Digital Secure FAQs

Digital Secure is an all-in-one suite of privacy and security tools for your mobile devices and home computers. Safeguard your internet connection and personal data with anti-virus, anti-malware and identity theft protection. App download is required. Features include:

Security and Privacy

• Antivirus and anti-malware*: Protects against internet threats by scanning your device for malware and viruses.
• App Privacy*: Helps secure your privacy by analyzing, rating, and showing how installed apps make use of your personal info.
• Web Security: Avoids risky websites and helps prevent dangerous downloads.
• Wi-Fi Security: Protects from network threats and warns you when you connect to an unsafe or unprotected network.
• System Check: Checks your device to see if the OS is up to date, and notifies you if it's been rooted.

Safe Wi-Fi

• VPN: Provides a secure connection over Wi-Fi to keep personal data and online activities private.

Identity Theft Protection

• Dark web email search: Checks if your email address is found associated with personal info in feeds of dark web forums and marketplaces often associated with illegal activity.
• Cyber Monitoring: Searches internet properties and the dark web and notifies you if personal info you choose to have monitored is being shared online, including:
  • Social Security Number
  • Phone numbers
  • Credit/debit cards
  • Bank accounts
  • Driver’s license
  • Passport Retail / membership cards
  • Medical IDs
  • International Bank Account (IBAN)

• Social Media Monitoring: Watches your social media activity and notifies you of privacy or reputation risks with the content you're sharing.

• Lost Wallet Guidance: Offers step-by-step guidance from dedicated agents to help cancel and re-issue your wallet contents – from credit cards & IDs to concert tickets.

• Full Restoration Support: Identity recovery support from recovery specialists who can both guide you and even act on your behalf.

*Not compatible with Apple iOS devices.

With Digital Secure free you get:

• Anti-virus & Anti-malware*
• Security Overview
• App privacy
• Web security
• Wi-Fi security monitoring
• System check

Digital Secure Premium includes all this plus:

• VPN
• Identity theft protection

*Anti-virus and anti-malware are compatible with Android mobile devices and Windows/Mac computers.

If you aren't subscribed to Digital Secure Account Level or Line Level service: These features are available for paid Digital Secure subscribers. You can upgrade your subscription in the Digital Secure app.

If you’re already subscribed to Digital Secure (account level or line level service): Make sure you have the latest app version by checking for app updates in your app store. If you have the latest version of Digital Secure, exit the app and open it again.

If you require additional assistance, please contact Customer Service.

You can enroll your account for $10/month and protect all of your eligible lines. You'll also get anti-virus protection for all of your home computers and laptops.

You can enroll individual lines for $5/month per line, and get anti-virus protection for your home computers and laptops.

Yes, but the free version only includes security and privacy features for your mobile device:

• Anti-virus and Anti-Malware
• App Privacy
• Web Security
• Wi-Fi Security
• System Check

Learn how to sign up for the free version of Digital Secure by visiting our How to use guide.

To use Digital Secure on your home computer, follow our instructions to install Digital Secure on other devices.

Anyone with an eligible device can use the free version of Digital Secure.

To get the paid version for an individual line or for your entire account you must have a standard Verizon account. Prepaid, government and business accounts aren't eligible at this time.

Note: Account Members can subscribe to single line protection. You must be the Account Owner or Account Manager on your Verizon account to upgrade to Account-Level protection.

Digital Secure is also available through Verizon Mobile Protect and Verizon Home Device Protect.

Learn how to enroll in Digital Secure.

Digital Secure is included on most Android devices (except Pixel™, a phone by Google).

Learn how to download the app if it's not included on your device.

To keep you fully protected, some of our features run in the background of your device but with minimal battery usage. However, the first scan we run is thorough and may require additional battery consumption.

Certain Android devices purchased outside of Verizon won’t be recognized by Digital Secure and will require an additional step to activate the paid features in the app. If you have an account level subscription which includes a Verizon device, you can open Digital Secure on your Verizon device. Tap Protect more devices, and share a link with the non-Verizon device by text message or email.

If you only have a non-Verizon device on your account, visit your Digital Secure dashboard and follow the onscreen prompts.

To learn how to use Digital Secure, visit our How to Use Digital Secure page for more information.

If you subscribed to Digital Secure through your Verizon mobile account, you can request access to your personal information, including dark web email search information, by visiting our Verizon Privacy Dashboard at https://www.verizon.com/privacy/your-data.

