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Uh oh, you’ve heard about the dangers of data hacks and credit card breaches—identity theft is a serious business and a security threat for everyone. But now you’re curious about how to protect yourself from scammers and hackers. Way to take the initiative to research the topic!
Our LifeLock review includes the pros, cons, key features, pricing, customer testimonials, and more to help you decide if the cost of LifeLock is worth it.
LifeLock ID Protection Review
Product Name: LifeLock
Product Description: Norton's LifeLock is an identity theft protection service that offers ID theft monitoring, device protection, and identity restoration.
Summary
Acquired by computer security company Norton in 2017, LifeLock offers a combination of identity theft monitoring and device protection. Services include dark web monitoring, three-bureau credit monitoring, and comprehensive ID restoration. LifeLock stands out from other ID protection brands by offering up to $3 million in coverage, including $1 million each for reimbursements, expense compensation, and lawyers and experts. The service is easy to set up and manage; plus, the company is constantly adding new features to expand its services.
Overall Score
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Coverage & Services
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Ease Of Use
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Customer Service
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Overall Value
Pros
- Up to $3 million in coverage
- All plans come with insurance coverage for stolen funds reimbursement
- Plans include Norton 360 software that protects multiple devices from online identity theft
- Fully managed recovery support
- Various family plans
- A+ BBB rating
- 24/7 support
- 30-day free trial
- Discount available if you pay for one year of coverage upfront
Cons
- Delay on notifications for credit reports
- Only the top-tier plan includes monitoring all three credit reports
- Must upgrade plans for bank account coverage
- Does not monitor all transactions at all businesses
- Standard and Advantage plans only come with $25,000 to $100,000 in stolen funds insurance
- Does not monitor email
Consumer Reviews
This is the aggregate score of reader reviews we’ve received. Have you had a good or bad experience with LifeLock? Feel free to leave your own review in the comments. Please note that only ratings with valid review content will be published and counted.
Alternatives To LifeLock
8 Key Features
- Identity and social security alerts for all plans; extra services with the top-tier plan include investment account monitoring, home title monitoring, and social media monitoring
- Credit Scores and Reports: LifeLock offers one-bureau credit monitoring with Standard and Advantage plans or three-bureau credit monitoring with Ultimate Plus plan
- Device protection: Norton 360 anti-virus software, VPN (Do I Need A VPN?), password manager, and more
- Family Plans: LifeLock offers various family plans, covering couples to families with up to five children
- 24/7 Support: Around-the-clock customer support is one of LifeLock’s big selling points. Criminals don’t work 9-5 jobs—they are scheming 24/7. That’s why it’s essential to have an identity theft protection service with customer support available 24/7 to help you
- Up to $1 million stolen funds reimbursement per adult
- Up to $1 million for lawyers and experts for each family member
- Up to $1 million in compensation for personal expenses incurred
LifeLock Dashboard
When you log in, you’ll be greeted with this dashboard (what you see and the data that is available may differ a bit depending on which plan you’re subscribed to).
LifeLock’s Newest Features
LifeLock consistently adds new features to expand its services. The latest offerings add additional financial and credit protection.
Identity Lock
With a click of a button, users can activate Identity Lock, which features a TransUnion Credit File Lock and Payday Loan Lock. This service prevents thieves from taking out short-term loans—and accumulating debt—in your name.
Utility Alerts
According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), 77,284 cases of phone and utilities fraud were reported in 2022. LifeLock now alerts customers when utility accounts are set up in their name.
