Identity theft is on the rise in the U.S., with over 800,000 cases reported just in the first half of 2024. If you’re not taking it seriously yet, now’s the time to start. By using an identity theft protection service, you can protect yourself from this crime.
However, which one should you pick? Have you heard of LifeLock? The company is quite popular, with a large customer base and reasonable pricing plans. However, is Lifelock worth It to safeguard your identity and your peace?
Let’s find out!
Understanding LifeLock’s Services and Benefits
Owned by Norton LifeLock, LifeLock is a service that helps provide identity theft protection to save your personal information available online. Imagine having your credit card details and other personal data getting stolen online. It is a nightmare if you have a lot to lose. To avoid this from happening, people like you use LifeLock.
Some of the key features of this service are:
- It monitors the use of your personal information online, such as your name, address, and Social Security number. In case of an unknown activity, the system alerts you automatically.
- LifeLock scans the dark web to look for your data that might be being used for wrongful acts. If your information is found on the dark web, you are alerted on time so you can take all the relevant actions.
- The service’s advanced plans offer credit monitoring, ensuring to alert you of all the changes on your credit report.
- It also monitors your bank account and transactions to look for signs of any unauthorized activities.
- LifeLock also helps with replacing your essential items if your wallet is stolen. These products may usually contain your driver’s license, credit cards, or insurance cards.
LifeLock’s plans are quite attractive and a lot more useful, especially after its partnership with Norton. This bond has helped LifeLock offer maximum coverage for its customers. The service offers up to $3 million for insurance ( higher-tier plan)and experts for victims, and $25,000 each for stolen funds reimbursement or other expenses.
LifeLock’s and Norton’s advanced identity theft protection services can help you protect your financial accounts, credit, and personal information.
The partnership also provides you with family plans, protecting multiple members and your kids from identity thieves.
Norton also offers multiple parental control features to help you keep an eye on children’s online activities and presence. This feature helps add an extra layer of safety for young users.
Key Features of LifeLock
We have researched all that LifeLock offers. It’s about time that you have all the details.
Identity Monitoring
LifeLock helps ensure that your identity is safe, regardless of how many times you share your personal information online. It monitors the use of your name, address, phone number, and Social Security number online and alerts you as soon as it suspects someone else using it.
The service also scans the dark web on your behalf. It does so to check whether your details are being used on it. If they are, it gives you alerts so you can practice preventive measures to save your identity from wrongful acts.
All of this is important to keep you safe from fraudulent acts.
Credit Monitoring
LifeLock is a perfect tool for providing you with credit monitoring across one or two credit bureaus. If your credit report goes through unidentified changes, you get an alert. This helps you to take the right action to save your credit cards from being stolen or used unethically.
It also goes through your credit card activities and bank transactions in detail. The primary purpose of this is to alert you as soon as it suspects a suspicious activity.
Digital Protections
The best thing about LifeLock and Norton’s partnership is that you gain excellent digital protection. Together, they ensure that you stay protected in the digital space.
For instance, they provide solid malware and antivirus protection by Norton. The software helps remove malware, viruses, and spyware from your system so you can use your device without any worry.
Similarly, Norton’s Safe Web feature is designed to prevent your access to malicious websites. It keeps you safe from hackers who may trick you into giving up your personal information to them. The system also alerts you as soon as you try to access a suspicious website by mistake.
The VPN service by this partnership ensures that you and your internet connection are kept safe. If you are into using public Wi-Fi networks regularly, this software helps encrypt your online activity. As a result, it keeps all hackers at bay, ensuring that your online shopping and banking activities stay hidden.
Finally, LifeLock gives you the ability to manage passwords. It stores and secures your passwords in a safe vault.
All you have to do is create a strong password and let the system autofill it as required. This helps reduce the risk of getting your weak password leaked to suspicious parties.
Family Plans and Child Protection
Do you fear losing your children’s privacy on the internet? If yes, you must get hold of LifeLock’s family plans that are designed to keep both adults and especially your children safe on the internet.
A family plan is a single subscription plan that offers identity monitoring and protection to children and adults via Norton. The amount of coverage you get ultimately depends on the plan you pick.
