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They need to make SSN # assignments more random. Right now it seems like its pretty much a consecutive set. You can just add +x to your social security #, and g

by vaksel 17y ago

They need to make SSN # assignments more random. Right now it seems like its pretty much a consecutive set. You can just add +x to your social security #, and get a valid number

apowell 17y ago
Unfortunately, the namespace is very small: there are 900 million possible SSNs (100-00-0000 - 999-99-9999) and approximately 300,000,000 Americans.
- vaksel 17y ago
  why not add a 2nd #(like a 4 digit pin) for each social security #. Credit cards have them, why not something as important as your official government id?
  - seldo 17y ago
    Interesting, especially if you could set that PIN yourself. So if you were the victim of identity theft (or suspected you would be) you could change the PIN on your SSN. Of course, they'd have to have some kind of retrieval mechanism for your PIN if you forgot it, and it would probably ask your mother's maiden name...
    - vaksel 17y ago
      not necessarily, they can use your driver license official address to send you a letter with a temporary pin #
    - wlievens 17y ago
      Passports in Belgium have a PIN code.
- jonknee 17y ago
  It's actually even smaller than that: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_Security_number#Structure http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_Security_number#Structur... There are odd and even rules and no number starts out higher than 772.
kd5bjo 17y ago
No, they just need to not be used for authentication, but only for identification. Everyone's SSN should be published by the government to force people to realize that they aren't (and never have been) secret information.
- vaksel 17y ago
  that'll work, frankly I don't understand why the social security card does not come with a photo
  - philwelch 17y ago
    Because photographing infants is not an especially good ID technique. You can get a US Passport or state driver's license, and that usually has its own ID number on it and a photo, but that doesn't help your SSN.
    - vaksel 17y ago
      people update their driver license photos all the time. + infants etc can be issued the regular card, and when they turn 16, they can be required to get the photo and then be required to update it every 10 years.
- apowell 17y ago
  But it does need to be treated as secret information - that's the problem. Your SSN is can cause you a great deal of frustration and expense if it is abused. It would be nice if that were not the case.
mv 17y ago
But that is beside the point! Social Security cards/number were NEVER designed for identification... It is funny how things change overtime. http://www.apfn.org/apfn/ssn.htm http://www.apfn.org/apfn/ssn.htm
- eru 17y ago
  They are unique. So you can use them for identification. Just do not use them for authentication.

by vaksel 17y ago

They need to make SSN # assignments more random. Right now it seems like its pretty much a consecutive set. You can just add +x to your social security #, and get a valid number

apowell 17y ago

Unfortunately, the namespace is very small: there are 900 million possible SSNs (100-00-0000 - 999-99-9999) and approximately 300,000,000 Americans.

vaksel 17y ago
why not add a 2nd #(like a 4 digit pin) for each social security #. Credit cards have them, why not something as important as your official government id?
- seldo 17y ago
  Interesting, especially if you could set that PIN yourself. So if you were the victim of identity theft (or suspected you would be) you could change the PIN on your SSN. Of course, they'd have to have some kind of retrieval mechanism for your PIN if you forgot it, and it would probably ask your mother's maiden name...
  - vaksel 17y ago
    not necessarily, they can use your driver license official address to send you a letter with a temporary pin #
  - wlievens 17y ago
    Passports in Belgium have a PIN code.
jonknee 17y ago
It's actually even smaller than that: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_Security_number#Structure http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_Security_number#Structur... There are odd and even rules and no number starts out higher than 772.

kd5bjo 17y ago

No, they just need to not be used for authentication, but only for identification. Everyone's SSN should be published by the government to force people to realize that they aren't (and never have been) secret information.

vaksel 17y ago
that'll work, frankly I don't understand why the social security card does not come with a photo
- philwelch 17y ago
  Because photographing infants is not an especially good ID technique. You can get a US Passport or state driver's license, and that usually has its own ID number on it and a photo, but that doesn't help your SSN.
  - vaksel 17y ago
    people update their driver license photos all the time. + infants etc can be issued the regular card, and when they turn 16, they can be required to get the photo and then be required to update it every 10 years.
apowell 17y ago
But it does need to be treated as secret information - that's the problem. Your SSN is can cause you a great deal of frustration and expense if it is abused. It would be nice if that were not the case.

mv 17y ago

But that is beside the point! Social Security cards/number were NEVER designed for identification... It is funny how things change overtime. http://www.apfn.org/apfn/ssn.htm http://www.apfn.org/apfn/ssn.htm

eru 17y ago
They are unique. So you can use them for identification. Just do not use them for authentication.