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What is the difference between credit freeze and credit lock?

A credit lock is different from a freeze. A credit freeze (aka security freeze) is governed under state laws, credit locks are not.

These are the bureaus' credit lock services. A lock is one feature that may be included with other product benefits.

http://www.experian.com/consumer-products/creditlock.html

https://www.transunion.com/product/credit-lock

http://www.equifax.com/lockandalert/

Equifax Data Breach - 3 Steps To Protect Yourself

What you can do about the Equifax data breach.

1. Equifax set up a website, equifaxsecurity2017.com, to help you determine if your data was part of the hack (hint: it probably is). Equifax will be providing free credit monitoring to anyone affected. Whether you want to sign up with them after this hack, is up to you.
2. Set up a fraud alert, for free, by calling one of the three credit bureaus: Equifax, TransUnion, or Experian. By law, the bureau you contact must share that alert with the other two bureaus. You only need to contact one. The FTC website explains how. An alert does not actually alert you personally! It puts some words on your credit file to inform credit grantors to contact you if anyone applies for credit in your name (including you). They aren't required by law to actually contact you, but most do.
3. Add a security freeze on your credit file. You may have to pay for this. You must lift it temporarily when you apply for new credit. You have to individually call each of the three nationwide credit reporting companies. You'll need to supply your name, address, date of birth, Social Security number and other personal information. Fees vary based on where you live, but commonly range from $5 to $10. The FTC has complete details on this.
   Equifax — 1-800-349-9960
   Experian — 1‑888‑397‑3742
   TransUnion — 1-888-909-8872

 

Equifax data breach - 143 million US consumers

Equifax reports cybersecurity incident could impact 143 million Americans. It may be one of the few largest breaches in history. Hackers accessed names, Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses and driver’s license numbers. Also, credit card numbers for over 209,000 consumers were accessed. 

EFX discovered the breach on July 29 and the unauthorized accesses took place from mid-May until July.

More: Atlanta J-C 

Three steps to protect yourself from the Equifax data breach