Earlier this year, over 25 million Americans started getting letters from a bunch of companies they likely never heard of before. The letters came from Conduent Business Services, which is a contractor that processes benefit records and HR data for state Medicaid programs, employer health plans, and various government agencies. Between October 2024 and January 2025, hackers accessed and stole sensitive information like names, social security numbers, birth dates, home addresses, medical diagnosis codes, and health insurance claim numbers from Conduent’s systems. In February 2026, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton described this as the largest data breach in U.S. history.
The letters typically concluded with a standard ending: an apology, a contact number, and a year’s worth of free credit checks. This begs the question: after a data breach like this, can individuals truly safeguard their identities, or is it wiser to leave it to the professionals?
What You Can Do for Free Starting Today
Interestingly, federal laws and FTC tools actually provide more coverage than many people realize. Implementing these can help close off common avenues that fraudsters exploit, and the best part? They don’t involve any cost.
1) Freeze Your Credit
The first step is to freeze your credit with the three major agencies. Once your credit is frozen, no one can open new accounts in your name. As of 2018, this process is free with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. And if you ever need to apply for credit, you can simply lift the freeze temporarily.
2) Get Your IRS ID Protection PIN
Next, you can secure an Identity Protection PIN from the IRS at their website. This six-digit code ensures that fraudulent tax returns won’t be filed using your social security number, and the IRS provides a new one each year.
3) Check Your Credit Report Regularly
It’s also wise to keep an eye on your credit report. Right now, you can access your report weekly for free through AnnualCreditReport.com. Checking it occasionally can help you catch any suspicious activity early on.
4) Utilize IdentityTheft.gov
Bookmark IdentityTheft.gov. The site helps create personalized recovery plans, prepares necessary affidavits required by creditors, and even provides pre-filled notices of dispute.
5) Opt Out of Pre-Qualified Credit Offers
Another straightforward measure is to opt out of those pesky pre-qualified credit offers. This action removes you from the mailing lists that lenders use for unsolicited credit and insurance offers. You can easily do this online at OptOutPrescreen; it’s managed by a major credit bureau and the whole process takes only a few minutes. You have the option for a five-year opt-out or you can print and send a form for a permanent one. Once processed, you’ll find fewer “pre-approved” offers piling up in your mailbox.
6) Turn on Two-Factor Authentication
Lastly, enable two-factor authentication (2FA) across all financial, government, and benefits accounts. Even if someone manages to steal your password, they’d still need the second factor to access your information.
For many folks, following these steps lays a solid foundation for protection.
When DIY ID Monitoring Isn’t Enough
While a do-it-yourself approach works initially, issues arise when things go wrong. According to the Identity Theft Resource Center’s 2025 Consumer Impact Report, victims typically spent over 200 hours and around $1,343 out of pocket to recover from identity theft. Alarmingly, one in five reported losses exceeding $100,000, and many experienced substantial psychological distress.
The economic implications are staggering. A February 2026 report from the U.S. Senate Joint Economic Committee suggested that identity theft related to major data breaches has cost Americans over $20 billion in the last ten years. This count includes incidents involving Equifax, Exactis, and others.
While free tools can offer some assistance, they clearly have their limitations. They won’t monitor your data on the dark web, nor can they eliminate your personal information from data broker sites. Plus, you’d have to be the one to contact creditors and dispute fraudulent activities.
In short, managing everything on your own can be overwhelming.
What Paid Personal Information Protection Services Add
If your data was part of breaches like those at Conduent, relying solely on free tools leaves a significant gap. Here’s where paid personal information protection services become valuable.
These services continually scan your name, social security number, email, and bank details—not only on the dark web but throughout data broker sites that resell your personal information. When issues arise, many services assign a case manager to work with credit bureaus, banks, and creditors to help resolve fraud-related problems.
Some plans even incorporate identity theft insurance and dedicated fraud resolution support, helping to cover certain losses and speed up recovery times.
However, it’s essential to note that no service can completely thwart breaches, and even the best monitoring only shortens recovery time. If you’re comfortable keeping track of everything on your own, a DIY method could suit you just fine. But for families, folks previously affected by breaches, or those who want to be less hands-on, opting for paid services can make managing the process easier.
Key Takeaways
Most individuals can manage basic privacy protection by themselves, at least in the beginning. Free tools help mitigate significant risks and prevent common fraud types. But when a large-scale breach occurs, the complexity of monitoring, cleanup, and follow-ups can turn into an arduous task. That’s when paid services can really help—reducing your workload, monitoring across numerous sources, and stepping in when fraud happens. Remember, no service can completely take away risk. Deciding how much time you want to invest and the level of support you need if trouble arises will inform your choice. For many families, a layered approach that begins with free protection is often the most effective. You can start there and later determine if additional paid services align with your needs.
If your personal information was compromised tomorrow, would you have the capacity to resolve the issue yourself?
