IDShield or LifeLock—Which is better for identity theft?
According to the Federal Trade Commission and various security specialists, identity theft remains one of the leading cyber crimes committed in the country. Statistics indicate that 15 million U.S. citizens of all ages become victims of identity theft each year. A couple of highly-rated programs lead the industry in protecting the privacy and financial security of internet users at home. But, consumers must weigh the advantages between Lifelock vs IDShield before making a final decision.
Program Protection Similarities
Both program services require a comparable monthly fee for ongoing protection. Each monitors a client’s bank accounts, credit card accounts and social security numbers for indications of misuse. Both also offer lost-wallet assistance. The monitoring programs are designed to additionally monitor court records, the internet and dark websites for instances that might reveal the use of a customer’s personal or financial information. Premium packages of either product also continually monitor the three top organizations that maintain individual credit reports and alert individuals to alterations. However, the plans also differ in various ways.
IDShield
IDShield offers a basic individual and an upgraded family package. The family plan comes with a set monthly fee and protects the identities of up to eight children and their parents. Should a family member become a victim of identity theft, the company spends up to $5 million to reverse the damages caused by the crime. Upon completing the simple sign-up process, the plan automatically provides 24/7 protection, which includes the benefit of consulting with cybersecurity investigator experts. Simply link the desired accounts and family members with the service and receive alerts and notifications if they arise. Users automatically receive monthly credit reports with the individual plan. But, the family option provides reports from all three credit bureaus in addition to providing suspicious alerts. “IDShield also offers a password manager to help you keep your online logins safe from hackers.”
LifeLock
On the other hand, LifeLock offers three levels of protection. But, there is no family plan per se. Clients must pay additional fees for the added protection of each child. Standard plans offer Norton online protection for five devices and only monitor one credit report bureau for credit discrepancies along with signs of social security number use. The basic plan replaces stolen funds of up to $25,000. Stepping up to the Advantage plan adds security to bank and credit card accounts. Clients have the ability to regain up to $100,000 in stolen funds. LifeLock’s top-tier Ultimate Plus plan additionally provides credit report scores from the three top bureaus along with investment alerts. The company reimburses clients with up to $1 million in stolen funds. The three-tier levels of protection are automatically provided with IDShield. After the first year of protection, monthly LifeLock fees also increase in price.
When deciding between LifeLock vs IDShield, customer support is another factor to take into consideration. While both offer 24/7 service, IDShield offers live advice and tips from licensed investigators. According to IDShield experts, “IDShield is the only identity protection provider with full service identity restoration.” When desiring to cancel membership, the process is also more difficult for LifeLock customers.
