity protection services.
  • Report the incident to the Federal Trade Commission, contact your financial institutions, and place a fraud alert with one of the major credit bureaus.
  1. [1]
    A Microsoft 365 Family or Personal subscription is required. Identity theft monitoring, credit monitoring, support, insurance is available in the United States and US territories.
  2. [2]
    Credit score is a single bureau VantageScore 3.0 provided by Experian®. The monthly credit report is provided by Experian® using single bureau data. For users under the age of 18 or those without a credit history, credit score not included. Family organizers will not have the ability to onboard, view, and receive alerts related to family member credit monitoring. Your device's primary display language must be set to English.
  3. [3]
    The identity theft insurance is underwritten and administered by American Bankers Insurance Company of Florida, an Assurant company. Please refer to the actual policies for terms, conditions, and exclusions of coverage. Coverage may not be available in all jurisdictions. Review the Summary of Benefits.