As a fellow small business owner with over 15 years of experience as a webmaster and security analyst, I know how vital it is to protect your company and personal identity online. Identity theft is a growing epidemic that affects millions of businesses each year.
Consider these staggering statistics:
- Identity theft reports jumped 42% from 2019 to 2020, topping 1.4 million cases. (Source: FTC)
- Losses related to business identity theft topped $2 billion in 2020. (Source: Javelin)
- 1 in 15 small businesses will be victimized by identity theft annually. (Source: Insurance Information Institute)
It‘s clear every small business needs to take proactive measures to minimize their risk online. Failing to do so can have catastrophic consequences, like these real-world examples:
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An Illinois company had their domain name stolen by hackers, who redirected traffic to malicious sites. It took 3 months to recover the domain and cost over $40,000 in losses.
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A Florida veterinary clinic had their payroll account hacked when an imposter posing as the vet gained access. They lost over $45,000 before detecting the fraud.
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A restaurant owner in Texas had thieves open credit cards in the business‘s name, charging over $150,000 before being detected.
These examples underscore why having a robust identity theft protection service is now essential. As your webmaster friend, let me outline the top options to secure your small business:
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Top 7 Identity Theft Protection Services for Small Business
1. Aura – Best Overall
Aura is my top choice for small businesses because of its combination of robust monitoring, ironclad restoration services, and device security features.
With Aura, you gain powerful monitoring to detect fraud across:
- Dark web (for compromised credentials)
- Credit profiles
- Bank accounts
- Public records
I like that Aura provides tailored identity restoration services from U.S.-based experts. If your identity is compromised, they don‘t just hand you a 1-800 number – their dedicated team handles fixing the problem on your behalf.
Aura also includes device security tools like a VPN, password manager, and antivirus. This provides layered protection against hackers.
Pricing is affordable at $25/month for full business and family coverage. In my experience, Aura‘s monitoring capabilities and restoration services are unmatched.
2. IdentityForce
Backed by credit bureau TransUnion, IdentityForce is excellent for monitoring your business and personal credit profiles.
You get alerts for:
- Credit inquiries
- New accounts opened
- Late payments
- Defaulted loans
This real-time credit monitoring allows you to nip any fraudulent activity in the bud. IdentityForce also provides dark web monitoring and identity restoration services by U.S. specialists.
One advantage over Aura – IdentityForce integrates with Norton Security software for enhanced device protection.
Pricing is $20/month for IdentityForce‘s premium plan. It‘s a great choice if credit profile monitoring is your top priority.
3. Identity Guard
If you‘re looking for quality identity theft protection on a budget, Identity Guard is a great choice. Plans start at just $7/month.
While you‘ll have to upgrade for credit alerts, even the basic plan includes:
- Dark web monitoring
- Alerts for suspicious activity
- $1 million insurance
- U.S.-based restoration services
Identity Guard offers robust plans tailored to businesses and families. For example, their business plan allows managing protection for up to 10 employees.
4. Norton 360 with LifeLock
This integrated package from Norton provides both antivirus software and identity protection. By combining LifeLock‘s identity features with Norton‘s cybersecurity suite, you get an all-in-one solution.
Norton 360 with LifeLock lets you:
- Monitor credit and bank accounts
- Get alerts for suspicious activity
- Use device security tools like firewalls
- Restore your identity with U.S. specialists
Pricing is $150/year for basic coverage. It‘s a solid option for business owners already using Norton antivirus.
5. ID Watchdog
ID Watchdog has excellent monitoring capabilities that enable them to detect fraud across your finances, online activity, public records, and more.
Some key perks include:
- Monitoring across 31 categories
- Tri-bureau credit alerts
- Sex offender registry checks
- Web and dark web surveillance
With ID Watchdog‘s continuous monitoring and automation, you‘ll know immediately if someone tries accessing your accounts or information fraudulently.
Pricing starts at $15/month. The robust monitoring makes ID Watchdog worth consideration.
6. PrivacyGuard
PrivacyGuard provides reliable, well-rounded protection focused on the essentials. You get options like:
- Dark web monitoring
- Credit profile alerts
- High-risk transaction monitoring
- $1 million theft insurance
Support agents can walk you through resolution steps in case your identity is compromised. PrivacyGuard also offers family plans to safeguard your loved ones.
Pricing is around $10/month. PrivacyGuard delivers solid protection with excellent value.
7. Complete ID
With Complete ID, you gain monitoring across an industry-leading 31 categories. This allows detecting suspicious activity early across many facets of your identity – financial accounts, government records, credentials, and more.
Other advantages include:
- Deep and dark web surveillance
- $1M insurance with $0 deductible
- Full-service restoration
- Real-time alerts
Pricing starts at $15/month. If extensive monitoring coverage is important to you, Complete ID is a great fit.
How to Choose an Identity Protection Service
When picking an identity protection provider, start by looking at:
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Monitoring capabilities – How many aspects of your identity are monitored? At a minimum, look for dark web, credit, and public records surveillance.
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Restoration services – Does the provider offer hands-on help recovering your stolen identity and assets? U.S-based teams are ideal.
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Extra features – Added capabilities like device protection tools (VPNs, antivirus) provide additional layers of security.
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Pricing – Monthly costs range from $7 to $30+. Look for the most features you need at the best possible rate.
I recommend Aura for its robust monitoring, dedicated restoration services, built-in device security, and affordable pricing. But you can‘t go wrong with any of these top-rated providers. The important thing is taking proactive steps to safeguard your business identity online.
How Can You Prevent Identity Theft?
While a protection service is extremely valuable, you should also take measures to avoid identity theft in the first place:
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Use strong passwords – Use a unique, complex password for every account. Consider a password manager.
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Enable two-factor authentication – Add an extra login step like biometrics or one-time codes on sensitive accounts.
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Limit sharing personal info – Be wary of sharing your SSN, tax IDs, or financial information when possible.
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Check statements frequently – Routinely review credit card and bank statements to spot unauthorized charges early.
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Use secure WiFi – Encrypt sensitive web traffic by using a VPN when on public networks.
Following security best practices makes it much harder for fraudsters to steal your private data used in identity theft schemes. But even careful business owners can fall victim to data breaches or sophisticated phishing scams. That‘s why combining proactive precautions with identity theft monitoring is so essential today.
I hope this guide gives you clarity regarding the top identity protection services available and how to better safeguard your business. Don‘t hesitate to reach out if you have any other questions!
