For years we’ve heard the stories about identity theft. Maybe we know someone who has been a victim of identity theft. Whether it happens intentionally or accidentally, victims spend time, effort and money trying to solve the problems and restore their credit ratings.

I’ve seen the magazine and television ads recently advertising LifeLock, which is a company specializing in the prevention of identity theft. (The web site indicates the service is available in the U.S., Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.) Anyway, their product is the prevention of identity theft. They’re confident enough of their service that their president announces and shows his Social Security Number on the television and in print advertising, and even on their web site! They also advertise a $1 million service guarantee, saying they’ll spend up to a million dollars to "make it right" if your identity is stolen while you’re a member of Lifelock.

Fast forward to this week… At a dinner this week, the subject came up. Several attendees mentioned that they were looking at LifeLock and intending to sign up with it. One mentioned he had signed up and found that both he and his wife had active credit cards that they didn’t know about — and that had current balances. They quickly got them closed.

Meanwhile, I also had been thinking about signing up with the LifeLock service. In today’s world of personal information available on the Internet and reports of Internet companies, brick-and-mortar companies, political entities, and colleges losing personal information in their care, I decided that the time had come and the right product for me had arrived.

When I decided to sign up for LifeLock this week, I also checked and found they had an affiliate program. You can sign up and save 10% off LifeLock’s regular prices by using my link.  I don’t know how long this discount will last.