Identity theft protection services are often perceived as preventative measures. However, many function more like alert systems, keeping an eye on critical data points and alerting you if your personal information is at risk. This early warning can be crucial in mitigating the impacts of identity theft. But what if you could have proactive protection as well?

Here comes the Norton and LifeLock partnership, a fusion of Norton's antivirus prowess with LifeLock's reputation in identity protection. This collaboration promises a more robust defense against identity threats, including hacking and malware. Let’s do quick LifeLock reviews of its offerings and see if they really work.

Does LifeLock Deliver Real-World Protection?

Evaluating the effectiveness of Norton LifeLock requires an understanding of LifeLock's service offerings. LifeLock's lineup includes three primary plans: Standard, Advantage, and Ultimate Plus. Each plan builds upon the previous, adding more features.

LifeLock Standard Plan

• Pricing: $11.99 monthly or $89.99 for the first year, increasing to $124.99 upon renewal.

Features

• Basic Identity Theft Protection: The Standard plan provides essential safeguards, although some areas might lack comprehensive protection.
• Social Security and Credit Alerts: Notifies you of any illicit use of your Social Security number or personal information.
• Credit Monitoring: Includes Equifax monitoring and some free services that monitor one credit bureau.
• U.S.-Based Restoration Support: Offers professional assistance for recovering from identity theft.
• Stolen Wallet Assistance: Helps in canceling and replacing lost or stolen cards.
• Mail Change Alerts: Informs you about unauthorized address change requests.
• Dark Web Surveillance: Monitors the dark web for your personal information.
• Insurance Coverage: Up to $25,000 in theft insurance, with $1 million for legal support.

LifeLock Advantage Plan

• Pricing: $22.99 monthly or $179.88 for the first year, increasing to $239.99 upon renewal.

Features

The LifeLock Advantage plan elevates the services provided by the standard plan, offering more comprehensive coverage.

• Credit Report and Locking: Access to monthly credit reports and scores from TransUnion, including the ability to instantly lock or unlock your TransUnion credit report. Although similar to free services offered by credit bureaus, LifeLock's process is quicker.
• Payday Loan Monitoring: Alerts you if a payday loan is taken out in your name, a critical feature since these loans often bypass traditional credit checks.
• Crime and Financial Account Monitoring: Keeps track of crimes committed using your identity and monitors a broader range of financial accounts, such as credit, checking, and savings accounts.
• Phone Takeover Alerts: Monitors your phone account to prevent unauthorized use and access to linked online accounts.
• Increased Identity Theft Insurance: Coverage rises to $100,000 for stolen funds, with the same $1 million coverage for legal costs.

LifeLock Ultimate Plus

• Pricing: $34.99 monthly or $239.88 for the first year, then $339.99 upon renewal.

Features

• Tri-Bureau Credit Monitoring: Extends monitoring to all three major credit bureaus, with more frequent access to TransUnion reports and annual access to the other two bureaus.
• Extended Financial Alerts: Adds alerts for 401(k) and investment account changes.
• Home Title and Social Media Monitoring: Protects your home title records and monitors social media accounts for unusual activities or changes.
• File-Sharing and Sex Offender Registry Checks: Searches file-sharing networks for your personal information and scans the sex offender registry.

Norton 360 Enhanced with LifeLock

• Pricing Range: $9.99 to $34.99 per month, or an annual cost ranging from $99.99 to $299.88.

LifeLock, as a standalone service, might fall short of addressing all cybersecurity needs. However, its integration with Norton 360 significantly boosts its capabilities. It's important to note that some Norton 360 with LifeLock features are device-specific. For instance, the ad-tracker blocker is effective only on Safari for iOS devices, and SafeCam is designed exclusively for Windows PCs.

Key Features

• Secure VPN: Provides enhanced security and privacy for online activities by hiding your IP address.
• Ad-Tracker Blocker: Specifically targets and blocks ads on Safari for iOS devices.
• SafeCam for Windows PCs: A feature that prevents unauthorized access to your computer's camera.
• Privacy Monitor: Works similarly to dark web monitoring, scanning data broker sites for personal information.
• Device Security: Offers antivirus and malware protection tailored to PCs, Macs, smartphones, and tablets. The coverage extends to a varying number of devices based on the selected plan.
• Cloud Backup for Windows PCs: Backs up files to the cloud with storage limits that depend on your chosen plan.
• Virus Protection Promise: Norton's commitment to customers offering a refund if a virus cannot be removed from your device during your subscription term.
• Password Manager: A secure online vault for storing passwords, with the added functionality of generating and automatically updating complex passwords.
• Parental Controls: Enables parents to supervise their children's device usage, adding extra protection for family safety.

Final Verdict: Is Your Identity Safe?

After a thorough evaluation and considering various Lifelock reviews, it becomes evident that LifeLock, in its standalone form, doesn't quite measure up to some of its rivals in the identity protection arena. Competitors like PrivacyGuard distinguish themselves with unique tools, such as a credit scoring simulator, offering insights into how different factors impact your credit score. Similarly, services like IDShield stand out, while not exceptional in every aspect, due to their more affordable lifelock costs.

However, the scenario shifts significantly when Norton 360 is integrated with LifeLock. This combination enhances the overall utility of the service, addressing the gaps present in LifeLock's solo offering. The merger brings a more robust cybersecurity element into the mix, making it a more appealing option for those seeking comprehensive digital protection.

While evaluating LifeLock plans on their own, potential users should weigh the benefits against the LifeLock costs and features offered by competitors. The Norton 360 and LifeLock bundle emerge as a formidable choice for those seeking an all-encompassing solution, as echoed in various Lifelock reviews. The decision ultimately hinges on individual needs and preferences, highlighting the importance of careful consideration and comparison.