The Federal Trade Commission estimates that nearly 9 million Americans have their identities stolen every year. Thieves may use stolen information to rent apartments or apply for a credit card.

CNN recently provided consumers with a few recommendations on how to protect themselves, both on paper and on the web.

A shredder can be an effective tool to combat identity fraud.. Because thieves often steal mail or disposed papers, it's unsafe to leave any discarded document bearing personal information intact.

It's also essential to protect yourself online. The news source suggests taking caution when announcing plans on social networks. "If we say that we're going on vacation and we'll be gone for a week, you might as well put a neon sign in front of your house saying come on in, take everything, help yourself to what's mine," Gail Cunningham of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling told the news source.

She added that it's important to educate one's entire family, even children, who could unwittingly reveal sensitive information online. Both children and adults can lower their risk of ID theft by using a secure payment service when shopping on the web.