Lifelock or TrustedID:Which Service Is Right For You?

Updated July 19, 2010

• Read our detailed Lifelock review
• Read our detailed TrustedID review

We live in a world of uncertainty, and more and more people are becoming concerned about the safety of their identities. We also have more choices than ever before and it can be confusing trying to determine what you need to protect yourself and which product will offer you the greatest security.

If you’ve done any research at all then you’ve come across some experts recommending Lifelock and others TrustedID. Both identity theft services have recently introduced upgraded and improved versions of their flagship protection plans. Lifelock launched Command Center™ last December and TrustedID introduced IDEssentials™ in July of this year.

As the identity fraud protection industry has evolved, many popular services have moved toward a monitoring detection type service. This is an admission in the industry that complete identity protection is virtually impossible. Tech savvy identity thieves can hack into databases and steal millions of records without anybody realizing it.

Both Lifelock and TrustedID understand this and have taken a very similar approach to identity theft protection. We’ll expose some of the similarities as well as differences between these two popular services.

	Command Center	IDEssentials
Price	$13.50/month	$10.42/month
Promotion	30 Days Free & 10% Off	15 Days Free Trial
Coverage	$1 Million Total Service Guarantee	$1,000,000 Service Warranty
Protection Type	Fraud Alerts/Scanning	Fraud Alerts/Credit Monitoring
Credit Monitoring	No	Instant 3 Bureau Report
Credit Reports	Annually Major Bureaus
Credit Score	No
Family Plan	No
Credit Freezes	No
Anit-Virus/ Spyware	No
Sex offender Reports		No
PayDay Loans	No

How are Lifelock and Trusted ID Similar?

• Opt-out of pre-approved credit offers
• Have a $1,000,000 warranty
• Fraud Alerts (Called ‘Lender DoubleCheck’ by TrustedID)
• Order yearly credit reports
• Wallet protection
• Scan internet black markets looking for misuse of your information
• 24/7 on call helpline

Both LifeLock and Trusted ID will remove you from junk mail lists and place fraud alerts on your behalf. They will also scan the internet for your information on the web. They look for your date of birth, address and social security number and notify you immediately if any activity is found with your information attached to it. With Trusted ID you can even ask them to watch for your bank account and credit card number.

Both services also offer wallet protection which can give you some small sense of security when your wallet is gone. Having someone to call and help you take the necessary steps to replace your license, insurance cards, and other forms of ID as well as helping you with canceling and replacing your credit and debit cards can be a great comfort.As you can see, both LifeLock and Trusted ID offer very similar coverage and have very similar basic features.

How Do Lifelock and Trusted ID Differ?

• Read our detailed Lifelock review
• Read our detailed Trusted ID review

Credit Report Monitoring

With the introduction of IDEssentials, TrustedID added credit monitoring of your report and score with all three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. TrustedID will scan your reports daily and alert you if they detect any fraudulent or suspicious activity. Lifelock does not offer credit monitoring.

Credit Freezes

Like Lifelock, Trusted ID sets and renews fraud alerts every ninety days. What sets TrustedID apart is the option to place credit freezes on your credit file, a far more secure measure of protection. (Read our article on Fraud Alerts vs Credit Freezes for more information) While you can do this yourself, having a service perform this for you can come in handy when you can’t remember your PIN number.

Personal Information Scanning

Lifelock recently launched their Command Center which actively monitors unregulated internet and file sharing networks for your personal information. In addition they scan payday loans, sex offender registries, and other public records to find your information. If they find it, they’ll alert you by email and help protect you against accidental information disclosures.

Anti Virus Protection

Trusted ID also keeps an eye on your computer, giving you an anti-spyware program that can be installed on as many as three computers. An unsecured computer is at high risk for hackers, spyware and viruses, and a good protection program can cost you as much as $100 a year. With trusted ID, not only does this software automatically update every day, it is given to you at no charge so long as you have an account with Trusted ID. This benefit almost pays for the cost of protection itself.

Lost Wage Coverage

Probably the greatest difference between LifeLock and Trusted ID is in the fine print of their identity theft insurance guarantees. While both claim to have $1,000,000 policies, they cover very different things. According to the non profit Identity Theft Resource Center, the primary financial loss of identity theft victims are the lost wages involved when they need to spend 30-60 hours contacting their financial institutions and clearing up their credit.

Unfortunately, Lifelock’s policy does not cover lost wages while Trusted ID offers an industry best $5,000 /4weeks. Most of Lifelock’s coverage is for hiring attorneys and investigators to “clear your good name”, something most cases of identity theft probably don’t require. Most victims of identity theft do need to spend countless hours calling their credit card companies and filling out fraud affidavits. Trusted ID will reimburse you for this time while Lifelock will not. You can read more about Identity Theft Insurance here.

Family Coverage

Another large difference is family coverage. Lifelock doesn’t offer any discounts to cover your spouse, elderly grand parents and charges $25/year to cover minor children. Trusted ID covers the entire household living under one roof for less than the cost another policy.

To illustrate the wide disparity in cost; for a family of 2 adults and two minor children, the cost of protection for Lifelock would be $347/year ($148.50 for each adult and $25 for each child). Trusted ID’s coverage would only be $240.00 These are advertised prices and if you use any of our links, you’ll receive significant discounts.

Large families need family pricing

For a larger family, the price differences are more dramatic. For the same family living with two grandparents, the Lifelock plan would cost $643/year and TrustedID would be unchanged at $240.00/year (provided all the adults are part of the same household). Anyway you look at it, these are significant savings.

If you’re known to the public as “octomom” or your last name is “Duggar”, then it’s really a no-brainer. If the Octomom were covered by Lifelock, she would need to pay $348.50 while the near identical coverage from TrustedID would be $240.00.

The Duggar family from Discover Channel fame would pay $747 for their 18 children with Lifelock and with TrustedID, you guessed it, $240.00. I sense a sponsorship deal here somewhere.

These may be extreme examples but a large majority of victims come from families and it certainly makes sense to protect the identities of those you care about.

