a. Shred financial documents and paperwork with personal information before you discard them.
b. Protect your Social Security number. Don’t carry your Social Security card in your wallet or write your Social Security number on a check. Give it out only if absolutely necessary or ask to use another identifier.
c. Don’t give out personal information on the phone, through the mail, or over the Internet unless you know who you are dealing with.
d. Never click links sent in unsolicited emails; instead, type in a web address you know. Use firewalls, anti-spy ware, and anti-virus software to protect your home computer; keep them up-to-date.
e. Don’t use an obvious password like your birth date, your mother’s maiden name, or the last four digits of your Social Security number.
f. Keep your personal information in a secure place at home, especially if you have roommates or are having work done in your house.