In this article:
Identity theft and fraud protection for your finances, personal info, and devices.
Is Your Personal Information on the Dark Web?
While there are legitimate uses for the Dark Web, this shadowy corner of the online world is mostly known as a haven for hackers and scammers who use it to anonymously buy and sell anything from leaked personal data to credit card numbers, fake IDs, and more.
There were over 3,000 reported data breaches in 2023 alone — a 72% increase from just a few years ago [*].
Most people don’t know how to access the Dark Web safely and will never know if their passwords or identity are at risk. That’s why it’s so important to sign up for a Dark Web monitoring service.
These tools scan millions of known Dark Web sites and marketplaces for your personal data, and can warn you if you’re at risk. But not all Dark Web scanners are the same — and some aren’t worth the money.
In this guide, we’ll explain how Dark Web monitoring works, compare the best monitoring tools, and show you how to protect your personal information in the future.
How Do Dark Web Monitoring Services Work?
The Dark Web is a network of websites and (often illegal) marketplaces that can’t be reached via normal search engines. (This is not to be confused with the deep web, which contains password-protected web pages, such as your email inbox or social media settings).
The Dark Web is only accessible by using anonymous web browsers like Tor that hide their users’ identities.
The anonymous nature of the Dark Web makes it appealing to cybercriminals, but also anyone else who requires a high-level of privacy, such as whistleblowers or investigative journalists.
Yet, despite the positives, the primary use of the Dark Web is to buy and sell stolen and illegal goods and services — and, increasingly, personal data.
When hackers break into company databases, they strip away as much user information as possible and sell it on the Dark Web. This can include personally identifiable information (PII), like your Social Security Number (SSN) and passwords, email addresses, or even intellectual property.
Dark Web monitoring is a type of threat intelligence that detects this sensitive information on the Dark Web. Using artificial intelligence (AI) and automation, monitoring tools scan hundreds of websites to:
- Notify you quickly of personal information leaks. Companies are legally required to inform customers if their data was compromised in a breach. But these disclosures can sometimes be made weeks or even months after the fact. A Dark Web monitoring service alerts you as soon as your data shows up in a Dark Web forum or marketplace.
- Identify passwords and credentials that need updates. Weak and reused passwords can lead to identity theft. If hackers crack or buy one password, they could gain access to many sensitive accounts. Dark Web monitoring providers flag weak credentials for you. They may also include a built-in password manager to store and generate new passwords.
- Provide early warnings of company hacking. Network security teams also use Dark Web monitoring services to look for digital risks, cyber threats, and other vulnerabilities. Threat hunting projects like this can allow cybersecurity teams to launch incident responses, secure network endpoints, and minimize the risk of further data theft.
💡 Related: Was Your SSN Found On the Dark Web? Do This! →
The 7 Best Dark Web Monitoring Services in 2024
Many Dark Web monitoring services are designed for companies and security teams that fight cybercrime. However, consumers are primarily interested in the companies that work to keep their personal information safe and secure.
Here’s a high-level overview of the best Dark Web monitoring tools for individuals:
Now, let’s take a closer look at each service, any additional protection it offers, and why you should (or shouldn’t) choose it.
1. Identity Guard
Identity Guard is an all-in-one identity theft and fraud protection service that combines Dark Web monitoring, identity protection, three-bureau credit monitoring, Safe Browsing tools and more.
Over the past 25 years, more than 38 million people have trusted Identity Guard to keep them safe online.
Where Identity Guard excels is in the sheer amount of personal data it tracks online and on the Dark Web. Your Identity Guard “watchlist” can include over 70 pieces of personal information, including your SSN, driver’s license, healthcare ID, and more.
Unlike stand-alone Dark Web monitoring platforms, Identity Guard provides tools to protect you against nearly all forms of web threats — including a secure password manager, data breach notifications, bank account monitoring, home title monitoring, and United States Postal Service (USPS) address change monitoring.
Here are some of the main pros and cons of using Identity Guard for Dark Web monitoring:
How much does Identity Guard cost?
Identity Guard has three pricing tiers: Value, Total, and Ultra. Each plan includes Dark Web monitoring, Safe Browsing tools, and password management — but varies based on additional features. Family plans can include members residing in different households, such as grandparents or kids away at college.
Here are Identity Guard’s pricing and plans as of March 2024 using this discount link:
- Value Plan (without credit monitoring): $6.67/month (individual) and $10 (family)
- Total Plan: $13.33/month (individual) and $19.99 (family)
- Ultra Plan: $19.99/month (individual) and $26.67 (family)
All Identity Guard plans come with a $1 million identity theft insurance policy for each adult plan member.
Final verdict: Identity Guard provides some of the best Dark Web and identity monitoring available — all at a reasonable price.
2. Aura
Aura is another award-winning, all-in-one identity theft solution that provides robust Dark Web monitoring and an extended “watchlist.”