All other Digital Secure subscribers can request access to their personal information, including dark web email search information, by sending an email to digitalsecureccpa@verizonwireless.com. The subject line should be "Digital Secure Request for Personal Information". You must include the email address and phone number that you use with Digital Secure. Please allow up to 45 days to hear from us. We’ll notify you when your downloadable report is ready.

For all Digital Secure subscribers, find out how you can access your personal information regarding your Digital Secure Identity Theft Protection service.

For personal information related to your Digital Secure Identity Theft Protection (IDTP), provided by Experian, you can request access by visiting www.experian.com/ccpa. You'll be asked a series of questions so that Experian can verify who you are.

Note: Experian will provide you with personal information that Experian has about you, and may not be solely related to your Digital Secure IDTP service.

Learn how to unsubscribe from Digital Secure.

If your app was already installed when you got your Android device and you wish to turn it off:

1. Open your device settings.
2. Tap Apps.
3. Select Digital Secure.
4. Tap Disable.

These steps might vary by device type. If you require additional assistance, please contact us.

Digital Secure is replacing Verizon Security & Privacy. If you don't already subscribe to Security & Privacy, you'll no longer be able to add it to your account.

If you already subscribe to Security & Privacy and want to keep it, you can access its functionality through the Digital Secure app. However, the other Digital Secure features, like Safe Wi-Fi and Identity Theft Protection, won't be available unless you upgrade to a premium subscription of Digital Secure.

Verizon Security & Privacy customers can learn more about Digital Secure.

These permissions help us provide Digital Secure services and protect your device from privacy and security threats. Without them, Digital Secure won’t be able to run on your device.

Phone – This lets us use your phone number to confirm your eligibility to use Digital Secure and for billing purposes.

SMS – This lets us scan your text and media messages and the files attached to them for viruses and other threats.

Storage – This lets us scan your photos, media and files stored on your device for malware, viruses and other threats.

Location – This lets us use Wi-Fi access point data to warn you of Wi-Fi threats and provide you with Safe Wi-Fi VPN protection.

Accessibility – This lets us block suspicious websites that can put your personal info at risk.

You can read the Digital Secure Terms & Conditions online.

Android (4.4+) and iOS (11+) devices can be used with Digital Secure.

Additionally, Mac computers (OS X 10.12+) and PCs (Windows 10, Windows 8 and 8.1, and Windows 7 SP1 32-bit and 64-bit) can be used with Digital Secure.

Digital Secure scans your Android device and minimizes your risk of downloading malicious and infected apps.

Digital Secure helps protect your device from:

• Viruses
• Worms
• Spyware
• Key loggers
• Bots
• Other potentially unwanted programs

Digital Secure also blocks access to suspicious sites when using your device's default web browser.

Note: iOS devices are not compatible with Digital Secure's antivirus and anti-malware service.

Digital Secure scans your Android device in real-time. When you receive a message, access a file or install an app, it's scanned instantly. Digital Secure also scans your device regularly: daily or weekly.

If you suspect your device is infected, you can run a manual scan at any time.

Digital Secure scans the file system on your device. This includes messages, pictures, installed apps and compressed files.

Yes, as soon as they arrive on your phone, Digital Secure scans:

• Email messages
• Text messages
• Multimedia messages
• Attachments

Yes, Digital Secure scans content on your SD memory card upon installation. You can configure Security & Privacy to scan each SD memory card inserted in your phone.

If Digital Secure detects a virus, you'll see a full-screen warning on your phone. Then, you can choose what to do:

• Delete or uninstall the infected file or app
• Ignore the virus warning

You can run a manual scan to see the warning again. If you ignore a virus warning, Digital Secure automatically reminds you to deal with the threat the next time you restart or when a scheduled system scan is performed.

Yes, Digital Secure updates the virus definition file on your device automatically and frequently to ensure it's checking for the latest known threats. When the virus definition file is updated, you'll see a message stating Auto update complete, new virus definitiion is: x.x.x_xx.xxx.xxx

You can set the Digital Secure app to update at intervals that are convenient for you from within the app's Settings.

There could be a few reasons your scheduled virus scan didn't run:

• Your device needs to have at least a 30% charge, or be plugged into a charge.
• It's been less than 24 hours since your last scan, manual or automatic.
• Your phone was in use at the time of the scheduled automatic scan. The scan will run when your device has not been used for 10 minutes or more.