Our Opinion

LifeLock and Trusted ID both have reputations of stability and trustworthiness, and in the end both of them are good choices to help protect you from identity theft. We feel that TrustedID edges out Lifelock as a service that offers more for less.

In addition to almost everything Lifelock offers, with Trusted ID, you have the option to place credit freezes, free virus /spyware protection for your computers, credit monitoring, your credit score, medical benefits review, and when looking to add a child, spouse, or grandparent to your coverage, TrustedID has the best pricing available.

Lifelock did pioneer the entire identity protection industry and was the first to offer a million dollar warranty but the value in TrustedID’s offerings is just to strong to ignore. It’s almost like TrustedID was designed to imitate Lifelock, offer more, and then charge less.

Before making a final decision take the time to ask what services are important to you. How much coverage do you need, and how many people in your house do you need to protect? Both LifeLock and Trusted ID are companies with good reputations who will help protect you from identity theft and, should the worst happen, help you regain your identity and your credit.

• Visit Lifelock 10% Discount and 30 Days Free
• Visit Trusted ID 15 Days Free Trial

Who Offers The Best Credit Monitoring Service?

Experts agree one of the best things you can do to protect your identity is to conduct thorough reviews of your credit report with all three credit reporting agencies: Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian. While the The Fair Credit Reporting Act guarantees you access to your credit report once a year from all three bureaus, it simply isn’t enough. Think of the damage an identity thief can do to your credit history in a few weeks, much less a year. Fortunately, consumers have access to credit monitoring services that can review your credit file daily and send you alerts by phone, email or text to any changes.

Unfortunately, choosing between various services can be a bit more confusing. Which service updates your credit score quarterly? ProtectMyID or Identity Guard? What about the non credit related sources services like Lifelock’s Command Center reviews? Below we’ve compared the top rated credit monitoring services: Lifelock’s Command Center, Identity Guard’s Total Protection, Experian’s ProtectMyID, and Guard Dog ID’s Superior Protection.

	Review	Review	Review	Review
Rating
Price	$17.99/month	$19.95/month	$15/month	$9.95/month
3 Bureau Credit Monitoring			No
3 Bureau Credit Score			No	Only Experian
Score Updates	Quarterly	Annually	No	Annually
Public records				No
Scans Internet
Antivirus/Spyware		no	no	no
Keylogging Protection		no	no	no
Coverage	$1 Million	$1 Million	$1 Million	$1 Million
Promotion	30 Days Free	30 Days Trial	30 Days Free & 15% Off	30 Day Trial For $1
	Visit	Visit	Visit	Visit

What To Look For In A Credit Monitoring Service

There are many credit report monitoring services, including those from the credit reporting agencies like Experian’s ProtectMyID or Equifax’s Credit Watch. We’ve included ProtectMyID but the problem with services like these are they typically review only one credit agencies reports. Although the option exists to purchase additional reports at a significant discount, these can add up.

For example, with ProtectMyID you can buy all three credit reports and scores for a one time fee of $19. With Identity Guard, quarterly updates to your credit score is included as part of their plan.

All the above services except Lifelock monitors your credit report for changes and negative information. They’ll notify you by text or email if they detect any suspicious activity.

Identity Guard is it’s the only service to update your credit score quarterly as well as provide antivirus and spyware protection.

Credit report monitoring can be an early warning system for individuals worried about identity theft. Early detection and action is the best way to prevent identity theft from getting out of hand. But not all identity theft is related to your credit report.

Identity thieves can also use your identity for criminal purposes, employment reasons, or civil reasons. Services like Lifelock’s Command Center and Identity Guard will also scan public databases and court records for your information. In addition, both services scan sex offender registry reports and payday loan activity for your information as well.

Guard Dog ID offers many similar services to Identity Guard and gives consumers the option to customize their protection. Their basic platform is robust and full of great features and you can upgrade credit monitoring protection with their Premium or Superior Protection.

Credit Monitoring Recommendation

Identity Guard offers the most sophisticated platform for credit monitoring and identity theft protection. Guard Dog ID comes in a close second but Identity Guard edges it out because of a slightly lower price, updated credit scores, and reputation. Guard Dog ID is a relatively new company and Identity Guard has been providing information security services for fortune 500 companies for years.

Identity Guard also provides members with the ZoneAlarm® Internet Security Suite and PRIVACYPROTECT®, a sophisticated program that will encrypt your keystrokes to protect you against “keyloggers”.

Identity Guard offers several stepped down versions of their Total Protection plan, Watchful Eye® for $9.99/month and Extra Caution® for $14.99/month.

For more information, visit Identity Guard.

Introducing Guard Dog ID, An Identity Theft Service That’s Ready To Take On Lifelock

Identity theft is big business and every few months, you’ll hear about a new identity protection service. In fact at IDProtectionGuide, we get a steady stream of emails for review requests. Obviously we can’t review every service available so we like to pick and choose services that take a unique approach to identity theft prevention or we get a large enough number of requests from consumers to initiate a review. And that’s how we stumbled onto Guard Dog ID, (not to be confused with IDWatchDog) and after reviewing the service offerings, we were pleasently surprised by the combination of core features and available add-ons. Somebody over there put some serious thought into designing a protection service that’s customizable for consumers.

How Does GuardDog ID Work?

Guard Dog ID offers three levels of protection: Advanced, Premium, and Superior. All three levels of protection are built around a set of standard features which include:

Core Features Of Any Guard Dog ID Plan

• Net Deflect

Guard Dog ID will scan criminal web sites, chat rooms and bulletin boards for the selling or trading of a members’ personal information using their proprietary internet surveillance technology, Net Deflect.

• Court Records

As a Guard Dog member, you will receive a list of criminal actions associated with your name, birth date, and/or Social Security number sourced from county, state, federal databases. These reports are updated monthly.

• Names & Alias

Guard Dog ID’s SS Indicator will alert you if your information is located in a database and cannot be matched to other reports listed in your dashboard. This helps Guard Dog ID members be proactive about the safety of their identity, and recognize fraudulent activities before they cause financial damage.

