In light of an increase in online hacking and cybercrime, the Obama administration is considering implementing new measures to help curb online identity theft, reports the Associated Press.

The government is looking to Australia for guidance in developing these new policies, as that country is set to put into place a new plan that would allow Internet Service Providers (ISP) to quarantine a computer that has been compromised.

"Without security you have no privacy. And many of us that care deeply about our privacy look to make sure our systems are secure," Howard Schmidt, White House cyber coordinator, told the news source. He went on to say that ISPs can help "make sure our systems are cleaned up if they're infected and keep them clean."

Administration officials have met with industry experts on cyber security to discuss various strategies to protect Americans online while still keeping personal civil liberties and privacy on the web secure.

The Federal Trade Commission reports that approximately 9 million people in the U.S. become victims of identity theft every year. To maximize protection, online consumers should be sure to use a secure payment company when shopping online.