Identity theft is no fun at all. Aside from the potential financial loss, theres the time and expense incurred just to try to make everything right again. People who have ever been through it never want it to happen again and quickly adopt some good practices. If you dont want to experience it, you can use those same practices.

Here are some things that can make identity theft a lot harder for criminals:

Protect your social security card. Write down the number if you need to keep it in your wallet but leave the card at home in a safe place. If you can memorize it, all the better.
When using the internet for shopping or setting up registrations, be very wary of the information you give out and to whom. Most sites are honest and protected but not all of them are so be careful with credit card information. Services like paypal make it very simple to protect your information even more, and many more companies than just Ebay now accept it as a payment form.
Be careful what you throw in the trash. Either shred or burn any bills or other document which contains your name, address and account numbers. When things go to a landfill, they can blow around or be searched by thieves.
When selecting ATM pass code numbers, choose something that isnt obvious. When people use their birthdays, they are just asking for trouble.
Keep documents and information in secure locations. Even an unlocked file drawer in your desk can be risky if there are many people in and out of your home. Get something substantial that will lock or rent a safety deposit box at your bank.

None of these things require much effort, but the little that they do will be something that you appreciate if you ever become a victim of identity theft.

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