Social Security Number The Key To Identity Theft

from the time-to-rethink-the-plan dept

You've all seen them (and most people have probably filled them out): some random form for something or another that asks for your social security number. Many retail shops (such as video rental stores) ask for them - but they have no reason to know that information. People are growing increasingly concerned because having someone's social security number is usually a key piece for doing some identity theft. Of course, these days, getting your hands on someone else's social security number is pretty damn easy - and part of that is because people ask for it all the time, and most people comply. Many people either don't realize how important the number is or just don't want to complain about it being asked for - even if, in many cases, these firms have no right to know. Of course, that's never going to change. Instead, what we should be working towards is a system that doesn't require a permanent and easily copied number like a social security number to prove you are who you say you are. It's like having a not very secret password that's impossible to change. Not very secure. Until a more secure system is standard, the problem isn't likely to go away.