The online world holds many essential services that are difficult to go without. Whether you’re working, communicating with friends and family, or streaming the latest shows, it’s good to have a few best practices to ensure your personal information stays safe.

Malicious actors are constantly looking for ways to access and use systems to their advantage. Here are four tips to protect your identity from theft.

Manage Your Passwords

Password management is an essential practice that can significantly reduce the chance of having your systems breached by unauthorized individuals. Creating long and complicated passwords will make it more difficult for thieves to steal your information.

While many services offer password management, storing your credentials online is a bad idea. Instead, consider writing them down in a location where only you can access them to prevent them from leaking to the public.

Use Antivirus Software

Installing antivirus software is a common practice that prevents scammers from installing malicious codes on your system. Worms, trojan horses, ransomware, and other types of malware can run without you knowing it, giving malicious actors full reign over your system and personal information.

It’s good practice to ensure your antivirus software, firewall, and connected devices are up-to-date so they can adequately protect you from the latest malicious code packages.

Shred Old Devices

Your personal information never truly disappears, even if you delete it from your computer’s drive. Those who know what they’re doing can still access the data. Taking the time to completely wipe or destroy your drives before selling or discarding them will ensure unauthorized parties can’t access the stored information.

Luckily, there are trustworthy businesses certified in safe SSD and HDD destruction practices. Shredding services can prevent identity theft by drilling, crushing, degaussing, or chemically disintegrating your equipment.

Never Share Personal Information Online

No matter how much you protect your personal information, it won’t mean a thing if you go around sharing it online. Once your data is out there, it’s nearly impossible to keep it private. Being careful about who you share with and what you post online is the best way to stay safe.

Think Critically and Use Common Sense

The digital world is complicated. You never know how other people will use your personal information once they get ahold of it.

Thinking carefully about what you share will keep your data safe. With these tips to protect your identity from theft, you’ll have peace of mind while using your digital services.