LifeLock’s family plans include child identity and SSN alerts and child credit file detection. In addition, you can access features like parental controls, device security, and even credit card monitoring for your teenagers.
While this plan is a necessity these days, the company’s family plans are expensive. Moreover, they offer limited coverage by covering only two adults and five children within one subscription. If you have more children or adult family members, you may have to take multiple plans.
Pricing
Most people consider LifeLock’s pricing plans a bit complicated. However, that’s not the case. The plans are designed into three tiers, so you can approach one that easily meets your budget. The features in each plan are designed to protect as required.
LifeLock’s three tiers of coverage plans are Standard, Advantage, and Ultimate Plus. Each tier includes different levels of identity theft insurance and credit monitoring services.
LifeLock’s pricing seems attractive, but it’s essential to remember that the pricing advertised on its website is first-year promotional pricing. You can always contact customer service to learn about the latest charges.
Here is what you can get from each plan.
- Standard Plan for $7.50 per month: This plan covers up to $1 million in coverage. Plus, you get alerts on any suspicious act and enough credit monitoring coverage. This plan is perfect for anyone looking for entry-level protection.
- Advantage Plan for $14.99/month: The plan is designed to offer up to $1.2 million of coverage. Some other important features include identity and social security number alerts, credit monitoring coverage, personal expense reimbursement, phone takeover monitoring, and a lot more. You can buy this plan for advanced-level protection.
- Ultimate Plus Plan for $19.99/month: You can buy this plan for up to $3 million coverage, which is an excellent amount. In addition, you also get credit monitoring coverage, alerts on crimes committed in your name, investment account alerts, identity alerts, and a lot more. The plan is perfect for anyone having multiple accounts and requiring the toughest protection.
You can always check a Lifelock coupon code for more savings.
Setting Up and Using LifeLock
Are you impressed by all that LifeLock has to offer? If yes, it’s about time you use it for your benefit.
Setting up LifeLock is easy and takes about 15 minutes. The service is easy to use, with an intuitive dashboard.
For your own benefit, LifeLock recommends adding as much personal information as possible.
Here are all the steps you can take to start:
- Start by picking a perfect plan that meets your requirements. Pick a family plan if you want security for adults and children present in your house.
- Complete the purchase by signing up and making a payment. You will be required to make an account by sharing some information before starting out.
- Once you have made an account, access it to download Norton. The protection comes with every LifeLock plan and gives you perfect peace of mind.
- Now, on your account, set up the identity monitoring features. You may be required to share some additional information, such as your SSN or driver’s license details, to get access to this feature.
- Make sure to enable all the notifications and alerts while setting it up. This step is important to stay notified of all suspicious acts.
- Now, move on to enabling other important features on your account. Don’t forget to activate dark web monitoring, credit monitoring, secure VPN, and password manager facility to benefit from this amazing protection.
- You can also set up parental control for your child’s protection. Go to your account’s settings to find this feature.
- Make sure that you regularly scan through your accounts for any alerts and make changes as required.
Security Concerns and Controversies
Like most other protection services, LifeLock has faced multiple security, public relations, and legal issues in recent years that could make you question its legitimacy.
The company has a history of data protection controversies, including a 2018 website bug that exposed customer emails.
LifeLock was fined $100 million by the FTC for failing to secure customer data. The fine was made to resolve all allegations that LifeLock made false statements about its services and products.
It also has some shortfalls in its system. For instance, it can be very confusing for some users. There are more options available, and more than one can take in within a go. So, when purchasing a plan, make sure to go through all features in detail.
Another concerning issue of this service is its limited insurance. Many competitive companies offer more insurance coverage than even their basic plans. However, LifeLock, unfortunately, doesn’t.
Make sure that before you pick LifeLock for your protection, evaluate both sides of the coin. This way, you would be in a better position to make a wise decision.
What Do Customers Say?
LifeLock has been loved by many, especially for its customer service and user-friendly features.
Karl Baker, a user, has been using the service for more than 17 years and has a very positive experience to share.
