University Researchers Find Social Security Numbers Can Be Guessed
Many numbers could be guessed at by simply knowing a person's birth data, the researchers from Carnegie Mellon University said.
The results come as concern grows over identity theft and lawmakers in Washington push legislation that would bar businesses from requiring people to supply their Social Security number when purchasing a good or service.
"Our work shows that Social Security numbers are compromised as authentication devices, because if they are predictable from public data, then they cannot be considered sensitive," said Alessandro Acquisti, assistant professor of information technology and public policy at Carnegie Mellon University, and a co-author of the study.
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- groups:
- News, News and Politics
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- tags:
- News and Politics, News, Identity Theft + add
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- AndreaKnoll
- added this
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That is pretty scary, oh by the way I was born 5-5-09. Not really but start guessing.
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- kennymotown
- 4 months ago
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They originally promised that the SSnumber would not be used as identification for any purpose other than for benefits. Now it is used for everything; credit, rental applications, bank accounts, taxpayer ID number, mortgage, safety deposit box, etc.
The Social Security Number is very similar to the Apocalyptic vision of the Number of the Beast, although I don't believe in the Bible, I can see the similarities.
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Not surprising. Though if you're lucky, your SSN could've been filed for in a different state than where you were born (like me).
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Great! Ever business wants you to confirm your identity with your SSN anyway, it's not very secure. Also, I was told that people can purchase SSN's at certain locations for work purposes.
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- Denica_Cassandra
- 4 months ago
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- isnamthere
- 4 months ago
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Anything invovling numbers can be guess...
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Are you socially secure?