Similar to Identity Guard, Aura includes Safe Browsing tools, a secure password manager, and credit and bank account monitoring. However, Aura expands its digital security features with antivirus protection, a military-grade virtual private network (VPN), AI-powered scam call and text protection, and more.
Aura also offers a family plan with parental controls, identity and fraud protection for up to five adults and unlimited children, and up to $5 million in insurance coverage. Like Identity Guard, Aura family plan members can reside in different households.
Here are some of the main pros and cons of using Aura for Dark Web monitoring:
How much does Aura cost?
Aura offers simple pricing plans for individuals, couples, or families. All plans include Dark Web monitoring as well as at least $1 million in identity theft insurance. Family plans are bolstered with parental controls and other family-friendly features.
Here are Aura’s plans and pricing as of March 2024:
- Individual plan: $12 per month
- Couple plan (two members): $22 per month
- Family plan (five adults, unlimited kids): $37 per month
Final verdict: Aura offers ironclad family protection at a steeper price point. If you’re looking to keep your entire family safe from fraud, Aura’s Family Plan may be the most affordable way to go.
3. LastPass
Originally developed as a password manager, LastPass has expanded its product to include Dark Web monitoring. It prompts you to change weak and reused passwords, and provides an overall security score based on the strength of those passwords. But beyond that, LastPass’s functionality is quickly limited.
The company has also suffered several data breaches over the last decade, leaving users unsure of LastPass’s ability to safeguard their most sensitive data [*].
Here are some of the main pros and cons of using LastPass for Dark Web monitoring:
How much does LastPass cost?
LastPass’s Free plan comes with Dark Web monitoring, password generation, and a security dashboard. But you’ll want to go with the Premium or Family plan for customer support, one-to-many sharing, and other digital security features.
Here are LastPass’ plans and pricing as of March 2024:
- Premium: $3/month, billed annually
- Families: $4/month, billed annually
Final verdict: LastPass is newer to the Dark Web monitoring space and has a questionable track record. Its security incidents in 2022 weren’t the first time LastPass got negative press. The company has had a history of smaller breaches since 2011 [*].
💡 Related: 7 Ways Hackers Can Steal Your Passwords (and How To Stop Them) →
4. Norton 360
While most people know Norton 360 as an antivirus software, its higher-priced plans offer Dark Web monitoring and the opportunity to add identity theft protection through LifeLock.
In addition to tracking data leaks and online marketplaces, Norton 360 monitors your phone and social media for signs of account takeovers.
However, Norton 360 also experienced a recent bout of cyberattacks [*]. In years past, Norton’s parent company, LifeLock, was charged by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for deceptive marketing and failure to secure consumer information [*].
How much does Norton 360 cost?
All Norton 360 plans come with a steep introductory discount for first-time users. However, pricing nearly doubles at renewal time. You also need to pay extra for identity theft protection from LifeLock.
Here are Norton 360’s pricing and plans as of March 2024:
- Deluxe (five PCs, Macs, tablets, or smartphones): $49.99 first year, then up to $119.99
- Select + LifeLock (10 PCs, Macs, tablets, or smartphones): $99.99 first year, then up to $179.99
Final verdict: Norton 360 is an expensive option if you want all-inclusive protection (which may or may not be compromised). Norton 360’s latest attack leaked first names, last names, phone numbers, and addresses of 6,000+ customers. While leadership says the company took action, its only advice for victims was to use strong, unique passwords.
💡 Related: Identity Guard vs. Norton LifeLock (2024 Comparison and Review) →
5. IDShield
IDShield offers Dark Web monitoring with wrap-around identity theft protection services. Established by parent company LegalShield, IDShield places a greater emphasis on identity theft recovery than on other tools. The company even employs private investigators to help you track down perpetrators.
How much does IDShield cost?
IDShield offers two plans, distinguished by the number of credit bureaus it monitors.
Here are IDShield’s plans and pricing as of March 2024:
- One-bureau monitoring: $14.95/month (individual), $29.95/month (family)
- Three-bureau monitoring: $19.95/month (individual), $34.95/month (family)
Each plan comes with Dark Web monitoring, social media monitoring, SSN monitoring, court records monitoring, and medical data reports. Note that IDShield doesn’t offer promotional pricing for new users.
Final verdict: IDShield is good for folks who want a lot of alerts and access to dedicated private investigators in the case they get scammed (although it’s unclear how much most people would benefit from this feature).
💡 Related: What Is Credit Monitoring (and Do You Need To Pay For It?) →
6. IdentityForce
IdentityForce, a TransUnion company, offers strong identity theft protection that includes Dark Web monitoring. Paid plans come with advanced monitoring features, a smart SSN tracker, junk mail opt-outs, and fast fraud alerts.
All IdentityForce plans include Dark Web monitoring — however, only the UltraSecure+Credit plan includes what IdentityForce calls “Dark Web Data Analysis.” According to the company, this feature “combines human research and investigative methods to analyze potentially exposed information.”
