What makes good identity theft protection? Some would say that the most important thing is its technological capability, as the solution is going to need the power to monitor for a wide variety of the telltale signs of identity fraud. This is why it’s very tempting to choose identity theft protection powered by a well-known figure of the technology industry. In this comparison we have Symantec’s LifeLock going up against IBM-powered Identity Guard. Both services provide thorough credit monitoring and routine checks for suspicious transactions. When you have two big names like this, how do you decide between them?
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LifeLock
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Identity Guard
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Brand/logo
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Visit brand site
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Read review
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Rating
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Easy setup
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Credit card required
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U.S./Canadian citizenship required
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Case manager
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Insurance policy
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$1 million
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$1 million
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Associated costs
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Symantec, the first of our two famous companies, acquired LifeLock in 2015. Originally founded in 2005 in Arizona, LifeLock has gone through some turbulent times but has since gone from strength to strength. LifeLock has all the standard identity theft protection services you would expect: you’ll be able to get credit monitoring from all three bureaus and social security number alerts in case someone attempts to use yours. LifeLock takes full advantage of its Symantec connection by being part of the Norton 360 bundle. This means that – depending on your subscription – you can get a vast number of extras like a VPN, cloud storage space, and parental controls.
LifeLock has the typically great customer service that Symantec users will already be familiar with. There’s an expert ready to take your inquiry 24/7 – very helpful in case of an emergency. For anything less urgent, you can also contact LifeLock by email, live chat, or through social media. LifeLock is very well-priced compared to other options, however prices do increase slightly after the first year. Although there’s no free trial available, there is a substantial 60-day money-back guarantee.
Now we head east from Arizona to Virginia to take a look at Identity Guard, which has earned its reputation by utilizing IBM Watson’s artificial intelligence to boost its protection services. Like LifeLock, Identity Guard monitors all three bureaus to ensure there are no unexpected changes in your credit score. You’ll also get alerts if there are any high-risk transactions or if your details have appeared on the dark web. These are all fairly standard features for most identity theft solutions, but it’s the extra functions Identity Guard provides that make it stand out. For instance, Identity Guard offers you a social insight report which gives you an idea of how you’re presented online, and shows how much personal information you may have shared there unknowingly.
Identity Guard’s customer support is available over the phone from Monday to Saturday and aims to respond to email inquiries within two working days. When it comes to price, Identity Guard is one of the most affordable options on the market, with a low base price that doesn’t compromise on too many features. You won’t know it by visiting their website, but there’s a free 30-day trial you can access by getting in touch with Identity Guard directly.
So who’s the winner here – LifeLock or Identity Guard? IBM or Symantec? They both handle the basics very well, with all the essential monitoring and alerts you would expect from high quality identity theft protection providers. However, it’s Identity Guard that has the greater list of features, with its social insight report a particular highlight that shows how small changes to your online life will reduce your risk of identity theft. Meanwhile, getting LifeLock can grant you access to a wealth of extra internet security options that keep you safe from all kinds of threats. So, no matter which solution suits you best, you’ll be protected by a proven and reputable company.
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