To customize the scan schedule:

1. Open your Digital Secure app and tap the Menu icon in the top right corner of your screen.
2. Tap Settings.
3. Tap Security and Privacy.
4. Under Scan preferences tap Schedule your scan.
5. Tap Schedule type and select Custom schedule.

App Privacy tells you which apps on your device have access to personal information, like your contacts and location. You can then choose to either trust or remove any such app from your mobile device.

When you launch App Privacy with Digital Secure, it will scan your apps and report:

• Access to personal information such as contacts, message content, calendar and photos
• Use of your microphone, camera or location mechanism
• Interception of events like calls, messages and key presses
• Ability to transmit information to or from your device and the type of data connection it may use

When the scan is complete, it assigns a data exposure rating for each app and reports exposure level detail. Generally, apps with universal access to sensitive information, plus the ability to transmit it, receive the highest data exposure rating.

App Privacy automatically trusts apps that:

• Don't access your personal information
• Are part of the Android operating system

If you update a trusted app and it has access to your personal information, App Privacy will ask you to review it.

For more information on how to use App Privacy, visit our Digital Secure How to Use Guide.

Web security is designed to protect you from scams and malicious activity on websites you visit while searching the internet on your mobile device.

While using the device's default web browser, a warning message will appear on your screen if Digital Secure detects a suspicious website. When this occurs, you can choose to go back or proceed to the website.

When you browse the internet using your smartphone's browser, Digital Secure can either automatically block or warn you of malicious websites.

To learn how to disable Web Security, visit our How to Use Guide for step-by-step instructions.

Note: Use caution when turning off Web Security, because you'll no longer be warned of risky websites.

Wi-Fi Security will warn you with a pop-up message if you try to connect to an unprotected or unsafe Wi-Fi network. You'll be given information about the suspicious activity, and an option to disconnect from the Wi-Fi network for your safety.

Refer to our How to Use Guide for step-by-step instructions on how to enable Wi-Fi Security.

If you try to connect to an unsecure network, you'll be asked to select whether you want to stay connected (add the network to the Allowed Networks list) or remain disconnected (add the network to the Blocked Networks list).

Your saved networks will appear as either a blocked network or allowed network under Manage Wi-Fi networks of the Wi-Fi Security settings. You can also edit them as needed.

Get step-by-step instructions in the Manage Wi-Fi Security section of our How to Use Digital Secure page.

Verizon Digital Secure detected that your device is connected to a Wi-Fi network that is either using no security or weak security to protect your personal data during your internet session. Your device and personal data are at risk whenever you connect to an unprotected Wi-Fi network, even when you are not actively using your device.

Verizon Digital Secure has detected activity on this Wi-Fi network that is potentially unsafe. Someone could be intercepting the personal info you send and receive from the apps and websites you use.

This activity could be caused by a content-filtering or parental controls device on your home network. If you are using a device like this on your network, it may trigger an unsafe alert due to the techniques used by the device to intercept your Wi-Fi traffic.

If you are using a Mesh Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi extender to improve the signal throughout your residence, you may see multiple alerts for the same Wi-Fi name. This is the result of Verizon Digital Secure verifying each Wi-Fi connection your device makes. When your device connects to another Mesh Wi-Fi node (with the same Wi-Fi name), Verizon Digital Secure will ensure that connection is secure as well.

Some enterprise Wi-Fi systems use certain security techniques to ensure only authorized users are accessing the corporate Wi-Fi network. While these techniques are commonly used in corporate and business Wi-Fi networks for valid purposes, they can also be used for illicit purposes to capture your personal data over an unsafe Wi-Fi network.

If Verizon Digital Secure detects unsafe activity while connected to your corporate Wi-Fi network, we recommend talking to your IT Help Desk or Network Administrator to make sure your company is using the following techniques in securing their Wi-Fi network.

• ARP Spoofing
• SSL Split
• SSL Strip

To protect yourself from an unprotected or unsafe Wi-Fi network, turn on Safe Wi-Fi in the Digital Secure app.

If you are already connected to an unsafe Wi-Fi network, disconnect from it and change the passwords for any apps or websites you were using.

