Many of us go online several times a day—we might email a friend, place an auction bid, or sell a few shares of stock online. And each time we log on, our identities are at risk. Sadly, there are people out there trying to gather enough of our personal information to create a virtual composite of who we are, which they can sell to others or use for themselves, perhaps even opening lines of credit in our names. That's why identity theft has become such a hot topic these days. Fortunately, there are many real-world and online precautions you can take to limit your exposure and protect your identity.

Everyday Vigilance

Most precautions are common sense. The challenge is in the details and execution. If you want to reduce your exposure to identity theft, incorporate these steps into your regular routine.

Don't carry documents and cards you don't need. That includes your social security card, passport, and extra credit cards. When you're not using these items, lock them away in a safe place—along with other identifying documents, like your birth certificate and will.

When you dispose of documents containing personal or financial information, shred them before tossing them in the trash or recycling bin. That way dumpster diving identity thieves will have to work extra hard to piece together those credit applications, convenience checks, and financial statements. The same policy applies to expired drivers licenses and credit cards. Be sure to cut up them up when you receive replacements.
Take special care with your mail. Put a hold on it while you're on vacation, and arrange for sensitive packages (like new checks) to be picked up at the post office. You might even consider mailing your bills from the post office rather than placing them in your mail box where a thief could come by and snatch them.
Memorize your PIN numbers, and if you've written them down somewhere, tear up those pieces of paper. Whatever you do, don't carry PIN numbers in your wallet or purse.
Carefully review your banking, investment, and credit card statements each month. Make certain there hasn't been any unusual or unauthorized activity. And to make sure no one's using your identity to apply for credit, check your credit activity with one of the major credit bureaus at least once a year.

Online precautions

Even if you have your paper trail covered, the Internet presents a whole other arena for identity thieves to operate. And because the online landscape is ever-changing, you need to be extra vigilant as you use your computer. Here are some key ways to protect yourself online.

Learn to spot phishing scams. Using fake emails and Web sites to pose as legitimate organizations, phishers trick people into divulging passwords, credit card numbers, and other sensitive information. These counterfeit emails and Web pages are almost indistinguishable from the real thing; so be extremely cautious with online requests for important information. And remember, legitimate organizations will NEVER ask you to verify personal information over the Internet. To learn more, check out Club Symantec's phishing article and tips.
Never send your social security number over the Internet. If you get a request for it, verify the authenticity of the requestor and then provide it directly to that person.
Be cautious with email. Many phishing scams use spam email as part of their deception; so get a good antispam program to reduce your exposure to misleading emails. And because email and IM aren't always secure, never use them to exchange sensitive information.
Password-protect all your computers, laptops, and PDAs. Use unique user names and passwords, combining letters with numbers and special characters. Be sure to use especially strong password combinations on your guest accounts.
Try to minimize the amount of personal or financial data on your computer. That way if your laptop or computer is stolen or hacked, you'll have less exposure to identity theft.
Use a personal firewall. A good firewall program hides your computer from hackers, gives you control over all Internet traffic on your computer, and automatically blocks intruders who may try to get at sensitive data.
Buy antivirus software and update it regularly. A good virus protection tool will protect your data from viruses, Trojan horses, and other malicious code.
Never open an email or IM attachment unless you know who sent it and what's inside. And make sure your antivirus software scans both email and IM attachments.
Install an antispyware program. While a lot of spyware programs simply monitor your Web-surfing habits, some are used for malicious purposes, including keystroke logging and identity theft.
If you sell or give away your computer, remove your data from the hard disk before delivering it to the new owner.

Your identity is an irreplaceable possession, and if someone steals it, you may find yourself dealing with the ramifications for years. So be judicious with your personal information, keeping it private and safely locked away; because in the end, your own habits and a good set of security tools are your best defense against identity thieves.