LogoBankingCredit CardsInsuranceInvestingLoansMoney
Logo
  • Banking
  • Credit Cards
  • Insurance
  • Investing
  • Loans
  • Money
Advertiser Disclosure

What is LifeLock and Should You Use It?

Money
BY: Ashley M. Hart
January 24, 2021
LifeLock is an identity protection company that can help protect your valuable information and prevent identity fraud attempts. It offers a few different tiers of coverage that you can choose from based on the features and pricing that you’re looking for. The company also offers additional benefits that can further help protect your identity.
  • LifeLock coverage options
    • LifeLock Standard
      • Million Dollar Protection Package
      • Other identity theft protection benefits
    • Norton 360 with LifeLock Select
      • Million Dollar Protection Package
      • Other identity theft protection benefits
      • Device security benefits
    • Norton 360 with LifeLock Advantage
      • Million Dollar Protection Package
      • Other identity theft protection benefits
      • Device security benefits
    • Norton 360 with LifeLock Ultimate Plus
      • Million Dollar Protection Package
      • Other identity theft protection benefits
      • Device security benefits
    • LifeLock products explained
      • Million Dollar Protection Package
      • Identity and social security number alerts
      • Credit monitoring
      • U.S.-based identity restoration specialists
      • 24/7 live member support
      • Stolen wallet protection
      • USPS address change verification
      • Dark web monitoring
      • Privacy monitor
      • 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
      • Alerts on crimes committed in your name
      • Fictitious identity monitoring
      • File-sharing network searches
  • How much does LifeLock cost?
    • LifeLock Standard
    • Norton 360 with LifeLock
    • Norton 360 with LifeLock Advantage
    • Norton 360 with LifeLock Ultimate Plus
  • Pros and cons of LifeLock
    • Pros
    • Cons
  • The bottom line

LifeLock coverage options

LifeLock offers four coverage options, each of which comes 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 and social security number alerts, as well as 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

Norton 360 with LifeLock Select

This coverage option includes device security benefits as well as identity theft protection benefits.
Here’s what you can expect:

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

  • 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

Device security benefits

  • Security for 5 PCs, Macs, smartphones, and tablets
  • Secure VPN for 5 PCs, Macs, smartphones, and tablets
  • 100 GB of cloud backup for Windows PCs
  • Virus protection promise
  • Parental control
  • Anonymous browsing
  • Ad-tracker blocker
  • SafeCam for Windows PCs

Norton 360 with LifeLock Advantage

This middle-tier coverage option offers similar identity theft protection benefits and device security benefits as the lower-tier plans. If you want a higher amount of monetary coverage or have additional devices that need coverage, it may be a good option for you. The Norton 260 with 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

Norton 360 with LifeLock Ultimate Plus

As the name suggests, this is the highest-tier of coverage that 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 have a thorough understanding of what you’re actually getting from it. 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 that is included in your membership plan.
As a victim of identity theft, if you incur costs for things like documents, travel, and lost wages, LifeLock will compensate you up to the amount that is 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.

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 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 any time of day.

Stolen wallet protection

LifeLock can help cancel or replace your credit cards, driver’s license, 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 requests in the U.S. Postal Service that is linked to your identity, it will notify you.

Dark web monitoring

The dark web is made up of hidden websites that can only be accessed by using an anonymizing browser. It’s generally known for being a place that criminals can go to engage in illegal activities, including those involving 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 sites if you don’t want it there.

Data breach notifications

If your personal information has been compromised due to a large-scale data breach, LifeLock will alert you.

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 in new bank account applications nationwide, including national banks, local banks, and even 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 that your name and date of birth.

Fictitious identity monitoring

LifeLock will scan for names and addresses that are connected to your social security number to help protect you against criminals that may attempt 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.

How much does LifeLock cost?

LifeLock’s different tiers mean that there are different cost options, as well. 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: $9.99/mo for the 1st year and $11.99/mo for following years
  • If you pay annually: $99.48/yr for the 1st year and $124.99/yr for following years

Norton 360 with LifeLock

If you pay monthly: $9.99/mo for the 1st year and $14.99/mo for following years If you pay annually: $99.48/yr for the 1st year and $149.99/yr for following years

Norton 360 with LifeLock Advantage

If you pay monthly: $19.99/mo for the 1st year and $24.99/mo for following years If you pay annually: $191.88//yr for the 1st year and $249.99/yr for following years

Norton 360 with LifeLock Ultimate Plus

If you pay monthly: $29.99/mo for the 1st year and $34.99/mo for following years If you pay annually: $299.88/yr for the 1st year and $349.99/yr for 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 that you can do to prevent it. While some banks offer an alert system to let you know 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 a worthwhile investment 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 well. 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.

Find joy in your inbox.

Exclusive promotions, rewards and insights on the journey to financial freedom. Earn & save more today.

Congrats! You are subscribed to the Joy Wallet newsletter.

Unexpected error occurred. Please try again later.

Please wait while we redirect you.