Hackers claimed to have stolen more than 2 billion records containing sensitive information including Social Security numbers, with some data reportedly leaked online.
Isn’t it the address being leaked with it that makes this notable?
You can’t add a number to a SSN and also add a number to the street address to then narrow down which full names are associated with that SSN to then possibly be able to use it.
The address does make it a lot more useful, but the point that I am making is simply that the number itself has never been secure, and this kinda failure was inevitable due to only needing slightly more info than the number itself. A number which itself is already partially identifying.
We shouldn’t use social security numbers like we do.
Isn’t it the address being leaked with it that makes this notable?
You can’t add a number to a SSN and also add a number to the street address to then narrow down which full names are associated with that SSN to then possibly be able to use it.
I didn’t think the number had any use on its own
The address does make it a lot more useful, but the point that I am making is simply that the number itself has never been secure, and this kinda failure was inevitable due to only needing slightly more info than the number itself. A number which itself is already partially identifying.
We shouldn’t use social security numbers like we do.
I mean it says right on the fucking card not to .
But some institutions insist.
Sure it shouldn’t be used like this. But incrementing a number isn’t enough to steal someone’s identity.