Safe Wi-Fi safeguards your public Wi-Fi connection on network-enabled devices using a VPN (Virtual Private Network). Safe Wi-Fi protects your privacy by securing your public Wi-Fi connection anywhere in the world.

To learn how to turn Safe Wi-Fi on, visit our Digital Secure How to Use Guide.

1. Open your Digital Secure app, and tap the Menu icon in the top right corner of your screen.
2. Tap Settings.
3. Tap Safe Wi-Fi.
4. Tap the Protect me from unknown Wi-Fi networks switch to set it to on.
   
   Note: Once activated, the button will appear green.

To run the Safe Wi-Fi feature on some non-Verizon devices, you must verify your device's phone number when prompted.

To install Safe Wi-Fi on a Windows laptop or desktop computer:

1. Open the Digital Secure app on your mobile device.
   
   Note: If you only have a non-Verizon device on your account, go to your Digital Secure dashboard and follow the onscreen prompts.
2. Tap Protect More Devices.
3. Enter an email address that you can access on the computer you want to protect.
4. Open the Protect More Devices email on the computer you want to protect.
5. Click Protect me under Security for Windows & Mac.
6. Click Download under Safe Wi-Fi.
7. After the download is finished, locate and launch the installation file.

Follow the onscreen installation instructions to finish installing Safe Wi-Fi.

Note: Safe Wi-Fi isn't compatible with Mac computers.

Yes, visit our Safe Wi-Fi FAQs for more information on subscribing to Safe Wi-Fi without Digital Secure.

We check a database of dark web content that includes dark web forums and marketplaces often associated with illegal activity.

For each individual user, we'll monitor up to 10 email addresses.

It means our search found that the email you asked us to search for is on the dark web, along with an account password or other personal info that’s linked to the email.

Even if we only find some of your personal info, there's a chance all of it is compromised. We recommend changing your password for the account that was breached, and anywhere you use the stolen password.

Unfortunately, nothing can wipe your info from the dark web. However, continually checking for personal info that’s linked to your email can help you act quickly when a breach is found and may even prevent the theft of further personal info.

Digital Secure Identity Theft Protection (IDTP) personal info theft protection service is provided by Experian. Features include:

• Cyber Monitoring: Searches internet properties and the dark web and notifies you if personal info is being shared online.
• Social Media Monitoring: Watches your social media activity and notifies you of privacy or reputation risks with the content you're sharing.
• Lost Wallet Guidance: Offers step-by-step guidance from dedicated agents to help cancel and re-issue your wallet contents – from credit cards and IDs to concert tickets.
• Full Restoration Support: Identity recovery support from recovery specialists who can both guide you and even act on your behalf.

To access the personal info theft protection portion of your subscription:

1. Tap the Identity Theft Protection tile on the home screen of your Digital Secure app.
2. Tap Personal info theft protection.

Note: If you're accessing personal info theft protection for the first time, you'll need to create a username and password, which you’ll use each time you want to sign in.

Cyber Monitoring scours the internet and dark web forums, including websites, blogs, bulletin boards, peer-to-peer sharing networks, and Internet Relay Chat (IRC) channels, to determine if monitored personal info is being shared online.

For each individual user, Digital Secure will monitor up to:

• 1x Social Security Number
• 10x phone numbers
• 10x credit/debit cards
• 10x bank accounts
• 1x driver's license
• 1x passport
• 10x retail/membership cards
• 10x medical IDs
• 1x International Bank Account (IBAN)

For more information on enrolling in the identity theft protection feature, visit the identity theft protection section of our How to Use Guide.

After you enroll in identity theft protection, you'll be able to enter the info you want monitored at the identity theft protection portal.

We are partnering with CSIDentity (CSID), an affiliate of Experian, to help monitor and protect your personal info.

Your first Cyber Monitoring report includes data from the previous 7 years. Cyber Monitoring searches the prior 7 years of records it has collected for a match to the personal info you are monitoring.

Your Cyber Monitoring service tracks internet activity for signs that the personal info you have asked us to monitor is being traded or sold online. This email notification means that our surveillance technology has discovered information on the internet that is a match to your monitored identity elements.

It is recommended that you contact the appropriate institution to have your account info changed, or that you change your account info, such as the password to your email account.

If you need help, the email you receive will have a link to the identity theft protection website where you can learn more about your notification. Or, call us to speak to an identity theft protection agent.

