Has anyone had issues with identity theft? I have put my Social Security out on many different MSC sites. I am thinking about investing in identity theft protection like Lifelock. Any advice would be appreciated.

I remember that years ago in college our grades were all posted in the hallway outside the department office door by social security number. Ah the good old days. It has only been relatively recently that my driver's license number was not my social security number with a few more characters. When I bought my home the property appraiser posted the deed documents to their website in pdf format--complete with the social security number of the seller.

Over time there has been more caution exercised with our social security numbers because they have become such critical identifiers with any financial interaction--whether it is banking, credit or employment. There is no absolutely secure way of protecting them and at the same time I question just how much damage identity theft can do. My credit cards have always secured me from responsibility for fraud in their use. My bank protects me against fraudulent withdrawals from my account. If an account is opened in my name by someone without my signature or checking my bona fides, I cannot be held responsible for their failure to use due diligence.

Sure, it could be a nuisance to clean up the mess, but I am allowed a free look at my credit report once a year to make sure there is no hanky panky going on. For the rest, I try to use good common sense. On a recent bank shop I was offered a 'deal' that would let me see my credit report any/all the time; I could provide them with information on all my credit cards and if my purse was stolen they would quickly get them all stopped for me with one phone call; they would provide services to clean up my accounts (up to $25,000) if I was a victim of identity theft; I could get discounts on glasses and drugs at their 'participating' vendors. All this (and more, I'm sure) for only $7.50 per month.

My personal reaction is that identity theft would be a nuisance but not a disaster, so I don't see that it would be worth $90 per year to me, even with all the other 'benefits' offered. I receive few financial statements of any sort in the mail any more. I shred papers that have personal information or account numbers on them. I review my credit card bills before I pay them. I review my bank account at least once a month for all activity. I check my credit report at least once a year. I use online bill pay to avoid having checks in the mail. Should I fall victim, I will clean up the mess. I suspect my probability of being a victim is next to nil.

Like Flash, I refused to be frightened into buying "protection." I check my bank on line every few days and have all of my accounts, including credit cards, set up to send an email alert if certain types of transactions occur.

Take a look at what [myfico.com] has to offer by way of monitoring, alerts, etc. The site is run by Fair Isaac, the people who make your official FICO score. Also make sure to use [www.annualcreditreport.com] to get one free credit report from each of the three credit reporting agencies per year. The trick there is to get one now from one agency, then in four months get one from the other agency, then in four months get one from the last agency. Rinse and repeat, you have a good handle on what's going on with your report. DON'T go to freecreditreport.com or those types of places, [annualcreditreport.com] is the only one mandated by the government to be F R E E, no strings attached.

Oh, and if I haven't said it enough to make everyone here puke, make sure when you're signing up to a new company and transmitting personal information (DOB, DL#, SS#) you're doing so on an encrypted website - look for the []. If you see http:// just keep on walking.