As this is my first entry, I should probably introduce myself, but I don't think I will.
Recently, my college has (finally) decided to stop using SSN as student IDs. (for those of you who don't know, SSN means Social security number). SMart move, considering the risks involved with such a personal and vital piece of information. By previously using our SSN at all, we as students were put at greater risk of identity theft. SUre, what's the big deal, who wants to assume the identity of a college student with thousands of dollars worth of debt on their hands from student loans? Well, consider how many credit card recruiters loiter on or around your campus trying to get you to fill out an application; consider how many credit card offers you get both at home and in your student mailbox; consider how many credit card ads you see on tv. For every credit card opportunity, there is someone willing to take the bait, whether they are using your name or not.
When you log onto a school computer, you use your ID, right? there goes your SSN for any computer literate person to retrieve, hacker or not. Class rosters, refund checks, houseing assignments...
Honestly, I don't think that anyone would steal my identity, but I feel much better about not supplying more opportunities for it to happen.
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SSNs should not be on anything that can be easily stolen, such as a drivers license. In Kansas we still have the ridiculous idea that it's okay to have your SSN on your drivers license. Which can easily be stolen from a purse or back pocket. Your SSN should truly only be used when appyling for a finicial item or proving citizenship. It should be used for nothing us.
I have been told that it's a really stupid idea to carry your SS card in your wallet. Prospect ID theives only need a few bits of vital information. I suppose Kansas just wants to make it easier on them :/