The 7 Most Reliable Dark Web Monitoring Services of 2024

March 1, 2024

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    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. 

    🔎 Scan the Dark Web for your most sensitive data — for free. Identity Guard offers a free Dark Web scanner to warn you if your personal information has been part of recent data breaches, and also provides tools and support to protect you and your family against identity theft, hacking, and scams.

    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:

    Service
    Best for
    Pricing
    Identity Guard
    Comprehensive protection, including Dark Web monitoring, identity and credit protection, and Safe Browsing tools.
    Starts at $6.67/month
    Aura
    All-in-one digital security with 24/7 Dark Web monitoring.
    Starts at $12/month
    LastPass
    Password management with Dark Web monitoring.
    Starts at $36/year for paid plans
    Norton 360
    Antivirus protection and Dark Web scanning.
    Starts at $49.99 for the first year
    IDShield
    PII and financial threat detection with private investigator recovery.
    Starts at $14.95/month
    IdentityForce
    Extensive digital privacy measures outside of mobile devices.
    Starts at $17.99/month
    Experian IdentityWorks
    Surface-level Dark Web monitoring for individuals without children.
    Starts at $24.99 for paid plans

    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’s main homepage promoting award-winning identity theft protection with a photo of an older couple

    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:

    Identity Guard pros
    Identity Guard cons
    24/7 Dark Web monitoring that can track over 70 unique pieces of your PII — SSN, driver’s license, credit card numbers, login credentials, etc.
    No free trial — but a 60-day money-back guarantee is offered on all plans.
    Three-bureau credit monitoring with near real-time fraud alerts included on Total and Ultra plans.
    Limited features on the budget-focused Value plan (no credit monitoring).
    White Glove Fraud Resolution (on the Ultra plan), and $1 million in identity theft insurance on all plans if you become the victim of identity theft.
    No app for iOS devices.
    Built-in password manager and valuable add-ons like 401(k) and investment account monitoring, criminal and sex offender monitoring, social media monitoring, credit lock, and a monthly credit score.

    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.

    🏆 Save on award-winning identity protection. Identity Guard was given a 5-star rating by Forbes Advisor for its powerful identity theft and fraud protection. Save 33% on Identity Guard and give yourself peace of mind.

    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:

    Aura pros
    Aura cons
    14-day free trial with a 60-day money-back guarantee.
    Advanced features are only available on certain devices (for example, Safe Gaming only runs on PC).
    24/7 U.S.-based support team, and dedicated White Glove Fraud Resolution Specialists also available 24/7 to assist identity theft victims.
    No social media monitoring or phone takeover monitoring.
    Accurate data breach monitoring, public records monitoring, and financial account monitoring.
    Pricier than Identity Guard, and cost varies based on the number of people on each plan (not the plan’s features).
    Parental controls and child identity monitoring to protect kids while they browse or game online.

    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:

    LastPass pros
    LastPass cons
    24/7 monitoring against a database of compromised credentials offered on every plan — including the Free plan.
    Only scans for emails and passwords, not SSNs, driver’s licenses, or physical addresses.
    30-day free trial before converting to a paid plan.
    History of major breaches, making it hard for consumers to trust LastPass services [*].
    Passwordless login, one-time passwords, and advanced multifactor options like YubiKey and fingerprint authentication.
    Dated design and a clunky web app, according to some reviewers [*].
    Change weak, reused, and at-risk passwords straight from the LastPass UI.

    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 [*].

    Norton 360 pros
    Norton 360 cons
    Built-in firewall, antivirus, and powerful VPN.
    Automatic renewal at $179.99 per year — far steeper than the $99.99 sign-on price.
    Scans Dark Web forums and hard-to-find sites for unique identifiers, like your mother’s maiden name, insurance numbers, gamer tags, and credit card numbers.
    To activate Dark Web monitoring, you must purchase a Deluxe or Premium plan.
    Generous victim compensation — up to $3 million total (with LifeLock Ultra plan).
    Thousands of Norton 360 accounts were compromised in a 2022 credential-stuffing attack [*].

    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.

    IDShield pros
    IDShield cons
    Additional monitoring for medical data, court records, address changes, social media, and sex offenders.
    An abundance of alerts can make it tough to know what’s a real issue and what’s not.
    Access to licensed private investigators during remediation services.
    Users report limited customer support with no online option to cancel [*].
    IDShield says it doesn’t share personal information unless necessary, as outlined in its privacy policy [*].
    Buggy interface and confusing login process. You have to log in from IDShield.cloud, not IDShield.com.

    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). 

    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.

    IdentityForce pros
    IdentityForce cons
    Includes advanced monitoring for social media and payday loan monitoring.
    Family plans only cover two adults, and there is no plan for couples.
    30-day free trial for the UltraSecure plan.
    No money-back guarantee, unlike other providers on this list.
    Helpful remediation services provided for lost or stolen wallets and deceased family member fraud.
    No native VPN. IdentityForce partners with a company called Trend Micro to offer this service.
    Offers home title fraud reimbursement, but no active monitoring.

    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.

    IdentityWorks pros
    IdentityWorks cons
    Free 7-day trial with daily credit report and scores.
    The free version only checks your Experian credit score and searches for basic personal information in data breaches.
    Sends additional alerts for non-credit loans, identity validation, and financial takeovers.
    Dark Web monitoring is limited to email addresses, physical addresses, and phone numbers.
    The highest tier plan comes with credit protection features like Experian CreditLock, daily Experian credit reports, and a FICO® Score Tracker.
    IdentityWorks tracks some of your data, like your wireless carrier, IP address, and operating system.

    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.

    🥇 Don’t settle for second-best online protection. Identity Guard has been rated #1 by Forbes Advisor for its modern and reliable approach to identity theft and fraud protection. Try Identity Guard risk free today (with a 60-day money-back guarantee).

    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. 

    Identity Guard’s free Dark Web scanner with a form to enter your email and scan for any data breaches
    Enter your email to see if you’ve been the victim of a data breach.

    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.

    Save on award-winning credit and identity protection. Get 33% off Identity Guard today.

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    1. Financial identity theft and fraud
    2. Medical identity theft
    3. Child identity theft
    4. Elder fraud and estate identity theft
    5. “Friendly” or familial identity theft
    6. Employment identity theft
    7. Criminal identity theft
    8. Tax identity theft
    9. Unemployment and government benefits identity theft
    10. Synthetic identity theft
    11. Identity cloning
    12. Account takeovers (social media, email, etc.)
    13. Social Security number identity theft
    14. Biometric ID theft
    15. Crypto account takeovers