Cyber Monitoring helps reduce your risk of identity theft by letting you know quickly if your personal info is compromised, and in turn enabling prevention or quick resolution of an identity theft incident. Unfortunately, no identity protection tool can prevent identity theft completely.

Social Media Monitoring watches your social media activity and notifies you of privacy or reputation risks with the content being shared or being made available to the site. Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter are the sites that can be monitored at this time.

We are partnering with CSIdentity (CSID), an affiliate of Experian, to help monitor your social media privacy and reputation risk.

After enrolling in identity theft protection you'll be able to sign into your social media accounts from the identity theft portal, allowing CSID to monitor for privacy and reputation risks.

No, only one account per network can be monitored currently.

Your Social Media Monitoring service tracks social media activity. You’ll be sent a notification if a risk to your privacy or reputation is found.

The email you receive will have a link to the identity theft protection website where you can learn more about your notification. Or, call us to speak to an identity theft protection agent.

You receive a notification within 24-48 hours.

Social Media Monitoring does not currently scan images, but it does scan the image caption or post that goes along with it.

Lost Wallet offers step-by-step guidance from dedicated agents to help replace lost physical assets — including credit cards, identification cards and concert tickets.

If you lose your wallet or think you have potentially become a victim of identity theft, please contact Verizon customer service.

No. Our specialists assist you in contacting your bank or creditor to cancel your lost or stolen cards. These entities are able to locate your account by verifying other forms of personal identifying information.

For your security, your bank or creditor speaks only with the account holder. We help contact those entities in three-way calls to get the lost cards canceled and reissued.

Full Restoration aids you in efficiently recovering from the effects of identity theft, including access to recovery specialists who can both guide and act on a compromised customer’s behalf.

If you have become a victim of identity theft, please contact Verizon Customer Service.

Here are some signs you might be a victim of identity theft, and should contact one of our experts for assistance:

• You receive bills from accounts you didn't open
• You see unauthorized charges on your accounts, including credit cards, banks, etc.
• You receive calls from collection agencies about debts you are unaware of
• Your credit report has unknown entries
• You receive credit cards you didn't apply for
• You get turned down for a loan because of false information on your credit report

For a limited time, new subscribers can get the first month of your Digital Secure subscription for free. You will be automatically billed the applicable monthly charge after the free period ends.

Yes, you can get your first month free on a single line or for your entire account.

To get the promotion, just sign up for Digital Secure. You'll see a $0 charge on your bill for the first month of your subscription.

Yes, you can cancel Digital Secure during the promotional period. If you cancel during this time you won't be charged anything on your bill.

Your Digital Secure subscription will continue at regular pricing. You can cancel at anytime.

Your device may not be supported by Digital Secure. You can check the device eligibility requirements, or you can occasionally check the app store on your device for updates.

Note: Devices that run an unauthorized version of the operating system aren't supported.

Your home Wi-Fi network may be saved in the blocked networks list, which sets it to always disconnect.

You can remove your Wi-Fi network from the blocked networks list and add it to the allowed list in the Manage Wi-Fi networks setting in the Digital Secure app.

Get step-by-step instructions in the Manage Wi-Fi Security section of our Digital Secure How to Use Guide.

Your Digital Secure account level subscription was canceled when your Total Mobile Protection enrollment was upgraded to Verizon Mobile Protect, which includes access to premium Digital Secure.

While the premium Digital Secure features are no longer available across your account, you can still enjoy the free features, like Antivirus and anti-malware, App Privacy, Web Security, Wi-Fi Security and System Check.

Note: iOS devices aren't compatible with Digital Secure's antivirus and anti-malware service.

Unfortunately, a Digital Secure premium account subscription isn't available when Verizon Mobile Protect is present on a line within your account.

However, you can add a Digital Secure line subscription on a line that isn't enrolled in Verizon Mobile Protect on your account.

Your Safe Wi-Fi VPN subscription was canceled when your Total Mobile Protection enrollment was upgraded to Verizon Mobile Protect, which includes access to Safe Wi-Fi VPN.

Unfortunately, a Safe Wi-Fi subscription isn't available when Verizon Mobile Protect is present on a line within your account.

Your Security and Privacy subscription was canceled when your Total Mobile Protection enrollment was upgraded to Verizon Mobile Protect, which includes premium access to antivirus software for home PCs.

Go to our Get Started page to learn how to update your home PC/Mac security.