How to Find Personal Cyber Security Services
Start with the official recovery route, which is usually free. Consider paid help when you need hands-on support with a device or setup. Be careful: scammers pose as support staff, so check anyone before giving them access.
On this page
Choose your situation
| Situation | First official contact | When paid help may fit |
|---|---|---|
| Account recovery | The company's own recovery process. FTC steps for hacked email or social accounts | Rarely needed. Only if you're stuck securing several accounts or devices. No outsider can force a platform to return an account. |
| Suspected identity theft | IdentityTheft.gov for a report and recovery plan, plus USA.gov guidance | Optional. Recovery steps are free. Check what a paid service actually does for you. |
| Device concerns | The device maker's support, plus FTC malware guidance | A reasonable fit if you need a trusted local technician to examine or clean a device. |
| Preventive help | CISA Secure Our World basics | A one-time setup visit if you want help setting up passwords, updates, and backups. |
Report scams to ReportFraud.ftc.gov and internet crime to the FBI IC3. The IC3 warns that it does not work with non-law-enforcement firms to recover lost funds, so anyone claiming otherwise is a warning sign.
Example: the alarming pop-up
A pop-up says your computer is infected
This scenario is invented, but the pattern is one the FTC warns about: a fake warning urges you to call a number, and the "technician" asks for remote access and payment.
- Don't call the numberClose the browser or restart the device.
- Find help yourselfGo directly to the device maker's site, or a shop you've looked up on your own.
- If you gave access or paidFollow the FTC's steps in What To Do if You Were Scammed. If you shared a password, change it right away, and anywhere else you reuse it.
- Report itFile at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Checklist: before you give anyone access to your device
- You contacted them first, using contact details you found yourself
- You can find a real business name, address, and independent reviews
- The price and what's included are in writing before work starts
- They don't ask for gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers
- They don't ask for your passwords, bank logins, or one-time codes
- They don't promise to recover lost money or a banned account
- You can watch any remote session, and end it whenever you want
- You've backed up important files, if you can
Finding personal cyber security services near you
Few firms specialize in households, so "near me" searches often turn up business IT firms or repair shops. A local repair shop can be a good choice for a device problem. Ask if they work with individuals, what they'd check, and what they'd charge if they find nothing.
Our earlier reporting can help you prepare: how to prepare a household cyber recovery plan, how to recover a hacked Instagram account, and how to tell if your phone has been hacked. You can also look up FTC fraud and identity theft terms.
Running a business? Use the business provider comparison instead, since business contracts raise different questions.
Want to go back to the full list of services?
Back to the services overview