It is very common with identity theft for criminals to establish different names using your social security number, drivers license and other personal information. Often, these thieves are not interested in gaining credit; they are simply interested in impersonating someone else in order to conceal their true identity.

• WalletGuard

If your wallet or purse should be stolen or lost, Guard Dog specialists will take immediate action to prevent the fraudulent usage of your cards and make sure that you have the correct packages in place to monitor changes in your personal information.

• SSIndicator

Members will be provided with an Address History Report illustrating all addresses associated with their name and Social Security number.

• PervertAlert

Guard Dog ID monitors local and national databases to alert you to sex offenders residing in your zip code, moving into your neighborhood or possibly using your information while committing these offences.

• SureAddress

Sure Address is designed to proactively monitor national databases to alert you of activity matching your information. Members will be provided with a Change of Address Report showing any recent move requests filed for their address.

• $1 Million Insurance

Guard Dog ID provides each member with $1 Million insurance coverage. There is no deductible, no out-of-pocket expenses and includes coverage for lost wages up to $500/week for four weeks. (These limits match TrustedID’s industry leading wage loss limits)

• Identity Restoration Expert

Guard Dog ID has highly-trained restoration specialists to effectively and efficiently manage any type of fraud related issues. Guard Dog ID will assign a restoration specialist to your case dedicated to work directly for you and completely restore your identity to 100% satisfaction.

All of Guard Dog ID’s protection plans revolve around these core features. Premium adds instant 1-bureau credit report, score, and monitoring as well as monitoring your information on payday loan applications, a common source of identity theft. Select will offer the same protection but for all three credit bureaus.

	Advanced	Premium	Superior
Price	$9.95/month	$14.95/month	$19.95/month
Core Features
Credit Reports	no	1 Bureau Only
Credit Score	no	1 Bureau Only
Credit Monitoring	no	1 Bureau Only
PayDay Loans	no

Analysis

With the basic plan starting at $9.95, Guard Dog ID is affordable and if you add a spouse, both of you will receive a 10% discount. You can save an additional 10% by prepaying annually as well. Premium is $14.95/month and Superior goes for $19.95/month.

Guard Dog ID’s impressive list of core features such as SSIndicator, Sure Address and the Net Deflect are great features to protect you from becoming a victim of identity theft.

Most services don’t pay enough attention to sources beyond your credit report for detecting identity fraud. Guard Dog ID also recognizes identity fraud isn’t always about financial theft and the scanning of sex offender registry reports and alias reporting are excellent ways to make certain you’re protected against all kinds of identity theft.

Guard Dog ID offers a comprehensive insurance policy and personalized assistance in the form of recovery specialists that will see fraud cases to complete resolution.

Opinion

Guard Dog ID is an excellent service. I can’t think of one thing they’re not doing or offering. I’m especially impressed with the Name and Alias reports which will analyze discrepancies in your social security, drivers license, and other personal information to detect those thieves not interested in gaining credit but simply interested in impersonating someone else in order to conceal their true identity.

This type of non-credit related identity theft is growing and won’t show up on your credit report.

The core set of services closely resembles Lifelock’s Command Center at a fraction of the price. Add in the credit report monitoring I think is essential to any protection service and you’ve got a winner here.

THE GOOD: An almost ridiculous set of features. It’s Lifelock Command Center at almost half the price.

THE BAD: This is a fairly new company that doesn’t have an extensive track record dealing with customers.

Visit GuardDogID.com to sign up for the free trial and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with identity protection.

Not Your Daddy’s Identity Thief

If you think you’re not at risk for identity theft, think again. This must see video from a recent Dateline MSNBC special points out how hackers use technology to steal your identity despite common precautions.

MSNBC DATELINE Special Report

As you can see identity thieves move fast and everything from credit cards and bank accounts to Social Security numbers are available in illegal black markets. Where do identity thieves get their information? Data breeches. According to the ITRC Breach report, there were over 222 million compromised private records in 2009 alone. Unfortunately, it takes time for authorities to investigate and shut sites like these down and criminals can have new sites up in minutes.

The Modern Identity Thief

It’s not your daddy’s identity thief. Just a few years ago, the best way to prevent identity theft was to not carry your social security card on your person. Today’s identity thieves employ sophisticated technology to steal your personal information. Just a few weeks ago, police busted a major identity theft ring in Los Angeles that employed bluetooth scanners inside Arco gas terminals. Unsuspecting customers would enter their PIN number and the scanners would copy everything the thieves needed to duplicate your card and drain your bank account.

The reality is much of your private information is already out there and there’s very little you can do to stop it. How many credit applications have you filled out over the years? Have you ever filled out a department store charge card to get that 10% discount? In 2008, police found a retail store had discarded hundreds of approved applications in the trash. You could follow every advice about protecting your personal information and through no fault of your own, be a victim of identity theft because your auto insurer had their database hacked.

The Ordeal of Michelle Brown

When personal information is stolen, the harm to the victim often goes far beyond the pocketbook. When Michelle Brown was detained and questioned at Los Angeles International Airport, she realized that she had lost the claim on her own identity. Tears streamed down her face as she frantically fumbled through police reports and letters from the DA searching for anything that would prove she was a law-abiding citizen—not the felon who had stolen her identity, ruined her credit, and embarked on a crime spree which had led to an outstanding warrant for her arrest.

Every year 1 in 18.22 households will be victimized by identity theft. If it happens to you, the hit to your wallet may be only part of the cost. Many victims find their lives upended—and all too often the culprit is never identified and there’s no certainty about how the theft occurred. It’s up to the victim to take steps to limit the damage, by putting a stop on checks and credit cards, opening new accounts, and creating new passwords. And then comes the painstaking task of trying to undo any damage to one’s reputation or credit scores.

Michelle Brown’s ordeal did not end with the arrest of her perpetrator. The name “Michelle Brown” was given at the time of booking—and, incredibly enough, once convicted the thief continued to use the name for outgoing mail she sent from prison.

