It's time to stop using Social Security Numbers:
Bottom Line: If there's anything good that could come out of the most significant security breach of personal information in American history – it'd be this. The CEO of Equifax in his testimony before Congress offered this response: "think beyond" the concept of a Social Security number as a secure identifier. "I personally know my Social Security number has been compromised at least four times in my lifetime,"
Later yesterday Federal cybersecurity coordinator Rob Joyce had this to say: "every time [you] use the Social Security number, you put it at risk."
So, there's a pretty clear message here. Stopping the use of Social Security numbers for ID purposes! Since the advent of the Social Security # it's been the original government lie to all of us. It says right on the card that it's not to be used for identification purposes – yet the government does and has for generations. While we have to hope for the government to finally tell the truth and do the right thing – we have control of its use in other avenues of everyday life. Entities like utility companies, mobile service providers, school, etc. have no right to your Social Security number and you shouldn't provide it when they ask for it. Yes, on occasion you might get initial push back but be assured that the law is on your side and most importantly – the fewer people and entities with your number – the more secure your identity will be.