But these advantages come at a price. IdentityForce plans are more expensive than other services that provide similar features. And their recovery policies vary by plan.
How much does IdentityForce cost?
IdentityForce has two plans — UltraSecure and UltraSecure+Credit. UltraSecure has no VPN, mobile threat detection, Dark Web data analysis, or credit protection. UltraSecure+Credit includes those features, plus credit monitoring and deceased family fraud remediation.
Here are IdentityForce’s pricing and plans as of March 2024:
- UltraSecure: $19.90/month per member or $199.90/year
- UltraSecure+Credit: $34.90/month per member or $349.90/year
Child identity theft protection is an extra $2.75 per month per child.
Final verdict: IdentityForce is an expensive plan for the features provided. It’s comparable to several other products on this list, yet the fully-featured plan comes at a higher price point with costly add-ons like child identity theft monitoring.
💡 Related: IdentityGuard vs. IdentityForce: Which One Is Best In 2024? →
7. Experian IdentityWorks
Like IdentityForce, IdentityWorks is backed by a major credit bureau. Experian built IdentityWorks to help users maintain their credit scores and monitor their online identities.
IdentityWorks offers a free one-time Dark Web scan, and paid plans include monthly privacy scans — although these only check for potential threats to your phone number, address, and email.
How much does IdentityWorks cost?
Continuous monitoring and Dark Web alerts are included in the IdentityWorks Premium and Family plans. Both have seven-day free trials, then convert to a monthly pricing structure.
Here are Experian IdentityWorks’ pricing and plans as of March 2024:
- Premium: $24.99 per month
- Family (one additional adult, up to 10 children): $34.99 per month
IdentityWorks offers no upfront discounts for new users.
Final verdict: IdentityWorks is appropriate for users who feel comfortable self-monitoring their credit and personal details. You’ll have to use other tools to check for SSN and driver’s license leaks. Plus, access to credit monitoring features comes at a steep price and is heavily skewed toward Experian.
Can You Scan the Dark Web for Free?
Free Dark Web scanners (like the one offered by Identity Guard or sites like HaveIBeenPwned) only check for your email address. They’re unable to scan for more sensitive information like your SSN or financial details.
Dark Web scans are also one-time events, not ongoing protective measures. Many free scanners don’t frequently update the list of marketplaces and sites they scan, so you won’t be getting the most up-to-date information.
Paid services, on the other hand, regularly scan for more pieces of personal data. And they search for it on the most up-to-date Dark Web sites. If your information is leaked in a breach or is associated with illegal activity, you’ll get notified right away.
Is It Possible To Remove Your Information From the Dark Web?
No. Once your information is leaked, it’s almost impossible to get it taken down. And you can't guarantee it won't spread to other forums and marketplaces.
Instead, your best bet is to change your passwords and open new financial accounts.
The bottom line: Identity thieves and scammers are almost always financially motivated. If your information is circulating on the Dark Web, you could be at risk of identity theft or fraud. Try Identity Guard’s all-in-one solution today and find out if you’re at risk!
How To Protect Your Data — Before It Ends Up on the Dark Web
The best way to protect yourself and your family from hackers on the Dark Web is to limit their access to your private information.
Here are a few steps you can take today to proactively protect your data, identity, and finances:
- Use unique passwords and 2FA on all accounts. If you use the same passwords across multiple accounts, a single data breach can put all of your sensitive accounts at risk. That’s what happened to nearly one million LifeLock customers whose password manager passwords were leaked [*]. Limit the damage that hackers can do by always using strong and unique passwords for every account and enabling two-factor authentication (2FA).
- Limit how much information you share online. Don’t post your location on social media, and never share your phone number publicly. Malicious actors can use this data to pose as you online and harass your friends and family.
- Check privacy policies, and reduce the amount of data you give to companies. Many apps sell information to data brokers, causing you to receive more spam calls and texts. If you’re an iPhone user, click on “Ask App Not to Track” to prevent companies from monitoring your activity. When creating a new account, only fill out the required fields.
- Learn to spot the warning signs of a phishing scam or fake website. Threat actors may impersonate company representatives and government officials. Or, they may offer you a “free vacation” if you share your credit card number to cover “taxes and fees.” These scams often contain outdated company logos, odd greetings, and spelling mistakes.
- Delete old accounts. All online accounts are hackable. Review the passwords section of your browser settings for old accounts to delete.
Taking these proactive measures can slow down scammers, but it won’t keep them away. For ultimate protection against fraud and identity theft, you need an all-in-one digital security provider like Identity Guard.
Complete with a password manager, Dark Web monitoring, Safe Browsing features, and advanced threat monitoring, Identity Guard has the tools you need to keep your whole family safe.
And if the worst should happen, Identity Guard has you covered. Every plan includes up to $1 million in identity theft insurance for each adult on your plan, along with a U.S.-based customer care team ready to help you recover your identity.
