What is LifeLock and Should You Use It?
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LifeLock is an identity protection company that can help protect your valuable information and prevent identity fraud. It offers a few different tiers of coverage that you can choose from based on the features and pricing you’re looking for. The company also offers additional benefits that can further help protect your identity.
Related: Ways to Protect Yourself From Identity Theft
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LifeLock coverage options
LifeLock offers four coverage options, each with a unique set of benefits.
LifeLock Standard
The Standard coverage is the lowest form of coverage that LifeLock offers. It comes with identity alerts, social security number alerts, and credit monitoring from one bureau.
LifeLock Standard coverage also includes:
Million Dollar Protection Package
- Stolen funds reimbursement of up to $25,000
- Personal expense compensation of up to $25,000
- Coverage for lawyers and experts up to $1,000,000
Other identity theft protection benefits
- U.S.-based identity restoration specialists
- 24/7 live member support
- Stolen wallet protection
- USPS address change verification
- Dark web monitoring
- ID verification monitoring
- Data breach notifications
LifeLock Advantage
This middle-tier coverage option offers similar identity theft protection and device security benefits to lower-tier plans. If you want a higher amount of monetary coverage or have additional devices needing coverage, it may be a good option. The LifeLock Advantage Plan includes:
Million Dollar Protection Package
- Stolen funds reimbursement of up to $100,000
- Personal expense compensation of up to $100,000
- Coverage for lawyers and experts up to $1,000,000
Other identity theft protection benefits
- Identity and social security number alerts
- Credit monitoring: one-bureau
- U.S.-based identity restoration specialists
- 24/7 live member support
- Stolen wallet protection
- USPS address change verification
- Dark web monitoring
- Privacy monitor
- ID verification monitoring
- Data breach notifications
- Credit card, checking account, and savings account activity alerts
- Alerts on crimes committed in your name
- Fictitious identity monitoring
- Identity lock
- Annual credit reports and credit scores: one-bureau
Device security benefits
- Security for 10 PCs, Macs, smartphones, and tablets
- Secure VPN for 10 PCs, Macs, smartphones, and tablets
- 250 GB of cloud backup for Windows PCs
- Virus protection promise
- Parental control
- Anonymous browsing
- Ad-tracker blocker
- SafeCam for Windows PCs
LifeLock Ultimate Plus
As the name suggests, this is the highest tier of coverage you can get from LifeLock. It comes with:
Million Dollar Protection Package
- Stolen funds reimbursement of up to $1,000,000
- Personal expense compensation of up to $1,000,000
- Coverage for lawyers and experts up to $1,000,000
Other identity theft protection benefits
- Identity and social security number alerts
- Credit monitoring: three-bureau
- U.S.-based identity restoration specialists
- Priority 24/7 live member support
- Stolen wallet protection
- USPS address change verification
- Dark web monitoring
- Privacy monitor
- ID verification monitoring
- Data breach notifications
- Credit card, checking account, and savings account activity alerts
- Checking and savings account application alerts
- 401K and investment account activity alerts
- Bank account takeover alerts
- Home title monitoring
- Alerts on crimes committed in your name
- Fictitious identity monitoring
- Identity lock
- Annual credit report and credit scores: three-bureau
- Monthly credit score tracking: one-bureau
- File-sharing network searches
- Sex offender registry reports
Device security benefits
- Security for unlimited PCs, Macs, smartphones, and tablets
- Secure VPN for unlimited PCs, Macs, smartphones, and tablets
- 500 GB of cloud backup for Windows PCs
- Virus protection promise
- Parental control
- Anonymous browsing
- Ad-tracker blocker
- SafeCam for Windows PCs
LifeLock products explained
Clearly, LifeLock has a lot to offer. To figure out whether it’s a good idea for you to start a LifeLock plan, you’ll need to understand what you’re actually getting from it thoroughly. Here’s what you need to know about the main ID theft protection benefits.
Million Dollar Protection Package
If you become a victim of identity theft, LifeLock will reimburse funds that were stolen from you up to the amount included in your membership plan.
As a victim of identity theft, if you incur costs like documents, travel, and lost wages, LifeLock will compensate you up to the amount included in your membership plan.
As long as you were already a LifeLock member when you became a victim of identity theft, the company will provide lawyers and experts to help resolve your case if necessary.
Alerts
- Identity and social security number alerts. LifeLock’s Identity Alert System will monitor for fraudulent use of your personal information, including your name, address, date of birth, and social security number.
