What should you do with documents containing personal information?

Shredding documents containing personal information before discarding them is an essential practice for protecting your privacy and preventing identity theft. When personal information, such as Social Security numbers, bank details, or any sensitive identification, is discarded without proper disposal, it can become accessible to unauthorized individuals who may misuse it. Shredding ensures that the information is irretrievable, significantly reducing the risk of identity theft and other forms of fraud.

Storing documents securely might seem like a good alternative, but it does not address the problem of protecting that information when no longer needed. While keeping documents for future reference can be practical for certain types of information, it can lead to unnecessary risk if those documents are eventually discarded without being shredded. Sharing personal information with anyone, even trusted friends, can still pose a danger if that information is not safeguarded properly. Thus, shredding is the most effective method to ensure that personal information is permanently destroyed and cannot be accessed by others.