Pricing
| LifeLock Standard | Advantage | Ultimate Plus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual | $8.99/month or $89.99/year | $17.99/month or $179.88/year | $23.99/month or $239.88/year |
| Family Plan (2 adults) | $14.99/month or $149.87/year | $28.99/month or $287.88/year | $39.99/month or $395.88/year |
| Family Plan (2 adults + 5 kids) | $21.99/month or $221.87/year | $35.99/month or $359.88/year | $46.99/month or $467.88/year |
| Identity & Social Security and Alerts |  | | |
| Dark Web & Privacy Monitoring | | | |
| Data Breach Notifications | | | |
| Stolen Wallet Protection | | | |
| USPS Address Change Verification | | | |
| Utility Alerts | | | |
| Phone Takeover Monitoring | | | |
| Alert On Crimes In Your Name | | | |
| Fictitious Identity Monitoring | | | |
| Social Media Monitoring | | ||
| Home Title Monitoring | | ||
| Live Member Support 24/7/365 | | | |
| $1 Million Stolen Funds Reimbursement | | | |
| Credit Monitoring | 1-Bureau | 1-Bureau | 3-Bureau |
| Credit Reports & Scores | 1-Bureau Monthly | 1-Bureau Unlimited, 3-Bureau Annually | |
| Identity Lock (TransUnion Credit File Lock and Payday Loan Lock) | | | |
| Credit Card, Checking, and Savings Account Activity Alerts | | | |
| 401(k) Investment Account Activity Alerts | | ||
| Checking and Savings Account Application Alerts | | ||
| Bank Account Takeover Alerts | | ||
| File-Sharing Network Searches | | ||
| Sex Offender Registry Reports | |
Our Personal Experience
Does LifeLock work? We’ve got some first-hand experience with LifeLock and their suite of services.
The LifeLock portal is straightforward and easy to use. Alerts arrive in a timely fashion in the smartphone app, and in most cases, you quickly get the necessary details to act on an incident. For example, last week, I received an alert that somebody had opened a utility account with a direct match on my name, date of birth, and social security number. I was able to call the utility company, they confirmed an account had opened but not activated, so they could close it and issue a fraud alert in their system. I also froze my credit reports at the three agencies.
My only negative is that LifeLock had sent me an email that their fraud experts would handle this on my behalf. But I didn’t hear from them until several days later, and their department is closed on the weekends and holidays. By that time, the utility account might have been activated and who knows what other harm done.
Alex Schenker, Editor, Safe Smart Living
Customer Feedback
Consumers praise LifeLock for its identity protection services; however, LifeLock’s customer service is lacking, and many reviewers reported having trouble canceling their subscriptions. Have your own experience to share with an ID theft prevention service? Let us know in the comments!
Positive Reviews
Let’s you know at the first sign of a possible fault on your credit and other everyday notifications as to make sure it was you doing so and not your identity being thrived. Very well organized and protects your bank accounts right down to your social media to the dark web. Well worth the money for piece of mind.
Rich Frank, Google Play 5/11/2023
I have been a LifeLock member for more than 4 years now and they have literally and verifiably saved me tens-of-thousands of US dollars, maybe much more. My identity has been stolen twice since 2018 as I have a very high credit score, making me a prime target for professional hackers and thieves. That was my original reason for getting my LifeLock account. Upon the first attempt, LifeLock made freezing my credit bureau accounts and ancillary credit firms very thorough and as easy as could be at the time.
LifeLock called me directly and worked with the banks and companies where the crimes had been attempted and all was resolved and secured within weeks, with no monitory loss to me and no change in my credit score. The second attack on my identity and financial accounts was about 18 months later and LifeLock stopped all attempts before they even began. LifeLock has saved me enough money to pay for the subscription cost 10 times over, for decades to come. With the Norton connection, I am even more sure now that my money, credit and identity are secure for the rest of my life. My credit score could not be any higher (literally) and I have LifeLock to thank for that.
lynyrd1959, Apple App Store, 8/24/2022
My personal and financial security is top priority and I have been alerted to attempted fraudulent activity and LifeLock has stopped it. I feel I do not have to worry when using LifeLock. Great security tool to have for you personal, business and family.
Michelle, Trustpilot 9/23/2022
Hear about Casey’s scary experience and how LifeLock helped him.
Complaints
Cancelled a subscription to Norton in Jan 2023. No refund has been issued to date. Responded to multiple emails over past 6 months, for proof of purchase and banking information as to where to refund money. Only response has been to fill out survey and for banking information as to where to deposit refund. Called multiple time and have been told its been escalated. Unable to share what this **** its been escalated to is doing and no timeline as when to expect a refund. No way to contact them to have them call back.
