What is an effective strategy for protecting yourself against online identity theft?

An effective strategy for protecting yourself against online identity theft involves regularly changing passwords and validating website security. This practice enhances your security by ensuring that your passwords are not easily compromised over time. Changing passwords frequently minimizes the risk that someone will gain long-term access to your accounts, especially if one of your passwords is leaked or guessed.

Additionally, validating website security before entering personal information is crucial. This can be done by checking for indicators such as "https://" in the web address, which indicates that the site encrypts data transmitted between your browser and the server. These precautions together create a robust defense against potential identity thieves who are looking to exploit unsecured accounts or sensitive personal data.

In contrast, sharing passwords, using unsecured wireless networks, and keeping personal information public can expose individuals to greater risks of identity theft, making those options ineffective as protective strategies.