The phrase denotes a service provided by Experian, a shopper credit score reporting company, designed to watch the web for situations of non-public info being uncovered. This could embody compromised e mail addresses, leaked passwords, or different delicate information discovered on web sites, boards, and the darkish internet. For example, if a person’s e mail handle have been found inside an information breach, the alert system would notify the consumer.
The significance of such a system lies in its proactive method to id theft prevention. Early detection of compromised information permits people to take rapid steps to mitigate potential hurt, equivalent to altering passwords, monitoring credit score experiences, and inserting fraud alerts. Traditionally, the rise of information breaches and on-line id theft has fueled the demand for companies that present early warnings of potential misuse of non-public info.