ClearScore launches Protect - free dark web monitoring for free, forever.
I am so excited to announce the launch of our latest feature - ClearScore Protect - for our millions of ClearScore users. Protect has been in development for nearly two years, and it’s now ready to support millions of people in preventing fraud and securing their personal data online.
ClearScore’s recent Darkpaper on the subject has shown that 58% of UK consumers affected by fraud have experienced a loss of financial data. Along with this, those who fall victim to online fraud most commonly lose between £101 and £500, with 8% of those surveyed losing over £1,001. On top of this, over half (55%) of UK consumers are more worried about online fraud than before the Covid-19 pandemic. All of this showcases the importance of having thorough security measures in place for any personal online activity, including the ability to act quickly if any data is compromised to prevent financial loss.
So what is ClearScore Protect?
One of the many great benefits of checking your credit report is to protect your identity. If a criminal starts to apply for credit in your name, this will show up on your report, acting like an early warning system so you can take action. We were the first company in the UK to offer completely free access to your full credit report and score and we were proud to deliver this benefit to the market back in 2015. With ClearScore Protect, we take this one step further. We have teamed up with a team of cyber security experts who trawl the dark web secretly, undercover if you like, to download as much stolen information as possible. They monitor thousands of criminal forums, websites and chatrooms to search for stolen data, and save it into a secure database. We at ClearScore then search this database, securely and privately, to see whether the email address associated with a ClearScore account matches with any information found on the dark web. We then tell users if we have found anything, and suggest what should be done about it. We can’t remove the information from the dark web, but we can make our users aware so that they can change emails or passwords and keep themselves safe.
ClearScore Protect Realtime
For most people, searching the dark web once every 3 months is more than enough. But for those who want an additional level of reassurance, we also offer ClearScore Protect Realtime for £2.99 a month. Subscribers to Protect receive daily dark web scans and are able to see any compromised information - not just passwords. They also receive tailored advice and dedicated fraud support from a real person if they fall victim to online fraud. What is dark web monitoring? The dark web is the name for the unregulated, anonymous part of the internet, often used for criminal activity. Often criminals use the dark web to buy and sell our personal information. This information comes from data breaches such as the hacks of Yahoo, LinkedIn, Equifax, TalkTalk or MyFitnessPal. These hacks are, unfortunately, more and more common. When they happen criminals can get access to usernames, emails, passwords, and even sometimes financial data. They then sell this on the dark web. Once these details have been posted on the dark web, other criminals use them to try and hack into accounts. They’ll try combinations of passwords and usernames to log in, or use the information to pretend to be your bank when they email or call you. This can lead to them attempting to take over your identity, taking out mobile phones, credit cards or finance in your name.
I personally have been a victim of identity theft and it is a nightmare to sort out. It is stressful, takes ages on the phone with your bank, and you have to prove who you are over and over again. You feel violated and frightened.
What can be done about identity theft?
While the threat of identity fraud is serious, there is a lot that can be done to protect yourself against the threats of online theft. ClearScore Protect is incredibly easy to use. You just need to verify your email address on ClearScore, and then initiate the the dark web search in the Protect section of ClearScore. In a few seconds we’ll tell you whether any of your information has been compromised and what to do about it. We also give you security tips and recommend security products. We’ll then scan the dark web privately and securely for you every three months for free, forever. If we ever find anything then we’ll send you an email straight away to let you know.
The team at ClearScore has worked incredibly hard to get this into market and we hope that it helps millions of people secure their accounts and prevent fraud online. For more information, you can read ClearScore’s very first Darkpaper on the dangers of the dark web in 2020 here: