x
Breaking News
More () »

What Can Those 'Identity Theft Protection' Services Actually Do?

Many people believe they can remove their information from the dark web. But that's far from the truth.

GREENSBORO, N.C. — You've likely heard of identity theft protection. Maybe you imagine a vast internet presence stopping hackers in their tracks. But it turns out, you might need to scale back those expectations a bit.

RELATED: Keep An Eye Out For Some Of These Tax Season Scams

But, it's probably not your fault, the ads for these companies are very effective. Consumer Reports found that 36% of people who've seen them think they can remove their information from the dark web. 37% think they can keep people from buying their personal information.

RELATED: Scammers Targeting Teens: Mother Warns Other Parents After 13-Year-Old Gets Phone Call Asking For Her Social Security Number

Neither of those ideas is true. You can never fully erase things from the internet. And that goes double for the dark web. And you can't stop criminals from getting to it.

Here's what these protection services actually do. They can monitor your identity to a certain point. They can't track all the different ways but they can alert you if something suspicious is happening and if your information is at risk. Many offer restoration services if your identity is stolen - some even reimburse you for stolen money.

Careful What You Post. Social Security May Use Your Facebook, Instagram Photos in Disability Claims

Before You Leave, Check This Out