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Did you know that your social security number (SSN) can be identified even when only providing the last four numbers?  Well, I should rephrase this by saying that there is a likelihood that someone who understands how SSN’s are assigned can figure out the full number based on where you were born and your birth date. In my opinion “likelihood” is a chance I do not want to take. Like most, I give my last four numbers of my SSN when asked, but this is going to change.  

A study done by Alessandro Acquist and Ralph Gross, Carnegle Mellon University, resulted in researchers correctly guessing the first five digits of a person’s SSN about “40% of the time just by knowing his or her hometown and birth date.”   (Link to the study report: http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2009/07/02/0904891106.full.pdf+html)

In fact, Social Security Administration actually post how numbers are assigned. But to the Administration’s credit they have recognized that earlier issued SSN’s were easy to determine and have implemented new procedures to make SSN’s more random.  However, the Carnegle study was conducted in 2009, so I would say even more changes are needed.

Briefly, the first three numbers (called area number) is based on where you were born (now the zip code of the applicant), the center is the group number and the last three is the serial number. Details at: http://ssa-custhelp.ssa.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/78/~/legal-requirements-to-provide-your-social-security-number.

So where am I going with this?
•    Do not list personal information on social networks
•    When dealing with businesses asked if there is another way to conduct business without using your SSN 
•    If required to provide your SSN, ask the person on the phone their name, division they work in, and who will see your information and how it is filed/stored
•    Know your rights under the Privacy Act (http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/5/usc_sec_05_00000552---a000-.html)