to avoid identity theft in the first place:
1. never click on any link and/or attachment(s) in any email unless you know it was already coming.
2. Never fill out any request for information in any email
3. take you Social Security number out of circulation as much as possible. example: change Drive license # from SS to random.
4. Never disclose SS # unless absolutely necessary, example to a bank.
5. shred all documents with your personal info going into the trash. dumpster diving is a good way to get someone's info.
6. never leave your mail out for pickup. Someone else may pick it up instead.
7. run adware and/or spybot to erase spyware on your system
8. run Norton or another antivirus and run updates at least 2x a week.
Please add any thing else common sense I'm forgetting.
How about limit your exposure to potential damage.
Keep as few credit cards as possible, change banking and mercantile passwords frequently, and verify the legitimacy of businesses that you do give personal information to.