LifeLock User, BBB 7/1/2023
Since the latest update/ transition to the Norton brand, this app has become nearly unusable. The user interface is not intuitive at all and you have to make several clicks just to get to the option you want. Even then the options are limited. Seriously. Check out the “settings” page and see exactly how many things you can configure to your liking. The notifications are excessive (it’s like the algorithm doesn’t even try to learn your purchase patterns). Biometric login never logs you in. Trash
Luis C., Google Play 5/30/2023
If Lifelock worked, it would be ideal for me. Unfortunately, it doesn’t! The software/website is buggy, it won’t connect or keeps disconnecting monitored accounts, I have to check daily to see which accounts are still connected and monitored (wait a minute, isn’t that what Lifelock is supposed to do?) and “customer service” is a joke – totally inept and incomprehensible (what happened to “US-based specialists” who can speak english?). I’m still waiting for a call back from their “level 2” support who were supposed to call me back last week! Go elsewhere, nothing is more frustrating, having been on hold for half an hour while they consult their crib-sheet, than being told “wait a couple of hours and see if the problem goes away by itself” Or “someone will call you back” (yeah, right)!
Keith Muir, Trust Pilot 5/26/2023
EDIT: two and a half months later, they reply with a boilerplate nothing! Oh, and the same problems still exist!
I rest my case!!!
Company History
The Lifelock brand was acquired by Symantec in 2017, the parent company of Norton Security. Users continued to log into LifeLock.com until 2020, when the service was brought under the Norton.com umbrella.
LifeLock vs The Competition
See the key differences between LifeLock and other leading identity theft protection companies.
LifeLock vs Experian IdentityWorks
- LifeLock and Experian IdentityWorks will monitor your personal information, court records, bank accounts, credit cards, credit bureaus, and even the sex offender registry in your area. LifeLock also monitors investment accounts and driver’s licenses. Experian does provide all three credit reports every 90 days (instead of annually from LifeLock).
- LifeLock and Experian have ID theft insurance to cover wage losses, legal fees, and other charges associated with resolving identity theft. LifeLock also offers a lost funds reimbursement.
- LifeLock has more variety when it comes to plans; however, you pay more for the same coverage already included in Experian’s plans.
Compare LifeLock And Experian IdentityWorks
LifeLock vs IdentityForce
- IdentityForce provides a more extensive scope of monitoring coverage with its UltraSecure+Credit plan.
- LifeLock and IdentityForce provide U.S.-based, 24/7 access to certified ID theft specialists and general member services. And their websites have a lot of valuable resources about identity theft and the recovery process.
- IdentityForce’s add-on child plan is more affordable than LifeLock’s child add-on protection, and the plans largely cover the same things.
Compare LifeLock And IdentityForce
LifeLock vs Identity Guard
- LifeLock and Identity Guard will both monitor your personal information, court records, bank accounts, credit cards, credit bureaus, and more. LifeLock also keeps an eye on your investment account activity and driver’s license and monitors the sex offender registry in your area.
- With Identity Guard, you can get credit and identity protections covering five adults and unlimited kids for $39.99 monthly. To get the same level of coverage for a family of seven (2 adults + 5 kids) with LifeLock, you’ll end up spending more than $50 per month (the first year is $35.99/month and renews at $57.99/month).
- Identity Guard uses IBM Watson artificial intelligence to scan for compromised data, leading to faster alert times and reduced damages.
Compare LifeLock And Identity Guard
LifeLock vs IDShield
- LifeLock monitors your investment accounts; IDShield does not.
- IDShield’s app provides a quick connection to their certified fraud specialists.
- Both IDShield and LifeLock offer complete recovery services, but IDShield’s fraud specialists are licensed private investigators who average seven years of experience from law enforcement, banking, and collection backgrounds.
Compare LifeLock And IDShield
Identity Theft Isn’t A Joke
According to the 2023 Identity Fraud Study “The Butterfly Effect” by Javelin Strategy & Research, 40 million U.S. adults were affected by identity theft in 2022, totaling $43 billion in losses. Identity theft can happen to anyone and cause serious damage to your name, credit record, and bank account.
If you’re just getting started, our experts have compiled a 101 guide on ID theft. If you’re already familiar with identity theft and are ready to see who wins our comprehensive comparison of ID theft protection services, here is our comparison of the major ID theft protection services.
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