If identity theft victims are lucky, they are able to walk away with only the inconvenience of having to get new credit cards and remember new PIN numbers. Still 1 in 21.28 victims of identity theft will lose $5,000 or more because of the theft, and 1 in 5.56 will have ongoing problems, especially if the thief is never apprehended. If you are in that number, the biggest toll may be living with the knowledge that someone can live their life in your name, using your Social Security number, signing your name to loan applications, and using your credit to fund their every whim. And the burden of proof will be on you to prove you are who you say you are.

Of course, you can drastically reduce the chances of becoming an identity theft victim by using an identity theft protection service. (See our 2010 identity theft protection reviews of Lifelock, Lifelock Command Center, TrustedID, Identity Guard, ProtectMyID, and Equifax.)

Why Is TrustedID Better Than Lifelock?

If you’ve been researching various identity theft services, at some point you may have come across a comparison between Lifelock and TrustedID. Lifelock has probably done the most to create “brand awareness” behind its bold marketing campaigns but does that mean it offers the best value for consumers?

Maybe not if you compare it to a service like TrustedID. Here are six reasons why:

Credit Report Monitoring

With the introduction of IDEssentials™, TrustedID provides you with a comprehensive view of your credit history with all three major credit bureaus, along with daily alerts to keep you up-to-date on any changes to your credit reports. If you spot potential fraud, a Protection Specialists will make sure you’re protected and resolve the issue quickly.

Credit Locks

No other company offers credit freezes on all the three major credit reporting agencies. Equifax’s IDPatrol comes close but only allows you to place a credit freeze on the Equifax report and not Experian or TransUnion. See our section on Fraud Alerts & Credit Freezes to understand the benefits of a Credit Freeze over a Fraud Alert.

1,000,000 Service Warranty

You can’t really appreciate the $1,000,000 Service Warranty unless you read the fine print. Not only does it offer the same amount of protection as Lifelock’s 1 Million Total Service Guarantee, but includes coverage for lost wages, a key point Lifelock does not cover. In fact, TrustedID offers more than twice the coverage as its nearest competitor in an area where the majority of identity theft victims say they incur loss.

According to the Identity Theft Resource Center, the average identity theft victim spends under a $1,000 to restore their identity. Although most of the work involved is tedious and time consuming, it usually does not require attorneys or investigators to get involved. What most identity theft victims need is compensation for lost wages and that is why TrustedID’s $1,000,000 Service Warranty stands out. See our section on Identity Theft Insurance to better understand what these policies cover and what to look for.

Family Protection

No other protection service offers a family plan. Equifax’s Credit Watch Gold does but is limited to two adults. TrustedID’s IDEssentials™ can be purchased to cover an entire household. That means children, spouse, and grandparents can be covered all under one family policy. Starting at less than the price of two policies, you can see where the savings add up compared to buying individual plans for every member of your household. Child identity theft is a growing problem and if you have children, TrustedID’s family plan can save you money.

Medical Benefits Protection

One of the newest and growing forms of identity theft is medical benefits fraud. TrustedID will review your medical benefits statements to ensure no one is abusing benefits entitled to you.

Anti-Spyware Software

One of the key areas identity theft occurs is by malicious hackers breaking into your computer and stealing usernames and passwords. With TrustedID, you’ll receive state-of-the-art anti=spyware software which you can install up to three different computers.

How Does TrustedID’s IDEssentials™ Work?

• 3-Bureau Credit Monitoring

Your credit report will be monitored daily for fraudulent or suspicious activity with all three major credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.

• Online Access To Your Credit Report

You’ll have instant online access to your credit reports from the three major credit bureaus.

• Online Access To Your Credit Score

If you’ve ever wondered what your credit score was with the three major credit bureaus, TrustedID will give instant online access to your score.

• Public Database Scanning

TrustedID will monitor hundreds of public record databases that contain information about everything from your marital status and address to issues of the court and business applications. If they detect anything that looks unusual and could lead to identity theft, you’ll be alerted immediately.

• Scans Internet For Your Data

TrustedID will regularly patrol underground black market internet sites where identity thieves buy, sell, and trade credit card numbers, social security numbers, bank account numbers, and names and addresses. If any of your personal information is discovered, you’ll be alerted immediately.



• Identity Threat Score

TrustedID uses advanced technology to search millions of public and private database records and then analyzes this information for patterns that could indicate if you are – or are about to become – a victim of identity theft.

• Lost Wallet Protection

Store your important information with TrustedID – credit and debit card numbers, insurance information, and more – and if you ever lose your wallet or need access to your information, TrustedID’s On-Call Protection Specialists can help you cancel your cards and replace them as quickly as possible.

• Fraud Alerts

TrustedID gives you the option to place fraud alerts if your identity is at risk, and with our Fraud Alert Reminder service, we will help you ensure your fraud alerts are renewed with the credit bureaus every 90 days.

• Medical Benefits Protection

One of the newest and most dangerous forms of identity theft is medical benefit fraud. TrustedID will help members review their medical benefit statements to nobody else is being treated with your medical benefits.

• Spyware Protection

You receive state-of-the-art anti-spyware software which you can install on up to three different computers. The anti-spyware technology blocks and removes malicious programs that hackers use to track your passwords and compromise your online accounts.

• $1,000,000 Warranty Protection

In the unlikely event an identity theft occurs under their protection, you can rest easy to know TrustedID will support you with their service warranty which includes a best-in-class lost wage limit.

• CreditLock™

Although fraud alerts are helpful, credit freezes on your credit file will completely shut down access to your credit report. *Additional costs are involved.

Analysis

At $10.42/month, TrustedID is affordably priced and if you use any of our links, we’ve negotiated a 14 days free trial. However the real savings are found in the TrustedID’s generous family pricing plans. TrustedID will cover a complete household for less than the price of two policies, $20/month. That means grandparents, children, and anyone else living with you can be covered under a single family plan.

In addition to the internet and public database scanning TrustedID does, you also have the option of employing credit freezes, something no other service offers. The Identity Threat Score™ gives you an easy-to-understand way to gauge your current risk levels and allow you to take the necessary steps to reduce the chances of becoming an identity theft victim

With the introduction of IDEssentials, TrustedID not only scans public databases for your personal information but offers credit monitoring as well – something Lifelock’s Command Center does not. You’ll have instant access to your credit report and score as well.

