- Surfshark is now offering up to $1 million in ID theft coverage for new US users
- It covers legal costs, replacement of documents, lost wages and much more
- The rollout follows similar moves by rival providers ExpressVPN, NordVPN
Popular VPN provider Surfshark has just unveiled a brand new identity theft coverage feature for its top-tier online security suite, offering victims up to $1 million in financial refunds.
While Surfshark has long been a major contender for the title of best VPN, the new insurance offering switches the provider from pure proactive protection to reactive recovery.
The release could not come at a more crucial time. With billions of personal records floating around the dark web and an average of 33.8 accounts compromised every second worldwide, according to Surfshark data, digital hygiene is no longer just about hiding your IP address.
The article continues below
“Since scams, fraud and data leaks will never stop, the risk of compromised personal accounts remains high. This danger continues to grow as threats become more advanced and harder to identify,” explained Gabriele Sinkeviciute, Product Manager at Surfshark, in a blog post.
However, ID theft protection is currently limited to new Surfshark One+ customers residing in the US, with New York state residents excluded entirely.
What does the cover include?
According to Surfshark, a standard antivirus or basic encryption is great for prevention, but it doesn’t solve the devastating financial and emotional toll of a hijacked identity.
“Cybersecurity incidents related to identity theft can lead to serious financial consequences, causing victims to have challenging and sometimes persistent problems in recovering their identity,” Sinkeviciute said.
This is exactly why the company decided to improve its top-tier security package. An ID theft coverage, Sinkeviciute explains, allows the team to help users prevent, protect against and recover from the damage of identity theft at no additional cost.
The coverage limit of 1 million USD provides victims with a licensed identity theft investigator who will do the heavy lifting to correct credit histories and restore compromised records. Because Surfshark is not itself an insurance producer, the policy benefits are issued and covered by HSB Specialty Insurance Company.
Under the policy, users can claim reimbursement for credit bureau reports, court costs, fees for replacing documents and up to $5,000 in lost wages (including elder and child care). Coverage even extends to mental health counseling, offering up to $1,000 to help victims cope with the stress of the ordeal.
The race for all-in-one security
Surfshark’s decision to add identity assurance completes what the company calls its “online protection cycle,” joining existing data protection tools like Alternative ID and data broker removal service Incogni.
“Relying on a single online security measure is no longer enough,” states Sinkeviciute.
Surfshark isn’t the only provider pushing beyond standard virtual private networks. Over the past year, the industry has aggressively pivoted toward comprehensive cybersecurity packages.
Rival provider NordVPN previously launched its own ID theft protection tool for US users before extending a similar identity theft recovery service to its UK customer base. Similarly, ExpressVPN launched an identity theft protection suite that offers up to $1M in ID theft insurance for free on certain plans.
As cybercriminals leverage AI to automate phishing and fraud, it is becoming increasingly clear that consumer protection must evolve. While a VPN secures your connection, having a $1 million safety net ensures that if the worst happens, you won’t be left to pay the price alone.
Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews and opinions in your feeds. Be sure to click the Follow button!
