The good news is that identity theft is on the decline. The bad news is that ID theft still affected 8.1 million Americans last year, according to Javelin Strategy and Research -- down 3.6 percent from 8.4 million in the previous year's study.

The average amount lost per individual as a result of ID theft last year was about $5,500, for a total of $45 billion. Despite the decline in reported ID theft, the Better Business Bureau warns that thieves and hackers still lurk online and warns consumers to protect their personal and financial information.

The BBB recommends consumers take the following steps to prevent ID theft online:

- Don't fall for a phishing e-mail
- Create strong passwords and protect them
- Be safe and secure when on the go
- Guard personal computers with anti-virus, anti-spyware, and firewall protection
- Transfer information over only a secure server