TrustedID offers the $1 Million Service Warranty and you can’t really appreciate the $1,000,000 Service Warranty unless you read the fine print. Not only does it offer the same amount of protection as Lifelock’s 1 Million Total Service Guarantee, but includes coverage for lost wages, a key point Lifelock does not cover. In fact, TrustedID offers more than twice the coverage as its nearest competitor in an area where the majority of identity theft victims say they incur loss.

Opinion

TrustedID’s IDFreeze product coupled with CreditLock is our editor’s choice for overall identity theft protection. They are the only ones to offer the ability to place credit freezes on all three credit reporting bureaus and with family discounts and “best in class” service warranty, it’s easy to see why this is our top choice.

THE GOOD:TrustedID has combined almost everything you could want in an identity protection service: credit report monitoring, credit locks, database scanning, $1 million service warranty, anti-spyware software, medical benefits protection, and a generous family plan.

THE BAD:Significant increase for monthly plans.

Visit TrustedID to sign up for the 14 day free trial offer.

For information on Lifelock Command Center, read our review here.

Lifelock’s Basic Service May Leave Some Consumers Feeling Exposed…

In December 2003, Lifelock made waves in the credit industry after the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act, or FACTA forced credit bureaus to allow consumers to place fraud alerts on their credit reports. This in turn forced lenders to verify your identity before extending credit or loans in your name. Fraud alerts are temporary and expire after 90 days. Considering that credit bureaus derive a considerable portion of their income from selling your information, they probably weren’t too keen on consumers restricting access to their credit files. They didn’t mind this too much since the percentage of consumers that were even aware such options existed-much less use them-was minuscule.

Enter Todd Davis and Lifelock.

In its early days, Lifelock built their business around the ability to place fraud alerts and renew them on your behalf, effectively making them permanent.

The credit bureaus sued and argued that Lifelock was trying to “game the system” of fraud alerts to make a profit. In May of 2009, a federal judge ruled that Lifelock can no longer place fraud alerts on its customer’s credit profiles. Since then, Lifelock has moved away from fraud alerts and evolved into a sophisticated identity monitoring service centered around detecting early signs of identity fraud. In January 2010, Lifelock launched an upgraded protection service called Command Center that offers scanning of public databases such as court records and sex offender registry reports.

Is Lifelock A Scam?

With all the recent press about Lifelock, it’s no surprise many people may be a little weary about being sold a bill of goods. Lifelock has been sued, fined 12 million by the Federal Trade Commission for deceptive business practices, and their CEO, Todd Davis had his identity stolen at least 13 times. If you think this means identity theft services are one big scam, think again. Read more.

How Does Lifelock Work?

• Lifelock Identity Alert System™

Lifelock continually scans the internet and public databases and will alert you by e-mail, postal mail, and/or phone whenever they detect your personal information being used to apply for many forms of credit cards, wireless services, retail credit, utilities, check orders/reorders, mortgage loans, auto loans and non-credit related payday loans. If the application is fraudulent, Lifelock’s remediation team will take action to help protect your good name.

• $1 Million Total Service Guarantee

Lifelock members have access to a recovery specialist who will spend up to $1 million to hire lawyers, investigators, consultants and whatever else is needed to restore your name. It will not cover lost wages or business profits, direct out of business costs and lost opportunities.

• eRecon™

Lifelock’s eRecon™ service will scan thousands of known criminal Web sites for the illegal selling or trading of your personal information such as your name, address, Social Security number, bank account numbers and credit card numbers. If they find a piece of your identity on one of these black market sites, they will alert you and help you take steps to resolve the problem.

• TrueAddress™

A common way identity thieves operate is by redirecting your mail with a change of address request. Identity thieves can divert your mail to steal your personal and financial information. Lifelock will scan address databases nationwide to detect unauthorized change of address requests. If detected, they will notify you and work with you to help avoid further damage and restore accurate address information.

• WalletLock™

If your wallet or purse goes missing, a WalletLock™ specialist will help cancel and replace the lost contents of your wallet, including your credit/debit cards, driver’s license, social security card, insurance cards, checkbook – even travelers checks.

• Reduce Junk Mail

Lifelock will request your name be removed from marking and pre-approved mailing lists, another potential source of identity theft.

• 24-Hour Support

Lifelock maintains 24 hour direct access to account representatives.

Analysis

At $9.00/month, Lifelock is reasonably priced and if you use any of our links, we’ve negotiated 30 days free and a $21.00 discount off the regular price. Unfortunately there are no price discounts for spouses but coverage for minors is offered at $22.50 per year.

The Lifelock Identity Alert™ system uses multiple technologies and data sources to scan credit applications for member’s personal and private information. Since the introduction of the system in September 2009, Lifelock has reported on and blocked more than 6,200 fraudulent applications for both credit and non-credit services before any damage could be done.

The basic Lifelock service includes eRecon™, TrueAddress™, and annual copies of your credit report. These services will scan over 10,000 underground sites for the illegal selling of your information and detect if your address has been changed in nationwide address databases but the lack of more frequent credit monitoring is a concern.

Lifelock offers the $1 Million Total Service Guarantee, 24-Hour member Service and the WalletLock™ service to help you if you become a victim of identity theft. The only issue with this is the $1 Million Guarantee doesn’t cover wage losses.

Lifelock Opinion

This is the service that started it all. Many of you may remember CEO Tod Davis boldly displaying his social security number all over the airwaves daring identity thieves to steal it. They did. According to the Phoenix New Times, Todd Davis has been the victim of identity theft over 13 times. Apparently it’s still a good idea to keep your social security number to yourself but the fact that after such a brazen display of his personal information, he’s only been victimized 13 times.

Is Lifelock Worth It?

But does that mean identity theft protection is a just a one big scam? Hardly. Consumers just have to understand that there’s no way to 100% guarantee you’ll never become a victim of identity theft. The proliferation of data breaches, online shopping, and internet banking means there are just too many ways for tech savvy thieves to get a hold of your identity. You simply can’t control who see’s your mortgage or auto loan application once you hand it over.

