- Surfshark now offers up to $1 million in identity theft coverage for new US users.
- Covers legal costs, document replacement, lost wages and more.
- The launch follows similar moves by rival providers ExpressVPN and NordVPN.
Popular VPN provider Surfshark has just introduced a new identity theft coverage feature for its premium online security suite, offering victims up to $1 million in financial reimbursement.
While Surfshark has long been a top contender for the title of best VPN, the new insurance offering moves the provider from purely proactive protection to reactive recovery.
The launch couldn’t come at a more crucial time. With billions of personal records floating around on 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.
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“As fraud, scams and data breaches will never stop, the risk of personal accounts being compromised remains high. This danger continues to grow as threats become more advanced and harder to identify,” explained Gabriele Sinkeviciute, head of product at Surfshark, in a blog post.
However, identity theft protection is currently restricted to new Surfshark One+ customers residing in the United States, with residents of New York State completely excluded.
What does the coverage include?
According to Surfshark, a standard antivirus or basic encryption is great for prevention, but it doesn’t solve the devastating financial and emotional cost of a hijacked identity.
“Cybersecurity incidents related to identity theft can have serious financial consequences, causing victims to have difficult and sometimes persistent problems restoring their identity,” Sinkeviciute said.
That’s exactly why the company decided to upgrade its top-notch security suite. Identity theft coverage, Sinkeviciute explains, allows the team to help users prevent, protect, and recover from the harms of identity theft at no additional cost.
The $1 million coverage limit 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 an insurance producer, policy benefits are issued and covered by HSB Specialty Insurance Company.
Under the policy, users can claim reimbursement for credit agency reports, legal costs, document replacement fees, 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 all-in-one security race
Surfshark’s decision to add identity insurance completes what the company calls its “online protection cycle,” joining existing data protection tools like Alternative ID and data disintermediation service Incogni.
“It is no longer enough to rely on a single online security measure,” says Sinkeviciute.
Surfshark isn’t the only provider going beyond standard virtual private networks. Over the past year, the industry has aggressively pivoted toward comprehensive cybersecurity suites.
Rival provider NordVPN previously launched its own identity theft protection tool for US users, before expanding a similar identity theft recovery service to its UK customer base. Additionally, ExpressVPN launched a suite of identity theft protections, offering up to $1 million in identity theft insurance for free on certain plans.
As cybercriminals leverage AI to automate phishing and fraud, it is increasingly clear that consumer protection must evolve. While a VPN protects your connection, having a $1 million safety net ensures that if the worst happens, you won’t have to pay the price alone.
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