The target of identity theft is typically your bank and credit card accounts, social security number, and the various personal identification numbers needed to access those accounts. A person intent on stealing your identity is hard to thwart. Nevertheless, there’s still lots you can do to protect yourself.

If you want to keep your risk to a minimum, here’s what you need to be aware of.

1. Home computer: A professional hacker won’t have any problem accessing your data from a remote location. Software that prevents viruses and software from attacking your computer is crucial to your safety. A firewall is also critical. And these days, there is some good identity theft software available that gives you added protection from hackers. Your first step is to use a password that’s hard to crack in order to keep your information safe. Make sure it’s a minimum of 8 to 10 characters long. You need to use a combination of letters and numbers. And it shouldn’t be something easy to crack like your birthday or anniversary.

2. Trash: If you throw it away, no doubt you think it doesn’t have any value. The truth is that criminals will search through people’s trash bags to find personal information that they can use to steal your identity. Major targets are those credit card solicitation letters. It’s critical that these are completely destroyed before they leave your house.

3. Mail Delivery: Most people don’t have mailboxes that lock. But for anyone who wants your identifying information, the mailbox is a prime attraction. Just consider the amount of mail you receive that includes personal financial information. A thief can do a lot of damage with just your bank and credit card statements.

4. Lockers: If you’re serious about identity theft protection, any place you store your handbag or wallet needs to be locked securely. This means the locker at your fitness club or at your place of work. When you use your own lock instead of one provided by the facility, the thief won’t have access to the extra key.

5. Handbag and wallet: Always be aware of and protect either of these two things. For many people, their wallet or handbag contains all the information an identity thief needs to facilitate his crime. This includes your credit cards, checkbook, and bank card, not to mention any PINs you’ve written down.

6. Personal information: Be cautious of giving out any personal details. Sometimes you’ll get a request for personal information that appears to be from a company that you deal with. In reality, it could just as easily be an identity thief impersonating an employee of that organization. It can take place both on the internet and on the telephone. It’s all too easy to give out confidential information in these circumstances.

Identity theft is a growing problem, and many people are worried that they will become victim to this faceless crime. That’s why it’s so important to learn some tips on how to protect yourself from identity theft. Learn more about how to protect yourself at Identity Theft Facts.

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