Which action supports identity protection regarding online shopping and document disposal?

• A. Dispose of sensitive documents properly
• B. Ignore disposal issues
• C. Store documents publicly
• D. Share documents with others

Answer: (A)

Protecting your identity involves controlling how your personal information is handled, both when you shop online and after you’re done with documents that contain sensitive data. The best action is to dispose of sensitive documents properly. Shredding or securely destroying receipts, bank statements, credit card offers, and any paper that shows your name, address, account numbers, or Social Security number prevents others from retrieving usable information from your trash. This directly reduces one common route of identity theft, often called dumpster diving. While good online shopping habits—like using secure websites, strong passwords, and monitoring your statements—also matter, properly disposing of papers with personal data addresses a concrete risk in the physical world. Ignoring disposal issues leaves information vulnerable, and storing or sharing documents publicly can expose you to misuse and theft.