The risks for identity theft are hard to avoid, especially since we are all interconnected through the worldwide web. Online criminals' main goal is to steal your personal information. If they can find out your name, address, Social Security number, birth date or other personal information they will. They will even try to open new credit lines and access your bank accounts. Some may even apply for a driver's license or passport; all in your name. You may have a criminal record and not even know it because of these online thieves. Identity theft has been going on since the earliest of ages. The phrase "identity theft" was coined in 1936, but has going on much before that. In fact, it used to be a violent crime, but now with the Internet it makes theft much easier (FTC). The new ease of accessing information makes it extremely important that you take the steps necessary to protect your name. The first step is to be aware of the great and even irreplaceable costs of identity theft. The next step is to protect all aspects of your online information through various security systems and limiting the personal information you input into the computer, even in emails and instant messaging.
             II. Description of the Current Situation
             Identity theft is serious! It is a federal crime, yet so many still become a victim of this horrible act every year. The Federal Trade Commission's 2006 Identity Theft Survey estimated that consumers lost over $1.1 billion dollars due to identity theft (FTC). Identity theft starts with the careless use of your personal information such as your name and Social Security number, credit card numbers, or other financial account information. For identity thieves, this information is dollar signs. Once they have your personal information, identity thieves use it in a variety of ways. They may open new credit card accounts in your name, or open a bank account in your name and write bad checks, or give your personal inform...