LifeLock Review

COMPLETE REVIEW

The company was founded in 2005, it’s headquartered in Arizona and in 2016 was acquired by Symantec. LifeLock was sued in 2008 by Experian for false advertising and fraud and in 2010, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) fined the company with $12 million for the same reasons. They also ordered LifeLock to pay another $100 million in 2015 to settle contempt charges for not protecting clients’ information and for using deceptive advertising.

LifeLock offers monitoring services, identity theft restoration and uses the LifeLock Identity Alert system, which notifies you via text message, email or phone whenever a suspicious transaction was made in your name.

The service has 3 plans: LifeLock Standard, LifeLock Advantage and LifeLock Ultimate Plus.

LifeLock Standard starts from $9,99/month or $109, 89/year. The plan includes the Identity Alert System, lost wallet protection, $1 million service guarantee and $25,000 stolen funds replacement, address change verification, black market website surveillance and others.

LifeLock Advantage costs $19,99/month or $219,89/year. In addition to the features from the standard package, it also includes $100,000 in stolen funds replacement instead of $25,000, data breach notifications, court records scanning, credit card, checking and savings account alerts, fictitious identity monitoring and online annual credit reports and scores for one credit bureau.

LifeLock Ultimate Plus is their most expensive plan and it starts from $29,99/month or $329,89/year. It also includes the most advanced features: all the ones included in the other packages, but with $1 million stolen funds replacement and online annual credit reports and scores for all 3 credit bureaus, investment account activity alerts, bank account takeover alerts, credit inquiry activity, sex offender registry reports and monthly credit score tracking.

LifeLock can be a useful tool for defending your identity, but unfortunately, its most comprehensive package, with the best features, is the Ultimate Plus, which is also the most expensive. So if you are on a tight budget, you are advised to look for something else.

LifeLock also has apps that are compatible with both iOS and Android devices. With these apps you can approve or reject financial transactions, you can view alerts or your credit score, etc.

The company offers $1 million service guarantee, claiming it will spend that amount of money on lawyers and experts, in order to help you reclaim your good name in case your identity was stolen.

The sign up process is similar to any other online service. You have to create your account by giving them your contact information, billing address and your credit card information. If you want to add other family members you have to pay the full price for each of them, which is a major drawback considering others competitors who have special offers and freebies for minors and spouses. Some of the features may take a day to switch on and can’t accept information as soon as you make your account.

In terms of identity monitoring, there are limitations on how many email addresses or bank accounts you are allowed to enter. You can add up to 2 addresses, 2 email addresses, 5 bank accounts, 5 credit cards and one maiden name for your mother.

The website interface is straightforward and clean, so you will have no problem in navigating it and finding what you need.

Here’s a short description of some of the main features of LifeLock:

• lost wallet protection: the name is pretty self-explanatory; in case you lose your wallet, LifeLock will help you cancel and replace your credit cards, driver’s license, etc.
• black market surveillance: LifeLock watches over 10,000 criminal websites on which thieves can sell your personal information and alerts you if it finds your data on any of them
• LifeLock identity alert system: allows LifeLock to send you text, phone or email messages in case of any suspicious activity regarding your personal information
• Stolen funds replacement (from $25,000 for the standard plan, up to $1 million for the Ultimate Plus); LifeLock claims that it will reimburse you for costs related to replacing documents, stolen purse or wallet, fraudulent withdrawals, traveling expenses, legal expenses and a few others
• Reduced pre-approved credit card offers: oftentimes, credit card offers are targets for identity thieves, because once you have discarded the offer, they can fill out the application and open the card in your name; this LifeLock feature helps you remove your personal information from pre-approved credit card mailing lists