Identity (ID) theft ranks among the most significant threats to remote workers. You may not realize it, but you regularly access many files, accounts and platforms that contain sensitive personally identifiable information (PII). And crooks won’t hesitate to take advantage of whatever they extort from you.
Invest in an ID theft protection system to improve your defenses against fraudulent transactions and hacking attacks. They have a range of features from data monitoring to ID theft insurance. Let’s look at some widely known and trusted platforms among remote workers.
1. Life Lock
If you use Norton, you may have seen some ads about LifeLock before. Robert Maynard Jr. and Todd Davis founded the company in 2005, and Norton acquired it in 2017 for its massive success in the cyber security industry.
LifeLock offers three packages. The entry-level plan comes with standard credit and PII monitoring, while the full-suite option also tracks criminal records, investment accounts, and social media profiles under your name.
You may prefer the affordable, comprehensive features of LifeLock as a remote worker. Every plan is available with a family package upgrade that includes two adults and five children.
If your family uses the same devices, you may find this plan helpful. Run LifeLock on your shared gadgets and link all users’ data. That way, you’ll know right away if cyber criminals try to steal your personal or work PII.
To better understand LifeLock, sign up for a trial account. You can use whatever package you want for free for the first 30 days, plus you can cancel the subscription at any time.
2. Aura
Hari Ravichandran founded Aura in 2017. It’s only been on the market for a few years, but it’s already recognized as one of the most trusted and reliable ID theft prevention systems out there.
As a remote worker, you’ll love Aura for its comprehensive package. In addition to standard PII and credit monitoring, packages also come with $1 million worth of insurance, criminal record monitoring, online safe browsing tools, anti-malware protection, and stolen data recovery support. As a result, you can use it as your home office’s primary cyber security and data privacy solution.
Also, check out Aura’s robust family package. If you upgrade to a family account, you can monitor ID theft on up to 50 different devices, plus each registered member gets ID theft insurance of up to $1 million.
Based on the features listed, we think working-from-home parents should consider the Aura. It is not uncommon for children to accidentally expose sensitive documents and files after using shared devices. And don’t underestimate ID thieves. Cyber criminals exploit different pieces of information, regardless of age, gender, occupation and race of identity. So your children’s PII can also be targeted.
You can assess the aura yourself. Sign up for an account and use the app for free for the first 14 days, after which you can cancel your subscription.
3. Identity Force
Steven Barak and Judy Leary founded Identityforce in 2005. The company has consistently ranked among the top ID theft tools, but its customer base expanded further following its acquisition of TransUnion in 2017.
IdentityForce comes with all aspects of online security. Yes, options like Aura have a stronger platform, but IdentityForce goes the extra mile by adding various security tools to its accounts. The Full-Suite plan has everything from a password manager to an anti-malware scanner.
Of course, IdentityForce also comes with a hefty price tag. The best way to get a quick return on your investment is to use it as your primary data privacy and monitoring system for work. Stop paying for other cyber security tools, if possible. For example, you can cancel your antivirus and VPN subscriptions since a full-suite IdentityForce package already comes with these services.
If you’re still unsure, start with a free 30-day trial. You get two months free if you opt for annual billing.
4. IdentityIQ
If most of your income comes from freelancing gigs, you already know the difficulties of getting approved for banking products. Commercial banks do not classify freelance and remote work as stable sources of income.
Unfortunately, loans are critical to real estate investing. For example, a US Census reports show that 64.8% of American homeowners purchased their properties through mortgage loans.
Does this mean that freelancers must be hired for life? no way. If you want to raise your credit score but don’t know where to start, consider getting IdentityIQ. It combines ID theft prevention and credit building.