How Does Lifelock Compare?

Lifelock’s basic service falls short when compared to other comparably priced services such as TrustedID and Guard Dog ID; all of whom have matching $1 Million Dollar service guarantees.

In addition to everything Lifelock offers, TrustedID offers generous family plan pricing, antivirus protection, and medical benefits protection. Lifelock may have been the service that started it all but like so many other industries, the trailblazers may have the most market share but are usually not the ones who offer consumers the best value. The competitors who have to offer “more for less” to grab market share usually do.

THE GOOD: LifeLock is a decent identity theft protection service at a reasonable price. They basically single-handedly created the identity protection industry with their bold advertising and are the market leaders in the consumer identity protection industry.

THE BAD: If you are looking to provide protection for your entire household, TrustedID’s family plan offers near identical protection at a significant discount. While Lifelock charges per member, TrustedID charges one price per household. The savings can really add up if you have three or more members in your household. No credit monitoring.

Lifelock Promotion

For more information about Lifelock and its services, visit Lifelock.com. We’ve negotiated exclusive discounts for our readers, simply use any of our links to receive $21 off the regular price and 30 days free. No promotion code is necessary.

Welcome To Lifelock 2.0

• Read our original Lifelock review

With the introduction of Lifelock Command Center™ Lifelock is moving away from its original business model of placing and renewing fraud alerts to an early warning detection service. Lifelock’s original offerings are still available and currently Command Center is being offered as an additional add-on to their existing service.

So What Is Command Center?

Lifelock Command Center™ - Is It Worth It?

In the past, Lifelock’s critics (justifiably in my opinion) claimed much of Lifelock’s services could be done for free by the consumer themselves. In addition, since it’s universally accepted that no protection service is completely fool proof, many critics also pointed out fraud alerts may create a false sense of security. What consumers really needed, many industry experts argued, was an early warning system designed to alert individuals at the first sign of identity theft. Lifelock’s answer to those critics and countless competitors is the Lifelock Command Center™ Protection Suite. Here is an explanation of the new features:

• Court Records Alerts and Reports

Lists court records that match your name and date of birth from county courts, Departments of Corrections (DOC), offices of Administration of Courts (AOC) and other legal agencies to help you verify that criminals aren’t using your name to commit crimes.

• Lifelock Personal Breach Detection™ Services

Actively monitors unregulated internet and file-sharing networks for your identity information. If Lifelock finds you are at risk, they’ll alert you by e-mail and take emasures to protect you against accidental personal information disclosures.

• Sex Offender Registry Alerts and Reports

Lists registered sex offender records for your zip code. It will also alert you if a sex offender is fraudulently using your address.

• Payday Loan Alerts and Reports

Notifies you of any payday loan activity with your name, date of birth and Social Security number.

• Public Records Alerts and Reports

Lists postal addresses associated with your identity found in public records.

• Alias Records Alerts and Reports

Lists alternate names associated with other pieces of your identity (Social Security number, driver’s license, etc.) found in public records.

Opinion

There are a lot of things I think Lifelock is doing right here. I enthusiastically agree with paying attention to non-credit related sources for changes in your personal information. Too many companies focus on just monitoring your credit report which is important but leaves out all the other potential types of identity theft that can occur like criminal identity theft.

Lifelock has definately improved upon it’s original service and I do think it’s worth the increase in premium for the added protection but would it be my pick for “best identity protection“? Except for one thing it would be.

The lack of credit monitoring concerns me. Lifelock does provide annual credit reports but you can get that for free. Compared to services like Identity Guard and ProtectMyID, who both provide near real-time monitoring of your credit report, it still falls a little short. While it’s true other forms of identity theft exist outside your credit report and affect thousands if not millions of Americans every year, the majority of identity theft cases still revolve around your credit report. Actively monitoring your credit file is still your best shot at detecting identity theft early and offering you the greatest chance to “nip it in the bud”.

Still, Command Center™ is impressive and for some consumers it might be exactly what they’re looking for.

THE GOOD: Increased scanning of a wide assortment of public databases and services unique in the identity protection industry.

THE BAD: The lack of credit report monitoring may concern some consumers.

Visit Lifelock Command Center and get 30 days free and 15% off.

Visit ProtectMyID and get 30 days for $1. ]]> http://www.idprotectionguide.net/lifelock-command-center-review/feed/ 2 http://www.idprotectionguide.net/identityguard-vs-lifelock/ http://www.idprotectionguide.net/identityguard-vs-lifelock/#comments Sun, 29 Nov 2009 19:55:13 +0000 Brandon Qureshi http://www.idprotectionguide.net/?p=251

Will The Best Identity Theft Service Please Stand Up?

This is a comparison between the flagship services of Lifelock and Identity Guard: Lifelock’s Command Center and Identity Guard’s Total Protection.

One reason we won the cold war was we simply outspent the Soviet Union. There was no way centralized planning could keep up with a capitalist economy. Things like tanks, ships, and fighter jets are notoriously expensive to buy and maintain and the Soviet Union literally bankrupt themselves trying to keep up.

Identity Guard and especially Lifelock have taken the United States playbook and must be outspending their competition at some obscene ratio. Their advertisements are everywhere: on the web, television, print media, and on the radio. One of the likely reasons you’ve found this page is you’re considering an identity theft service and have heard about Lifelock or Identity Guard. That’s the power of branding.

Lifelock introduced Command Center in December 2009 amid much fanfare and it’s a much needed upgrade from their original service. Lifelock will now scan public databases, court records, and even sex offender registry reports for your information. With this new service Lifelock is essentially admitting that’s it’s near impossible to prevent identity theft and instead focuses on an early warning system to prevent the theft from getting beyond your control to resolve it.

Identity Guard of course has been singing this tune all along. While Lifelock probably has more brand recognition, Identity Guard from Intersections Inc. has been successfully fighting identity theft for more than 14 years for some of the biggest names in financial services. So how do these two detection services compare?