Cunningham mentioned how the service alerted him of a suspicious transaction sooner than he could imagine.
Most clients have shared the incredible customer support this service provides.
There are very few negative complaints on TrustPilot, and that is why LifeLock has a rating of 4.7.
Tips for Maximizing LifeLock’s Benefits
Suppose you have started using LifeLock and now want to utilize it to the maximum. In that case, you can always follow a few tips in your application. Using LifeLock to the fullest will be the best approach to enjoy this amazing service.
Take a look at some tricks.
Don’t Forget to Set Up Your Alerts
LifeLock’s top feature is its alert system. Make sure that all your contact information is accurate so you can get your notifications without any error. You can also check your account’s settings to see if your mobile notifications, email alerts, and emails are on. This way, you can stay in touch with the service at all times.
Make Sure to Review Your Credit Reports Regularly
If you want to benefit from LifeLock’s services, ensure to check your reports regularly for any credit monitoring and alert services provided. Keep yourself updated on all changes to spot any unauthorized accounts. This exercise is also ideal for figuring out incorrect entries earlier than usual.
Utilize Lost Wallet Protection
Suppose you have a lost wallet. In that case, don’t forget to use LifeLock to cancel and then replace lost cards and IDs later. Make sure to share all your required information with LifeLock so that the service can speed up the recovery process of your wallet.
Benefit from LifeLock’s Identity Restoration Services
Don’t delay in case of an identity suspect. Make sure you contact the team at LifeLock so they can take immediate action as required. The team is quite professional and knowledgeable, so allow them to handle your situation with ease.
Use VPN on Public Networks
Avoid using your own IP address when surfing the internet in a public place.
When you have LifeLock, don’t make the mistake. The service offers Norton 360 services that help you get a VPN. Make sure to use this facility to the fullest and protect your data on public Wi-Fi networks.
Enable Important Features
LifeLock offers incredible features that you shouldn’t waste. Use the service to monitor your bank accounts. Plus, enable the dark web monitoring feature to check for any information that may be compromised. Don’t ignore any warning from the service and ensure to take relevant actions promptly.
Don’t Forget to Update Passwords Regularly
Keep unique and strong passwords for every account. Plus, update these passwords regularly to keep them as secret and safe as possible.
With these simple steps, you can benefit from all the features that LifeLock has to offer. In addition, if you need to upgrade your account, you can do it with ease and explore the much more advanced attributes of this incredible service.
Comparing Lifelock with Competitors
LifeLock is a great part of the identity theft protection industry. But it isn’t alone. Many other systems work similarly to or better than LifeLock.
LifeLock has a major drawback, and that is that most of its plans can be complicated and expensive. They are cheaper if you pay for them only once, but renewal charges can be higher. Plus, the limited credit monitoring offering is often a concern.
So, people who have issues with LifeLock’s weaknesses often opt for its competitors.
For instance, Identity Guard offers more comprehensive identity protection and coverage at a more affordable price than LifeLock services.
Similarly, Aura offers advanced features built specifically for the digital age, including three-bureau credit monitoring, online security, and more. Aura also has simple plans. Although they are pricey, they offer much better value and features.
Optional Digital Security Features
You can also unlock LifeLock’s additional digital security features for your benefit.
LifeLock’s additional privacy and digital security tools include a secure VPN, a privacy monitor, a password manager, and phone takeover monitoring.
Most of these features are available in your chosen plan. But if they aren’t, you can pay for them separately.
Make sure you know that the company doesn’t include online and device protection on its standard plans, and you need to pay extra for digital security.
Conclusion: Is Lifelock Worth It?
Now that you know all about LifeLock, will you be using it now? The service is carefully designed to help you keep your identity safe from criminal activities online.
It is for everyone, especially for individuals who use the internet on a regular basis. There is also a family plan that you can be a part of and protect your children from cyber crimes.
However, while LifeLock’s plans are cheaper than many options, they are still pricey. You may have to pay more for plan renewals in exchange for limited features. So, only go for a plan if you find the features sufficient and worth the value you pay for them.
Don’t take identity theft for granted!
