IDENTITY PROTECTION REVIEWS
Identity Guard Vs Lifelock
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.
In its early days Lifelock revolved their protection services around setting and renewing fraud alerts. Several lawsuits later, Lifelock has adopted a more detection focused approach much like Identity Guard’s Total Protection.
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 | |
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| Sex Offender Registry Reports | |
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| Public Records | |
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| Court Records | |
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| 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
- 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
Category: IdentityGuard, Lifelock
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Thanks for the info. How difficult is it to place fraud alerts on your own?
Hi Mitch, placing a fraud alert on your own is very easy. All you need to do is contact any credit bureau via phone or online and prove you are yourself by usually answering a few questions and you’re all set. Once you have a fraud alert at one bureau, they have to contact the other two. You will have to contact them again after 90 days to renew it but again, it’s a simple procedure.
I am currently using PrivacyGuard? Any thoughts about that? Thanks.
Does anyone offer a package deal for married couples? I am protected (at least I think I am) with PrivacyGuard, but it seems to me that since my wife and I share everything (credit cards etc.), I am really only 50% covered. Is this true?
Scott
Hi Scott,
Privacy Guard offers credit monitoring services similar to those of Identity Guard and does a few things Identity Guard doesn’t like medical benefits review. The only major difference is Privacy Guard offers $10,000 in insurance while Identity Guard offers $1,000,000. If you’ve read our report on theft insurance, this isn’t as big a deal as it may seem.
Identity guard does offer a host of virus and pc protection tools that Privacy Guard doesn’t but these are periphery offerings that may or may not appeal to you. As long as you’re reviewing your credit reports, regardless of where they come from – you’re fine.
TrustedID has a great family plan that covers anybody in the household. It’s only a few more dollars than Privacy Guard and you can protect your whole family.
Thanks Brandon,
Am I correct in saying that I am only partially protected since my spouse and I utilize the same credit cards and she does not have Privacy Guard?
Scott
Hi Scott,
Your Privacy Guard plan is attached to your social security number. If you are the primary account holder on the cards you and your wife share, you’re covered. Often credit card companies will offer additional cards for a spouse or partner based on the account holder’s credit profile.
But you are correct your wife’s credit profile is not covered. Her use of your cards may be protected but nothing is preventing an identity thief from victimizing her information.
Is this what you’re asking?
I recently heard that Lifelock can no longer do the fraud alert service. Does that remove their benefit or have they changed their value statement. I am already a subscriber to them but I don’t totally trust anyone’s advertising info at this point. thanks
I too am looking for something that covers both my spouse and me.
This is the best price and service…made up by dave and Jeff at zander.. also checkout dave ramsey it will change your life..he has a FREE 1 hr show everyday you can listen to. and great term rates too.
For Family the best bang for the Buck is TrustedID. It is the cheapest. However I have tested all three major services including the new LifeLock Command Center. Nice but LifeLock just got slapped with an 11 Million Dollar FTC suit for false advertising moreover claims on their services.
As for Identity Guard the reporting and updates are incredible. Practically real-time! Plus you can see your credit score, not overly necessary but it is there. You can see who is requesting info on you, but it does lack some stuff. The Free Antivirus and Keylogger is a gimmick. Your Broadband provider most likely gives you free Antivirus and what not…comcast now uses Norton Security Suite…based on Norton 360. It is decent and free for up to 5-7 PCs as long as you are a customer. Verizon, SBC/ATT, Cox, Time Warner all offer a free security suite as well Some from Trend, McAfee or CA…even Microsoft now offers Security Essential for free. It’s not the best but it does the Job.
LifeLock claims to do Fraud Alerts which once again you can do yourself. Their service seems to be the center of tons of controversy…to the point were many believe you can do as much as they do for free yourself. They do cover the liability if it does happen to you but at what expense. I believe you are paying for a $1 Million insurance policy that will never pay out what it claims…they all offer this now too. It is a joke considering by law if someone uses your credit card you are liable for no more than $50…and most banks as well as Credit Card companies wont even stick you with that fee! Even with Command Center I am a little skeptical. They are 24×7 and they offer ID recovery service not just assistance…this is a big difference between all other. Is it hard to call your bank, credit card companies…no but getting a new SS can be a little bit of a pain. You will also have to go to the DMV if you lose your wallet no matter who’s service you have.
TrustedID is a good service for a family. It is cheap and they offer an option (For a Cost) what is called CreditLock no one else has this. This is probably the single worth while service out there. This puts protection such as someone being able to run credit, open a loan, credit card or what not on complete lock down…no access what so ever…including for yourself. You have to call them to have it unlocked (for a Fee) and they unock it for a period to allow you to open up or do what you have to then lock it back down entirely! It is pretty cool and damn near bullet proof!
As for policing the internet, in blackmarket chat rooms and so on. They all use services like Credit Cop which as I stated police chat rooms, message boards, and P2P sharing.
Brandon,
Should i just get both?
I am interested in learning about the comparison between Identity Guard vs Zander Insurance.
Any thoughts about which is best?
Thanks,
Joseph
@Joseph
Sorry for the late reply Joseph but we just got around to reviewing Zander.
In summary, its main strength appears to be the resolution services with unlimited help but their identity theft coverage is only $20,000. Every major service offers a million. There is no credit monitoring, no scanning of public databases, no other protection except helping you use free consumer services like the Do Not Call registry.
There really isn’t any comparison to Identity Guard.
We’ve just completed a review of Zander’s identity theft service. You can read a review of it here.