| Tool | Plain purpose | Tradeoff sketch |
|---|---|---|
| Credit monitoring | Notify you about some file or score changes | Does not lock your file; varies by service |
| Fraud alert | Warns businesses to verify identity before opening credit | Does not block access entirely; temporary |
| Credit freeze | Restricts access to your credit file for new credit checks | You must lift freeze when you legitimately apply for credit |
Details and steps change; use official sources for current instructions.
- Identity theft on your credit report — warning signs, reports, disputes
- Wrong address on your credit report — when personal info looks off
- Credit monitoring hub — what monitoring does and does not do
Monitoring complements freezes and alerts; none replaces reading your reports.