- Credit card, checking account, and savings account activity alerts. LifeLock can monitor your accounts and alert you if there is activity such as cash withdrawals, balance transfers, or large purchases.
- Checking and savings account application alerts. LifeLock will run frequent searches for your personal information nationwide in new bank account applications, including national banks, local banks, and credit unions.
- 401K and investment account activity alerts. LifeLock can also monitor your investment and retirement accounts and notify you if it suspects fraudulent cash withdrawals or balance transfers.
- Bank account takeover alerts. If a new account holder is added to your bank account or takes over your bank account entirely, LifeLock will alert you.
- Alerts on crimes committed in your name. Did you know that identity thieves can get your name falsely linked to crimes? LifeLock will scan criminal arrests, court books, and sex offender registries and alert you if it finds information like your name and date of birth.
Monitoring
- Dark web monitoring. The dark web comprises hidden websites that an anonymizing browser can only access. It’s generally known as a place where criminals can go to engage in illegal activities, including identity theft. LifeLock monitors the dark web and will let you know if it finds any of your information posted there.
- Privacy monitor. LifeLock scans public people-search websites and can help you opt out of sharing your personal information on sites if you don’t want it there.
- Data breach notifications. LifeLock will alert you if your personal information has been compromised due to a large-scale data breach.
- Fictitious identity monitoring. LifeLock will scan for names and addresses connected to your social security number to help protect you against criminals attempting to build fictitious identities using your information.
- File-sharing network searches. LifeLock monitors popular file-sharing networks and will alert you if it finds your name, social security number, date of birth, or contact information.
- Credit monitoring. LifeLock monitors changes to your credit file and can send alerts to help you detect fraud. The lower tier plans will monitor your credit using one credit reporting bureau, and the highest tier will monitor it using all three national credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
U.S.-based identity restoration specialists
If your identity becomes compromised, LifeLock will arrange for a U.S.-based identity restoration specialist to handle your case and help restore your identity.
24/7 live member support
You’ll have access to identity protection agents who can answer your questions anytime.
Stolen wallet protection
LifeLock can help cancel or replace your credit cards, driver’s licenses, social security cards, insurance cards, and other important documentation if your wallet is stolen or lost.
USPS address change verification
If LifeLock detects a change of address request in the U.S. Postal Service linked to your identity, it will notify you.
Make $500+ Your First Month With KashKick!
- Transparent information on each offer for earnings and tasks.
- Money is deposited quickly and securely
- Featured offers maximize earnings
- First-class referral program
How much does LifeLock cost?
LifeLock’s different tiers mean that there are different cost options. You can choose between monthly or annual payments, with the annual payments saving you 15% overall throughout the year.
LifeLock Standard
- If you pay monthly: $7.50/mo for the 1st year and $11.99/mo for the following years
- If you pay annually: $89.99/yr for the 1st year and $124.99/yr for the following years
LifeLock Advantage
- If you pay monthly: $14.99/mo for the 1st year and $22.99/mo for the following years
- If you pay annually: $179.88/yr for the 1st year and $239.99/yr for the following years
LifeLock Ultimate Plus
- If you pay monthly: $19.99/mo for the 1st year and $34.99/mo for the following years
- If you pay annually: $239.88/yr for the 1st year and $339.99/yr for the following years
Pros and cons of LifeLock
Pros
- Alerts you if there’s suspicious activity across the web or your bank accounts
- Offers a wide variety of identity theft protection services
- Comes with a 60-day money-back guarantee if you purchase the annual membership
- LifeLock has a mobile app that is available for both Apple and Android devices
Cons
- There is no free option
- You have to pay at the time of enrollment
- It has to monitor your personal expenses in order to alert you of suspicious activity, which can make some people uncomfortable
The bottom line
Identity theft can wreak havoc on your life if it happens to you, and there’s only so much you can do to prevent it. While some banks offer an alert system to inform you of suspicious activity within your accounts, this isn’t the only thing at risk. Your information can be stolen on the web or involved in a data breach without you realizing it.
Purchasing a LifeLock membership can be worthwhile if you’re concerned about identity theft. Not only does this company give you notifications if it detects strange activity involving your information, but it also gives you some financial protection. As with any financial decision, it’s important to weigh your personal pros and cons before you decide whether LifeLock is worth it for you.
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Ashley Hart is a lead copywriter and digital marketing expert covering finance, law, real estate, music, entertainment, health and wellness.
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