	Command Center	Total Protection
Price	$15/month	$17.99month
Promotion	30 Days Free & 15% Off	30 Days Free
3 Bureau Credit Score	No
Monitors Equifax Report	No
Monitors Experian Report	No
Monitors TransUnion Report	No
Anit-Virus Spyware	No
Protects Address
Scans For SSN
Scans For Credit Cards
Scans For Bank Account Information
Scans For Payday Loan Activity
Sex Offender Registry Reports
Public Records
Court Records
Guarantee	$1 Million Total Service Guarantee	$1 Million Loss Reimbursement

So Why Doesn’t Lifelock Offer Credit Monitoring?

While it’s true that identity theft occurs beyond your credit report, experts agree the best way to detect identity theft is through monitoring your credit report. So why does Lifelock leave this important feature out? Only Lifelock knows but I’d hazard a guess it has something to with the costs involved. Identity Guard pays the three major credit reporting agencies (TransUnion, Equifax, Experian) for access to the credit reports. Somebody in Lifelock’s management decided to pursue detection technology outside your credit report.

It’s not hard to understand the strategic thinking behind this decision. This way Lifelock isn’t beholden to the credit reporting agencies it has a somewhat fractious relationship with and can offer consumers services unique to Lifelock.

But by not offering credit monitoring services is Lifelock shortchanging their customers? I think so. Do you think an identity thief will be better detected by monitoring court records and sex offender registry reports or by the daily monitoring of all three credit reports? Seems like a no-brainer to me.

Lifelock

• Read our detailed Lifelock review

Lifelock initiates fraud alerts on your behalf with all 3 major credit bureaus. Fraud alerts require creditors to confirm your identity by phoning to verify the request for credit. The weakness in this type of plan is threefold.

• First, even if fraud alerts were a surefire way to protect against identity fraud, it only protects you against the opening of new accounts. What about your existing accounts? If you lose your wallet, the identity thief will have access to your identification card, home address, and other information.
• Second, fraud alerts are not fool proof. Creditors have and will continue to extend credit without checking your credit file. According to the advocacy group Consumer Action, fraud alerts are only effective in about 75 percent of the cases. The only way to restrict access to your credit file is with a credit freeze, something LifeLock does not do.
• Third and most importantly, your information is already out there. You can take every precaution in the book but what happens to your auto loan application after you fill it out? How about your mortgage application or that new credit card? The truth is, you actually have very little control over the access to your own private identifying information. Fraud alerts won’t protect you.

Identity Guard

• Read our detailed Identity Guard review

Identity Guard doesn’t offer fraud alerts. Maybe it’s because they believe they’re not effective or its incredible easy to set up yourself – for whatever reason Identity Guard focuses entirely on monitoring your credit report in near real time. You have UNLIMITED access to not only your credit report but your credit score as well. In addition to all this, Identity Guard offers a host of products that depending on your tech level, may offer incredible value. To somebody like myself who’s always online, I find the additional features like ID Vault®, Mobile Lockbox®, and ZoneAlarm® incredibly useful but to someone who’s not technically inclined – these features would be of limited value.

Opinion

Lifelock built its entire protection service around placing and renewing fraud alerts. Lifelock was doing this when nobody else was and if imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then Lifelock should be flattered. There are numerous companies that imitate what Lifelock does. They were also the first to offer a million dollar guarantee which everybody also copied. Throw in a CEO who publicly announces his social security number in the press and dares identity thieves to steal it, and it’s no wonder Lifelock is the market leader. Lifelock has brilliant marketing and it resonates with consumers. But while all this may sound lovely at a shareholder meeting, is it truly effective? Is it better than credit monitoring?

If it’s Lifelock or nothing, by all means choose Lifelock. Get some measure of protection for your identity. But if its a choice between fraud alerts and credit monitoring? I choose credit monitoring. There is simply no way to guarantee the security of your personal information. Monitoring your credit file daily for any changes is the best way to protect your identity, your property, and your life.

Visit Lifelock for more information.

Visit IdentityGuard for more information

IDENTITY GUARD® Total ProtectionSM, The Cadillac Of Identity Theft Protection

If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, Identity Guard should consider itself flattered. Not too long ago, before consumer lawsuits forced Lifelock to change its business model, companies like Lifelock centered their identity protection strategies around placing and renewing fraud alerts.

Now while studies show that fraud alerts can help secure access to your credit file, nobody will argue that it’s a foolproof way to prevent identity theft. In fact, a significant amount of fraud occurs with unauthorized access to existing accounts, something fraud alerts and credit locks will do absolutely nothing to prevent. Despite all the marketing you might see or hear, there is no way to completely safeguard you from identity fraud.

Identity Guard understands this and focuses all their resources into creating an advanced credit monitoring service. Unlike Lifelock or other competitors, you have unlimited online access to credit report monitoring and your credit score. There are many other cool features to Identity Guard’s Total Protection like IDVault® and MOBILE LOCKBOX® which will have technophiles smiling but the core of their service is the advanced public database scanning and credit monitoring system.

How Do They Protect You?

Personal Identity Dashboard

• Daily Credit Application Scanning

Identity Guard uses a proprietary system to regularly scan credit application databases for fraudulently submitted credit applications in your name.

• Quarterly Access To Credit File Score

Every three months you will receive to your credit file score with all 3 credit reporting agencies. In addition Identity Guard will monitor your credit file score daily with all three credit bureaus for maximum security and will email you if there are any changes to your credit file score.

• Scans Internet

Monitors internet black market sites where personal data is bought and sold for your personal information. You will be alerted promptly if any of your information is compromised.

• ZoneAlarm® Internet Security Suite

ZoneAlarm is an award winning security software which includes anti-virus, spyware, firewall, spam blocking, and stealth mode all which will greatly reduce the risk of personal; information hijacking on the internet. You will receive the software and updates free during the life of your subscription.

• PRIVACYPROTECT™

PRIVACYPROTECT™ is anti-key logging software which will encrypt every keystroke while you browse the internet to prevent identity thieves from recording your passwords.

• MOBILE LOCKBOX™

This is an innovative product from Identity Guard which will allow you to remotely secure your sensitive information, personal records, and important financial documents on Identity Guard’s servers. All this information will be available to you anywhere anytime via your web-enabled cell phone, PDA, or computer.

