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Kroll is an enterprise-level security provider that offers invitations to individuals who may have been involved in a third-party data breach. The third party typically contracts with Kroll to offer its services to individual people.
We dug into Kroll, what it does, and the services it provides. Even if you haven’t received an invitation to join Kroll, we have suggestions and tips on identity theft prevention and keeping yourself guarded.
Are there any risks to signing up for Kroll Monitoring?
Kroll Monitoring alternatives
Kroll Monitoring FAQs
Bottom line: Is Kroll Monitoring good?
What does Kroll do?
Kroll offers security and risk assessment services to enterprise-level businesses which have thousands of employees and endpoints (internet-connected devices managed by the company).
So what does this have to do with you? A lot of Redditers are reporting receiving information to join Kroll after their data has been exposed in a breach (and may now be on the dark web).
Since Kroll works with enterprise customers, it’s likely the business where your data was leaked signed up for monitoring with Kroll and was able to include regular customers outside of just its own employee base.
Basically, you’re getting a service that’s usually reserved for large businesses but has been extended to victims of data theft. You can’t purchase or subscribe to Kroll on your own, and the company doesn’t deal directly with consumers.
Still, Kroll is a legitimate company that’s good at what it does. We examine the business and its packages below.
Identity monitoring
Kroll doesn’t offer a lot of description regarding its identity monitoring services other than to say it protects more than the average solution. Given this is an enterprise-level service, we aren’t surprised it’s comprehensive.
Early detection is a game changer when it comes to identity monitoring. For example, Barbara Corcoran, one of the sharks on “Shark Tank,” was a victim of a money scam that her assistant happened to catch before it was too late.[1] Due to early intervention by the assistant, Barbara didn’t lose the $400,000 she was nearly scammed out of during the attempt.
Additional protections, like what Kroll advertises, are key to preventing theft instead of remediating it once it’s happened. One might be a little bump in the road while the other may derail you completely.
Credit monitoring
Kroll attempts to combat identity theft by employing a licensed investigative team with a comprehensive approach to credit monitoring. While no service is 100% secure, the additional measures Kroll takes seem to be efficient and effective.
Identity theft restoration
If someone does manage to get through Kroll’s defenses, the company is ready with expert investigators, remediation specialists, and live support for you. Having a remediation team to help you pick up the pieces after identity theft is a lifesaver most people never think about.
Identity theft is messy and exhausting, so Kroll’s promise of trained assistance is a relief.
A remediation specialist contacts law enforcement, credit bureaus, lawyers, debt collectors, and anyone else associated with your identity to help you get the issues resolved.
A remediation specialist may call your bank and present identity theft evidence so your money is restored. They might also set you up with a lawyer to help clear your name.
Identity theft has serious repercussions, and remediation assistance is one of the most useful tools available. The best identity theft protection companies offer extensive remediation services.
Are there any risks to signing up for Kroll Monitoring?
Kroll is mysteriously tight-lipped on its site about its monitoring services. What we could deduce from Reddit and the Kroll website is that Kroll is more of an “invite only” kind of service after a company has experienced a breach.
All our research indicates that this service is offered by large companies that have experienced data leaks. Our best guess is that the company reaches out to Kroll, and Kroll extends the monitoring services to affected customers.
We tried to test Kroll, but there’s no place on the website to sign up for its services. In fact, you have to fill out a questionnaire with a mandatory company name to even get information. We reached out to its support team but didn’t receive a response.
Kroll experienced a security incident in 2023 when a T-Mobile employee transferred a Kroll employee’s number to a cybercriminal without any kind of authorization or security protocol. Kroll contacted the FBI and worked with them to get the issue resolved.
Kroll maintains that no Kroll employee will ever contact you about the following: [2]
- Linking a cryptocurrency wallet to a website or application
- Providing your seed phrase or private keys
- Downloading any software or using a particular wallet application
- Providing your password over email, text message, or over the phone
- Providing personal identifiable information, such as your birthday or Social Security number, over email, social media or in any manner other than as described in a Court-approved process posted to Kroll Restructuring Administration’s case website or the Court’s docket
Kroll Monitoring alternatives
For us, not receiving an invite to join Kroll is probably a good sign. It means that you haven’t been identified in any major data breaches.
If you want to make sure you aren’t the victim of identity theft or want a team behind you in case you ever are (it’s more likely than you think), then check out our favorite ID theft prevention services below.
-
Service
Individual monthly price
Starts at $7.50/mo (billed annually) for first year
Starts at $9.00/mo (billed annually)
Starts at $10.00/mo
Family monthly price
Starts at $18.49/mo (billed annually) for first year
Starts at $17.00/mo (billed annually)
ID theft insurance
Up to $3 million
Up to $1 million per adult
Up to $2 million
Credit monitoring
3-bureau credit reports
Details
Get LifeLock
Read Our LifeLock Review
Get Aura
Read Our Aura Review
Get Omniwatch
Read Our Omniwatch Review
Kroll Monitoring FAQs
Is Kroll Monitoring worth it?
If you receive an invitation for free Kroll monitoring, you should take advantage of it. Credit and identity monitoring can help you avoid identity theft or remediate it quickly so you can get your life back.
Who owns Kroll Monitoring?
Kroll evolved from a 1932 company called Duff & Phelps, an investment research firm. In 2005, the company purchased many other companies, including Kroll. In 2021, Duff & Phelps rebranded itself as Kroll and began offering a wide array of business level services.
Has Kroll Monitoring ever been hacked?
Kroll experienced a security incident in 2023 where a T-Mobile employee, without any security checks, switched a Kroll employee's eSIM to a hacker’s. The hacker was able to access certain information in Kroll’s databases.
Kroll immediately contacted everyone affected by the incident.Kroll itself has never actually been hacked. The only company breach was due to a third-party error, which is more common than most people know.Why does Kroll Monitoring need my Social Security number?
Your Social Security number is the main point of reference for your identity. It’s needed for loan applications, to open financial accounts, and a vast array of other things. To properly monitor your identity and prevent identity theft, Kroll needs access to this information.
Bottom line: Is Kroll Monitoring good?
Kroll is a trustworthy company. If you receive an invitation to join its services, you should sign up. Free identity monitoring is extremely useful, especially if your information was leaked in a data breach.
Whether you’ve been invited to join Kroll or not, you should definitely have some kind of fraud monitoring. Data breaches are almost a constant issue now and companies can take a long time to notify customers. It’s best to have your own protection.
If you haven’t received an invitation, you won’t be able to use Kroll. Don’t worry, though — there are plenty of consumer-based identity monitoring services available that will give you comprehensive protection.
The best identity theft protection services offer both prevention and remediation, including insurance, and will make sure you have everything you need. Some even come with fun extras like protection for your kids or an antivirus.
[1] A ‘simple’ email scam almost cost Barbara Corcoran $400,000—here’s how to avoid falling for the same thing