• Lost Wallet Protection

Identiy Guard will assist you in canceling all your credit card accounts plus give you access to $2,000 emergency cash from your account.

• $1,000,000 Identity Theft *Insurance

This policy is underwritten by National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh and covers expenses related to recovering from an identity theft including wage losses.

• ID Valut

ID Vault looks like a USB memory stick, but its actually a key that padlocks your identity. It protects you against cyber criminals, spyware, and other tricks criminals use to steal your passwords or account numbers.

What Do They Do Better Than Anybody?

The proprietary technology behind some of the products available to Identity Guard separates it from most other identity theft protection companies. While other companies focus on fraud alerts and credit freezes, Identity Guard takes a different approach. Drawing from their years of experience working with top financial institutions, Intersections has developed a sophisticated consumer protection package centered around the Total Protection Dashboard which allows you to monitor your credit file score and your internet protection services.

Credit Monitoring

Fraud Alerts and Credit Freezes are like locking the door to your valuables. While this approach works well for preventing identity thieves from opening new lines of credit, it does very little to protect your existing accounts from fraud. Reviewing your credit file score annually may alert you to fraudulent activity but the damage to your credit and accounts will already have occurred.

Monitoring your credit file score daily, and alerting you to any changes by text message or email allows you to promptly detect any suspicious activity. The near real time monitoring of all your credit reports and credit score only enhances the careful eye Identity Guard keeps over you.

Internet Security

The award winning Zone Alarm Internet Security Suite along with PrivacyProtect provides you with first rate computer and internet security. Also, Identity Guard scans the internet’s financial black markets daily for your registered information, including Social Security Number, credit cards, and bank accounts.

PC Security

Features like PRIVACY PROTECT and IDVAULT makes your computer virtually impossible for hackers to steal information. No other identity protection service offers this level of sophisticated protection.

What Kind Of Customer Prefers This Service?

A tech savvy consumer who can appreciate the proprietary tools Identity Guard provides to greatly enhance the ability to monitor and control your credit file score. The additional first-rate computer and internet protection offers total protection where identity theft victims are most vulnerable, surfing the internet.

Why Should You Consider Anybody Else?

The absence of fraud alerts and credit freezes means your credit file score is as vulnerable as before. While Identity Guard believes the sophisticated credit monitoring services they employ would detect and minimize any fraud, some consumers would like the protection these tools were designed to provide. The use of fraud alerts and credit freezes are central parts of the theft protection strategies of companies like Lifelock, TrustedID, and Equifax.

ProtectMyID.com from Experian offers a more affordable version of three bureau credit monitoring. You can read a detailed ProtectMyID review here.

Give It To Me Straight

The question with Idenity Guard becomes one about credit monitoring versus fraud alerts. If you believe Lifelock’s commercials, the marketing message is fraud alerts are proactive and credit monitoring is reactive. But how proactive are they? Remember that fraud alerts and credit freezes on your file do nothing to protect your existing accounts. If an identity thief has secured enough vital information to open new accounts, doesn’t he have the ability to tamper with your existing accounts as well?

The advantages to be able to recognize and react quickly to any changes in your credit file score cannot be understated. Certainly Identity Guard provides a degree of monitoring and control over your information no other company offers. Add the plethora of additional useful products such as ID Vault, Privacy Protect, Mobile LockBox, and the award-winning Zone Alarm Internet Security Suite and you’re talking some serious value for the consumer. Personally, I prefer Identity Guard Total Protection and find all the products and features incredibly useful.

If Lifelock and TrustedID claim to lock the doors to your house with fraud alerts and credit freezes, even they’ll admit there are cracks in that door. Identity Guard may leave that door open, but they’re watching your back. If anybody comes in and they’ll text, phone, or email you if they see anything suspicious.

Try Identity Guard FREE For 30 Days

**Reimbursement will be provided by insurance carrier. Insurance underwritten by National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, Pa. The description herein is a summary only. It does not include all terms, conditions and exclusions of the policies described. Please refer to the actual policies for complete details of coverage and exclusions. Coverage may not be available in all jurisdictions and is subject to actual policy language.

DISCLAIMER: Intersections, IDENTITY GUARD, EXTRA CAUTION, PRIVACYPROTECT, MOBILE LOCKBOX and Total Protection are federally registered trademarks of Intersections Inc.

We all know the holidays are a peak time for many businesses including the folks at Amazon. We are busier than ever ordering gifts online trying to make it in time for the holidays and scammers have prepared for all the holiday shopping that’s being done online, targeting Amazon shoppers.

Scammers are counting on you to click before you think. After you purchase your items at Amazon, scammers are blasting inboxes with an email that looks familiar saying, “Your order has been shipped!” But the confirmation looks as if your credit card has been used for something you didn’t order. And this is where they get you, when you click on the link inside this perfectly thoughout page designed to hook you, they try to get your private information. Then what? Then they got you. Or even worse, they infect your computer with a virus.

Amazon has set up an alert that gives instructions on what to do if you get an unexpected email claiming to be Amazon. They have specific instructions on how to handle these emails and asks you to forward these emails to stop-spoofing@amazon.com.

Verizon Wireless was also a target for scammers that are sending email alerts about updating your Verizon account. Scammers have made spot on copies of the company’s actual website–until you look closely, where in fine print on of bottom of the email you’ll find an expired date.

A spokesman for Verizon says they would never send out emails like that. No company would. But how do we know? These are elaborate, well thought out, and even the best of us can be fooled.

The scammers are just after your account number and password. The FTC encourages consumers to learn more about phishing traps and how to protect yourself. There are many ways you can protect yourself and to minimize your risk of becoming a victim. You can protect your social security number, treat your trash and mail carefully, be on guard when using the internet, select intricate passwords, verify sources before sharing information, safeguard your purse and wallet, store information in secure locations, and get identity theft protection.

While nothing can guarantee that you won’t become a victim, it is best to minimize your risk before you find yourself filing a complaint with the FTC and with no money in the bank. Read our review on Lifelock identity theft protection services.