The article I read, titled How Social-Networking Sites Can Reveal Your Social Security Number, was taken from the Wall Street Journal. It discusses the dangers and risks of having your personal information displayed on a public website, such as Facebook, Myspace, or any other social-networking site. Alessandro Acquisti, a IT professor from Carnegie Mellon, and researcher Ralph Gross conducted a study involving taking information from these websites and coming up with the social security number of the person. Forty percent of the time, Acquisti and Gross could guess the first five digits of the number just by knowing the birth date and hometown of the subject; 8.5% of the time guessing all 9 digits correctly. The numbers were even higher for people born after 1989 (around ages 20 and younger who probably use sites like this a lot).
Facebook and other social-networking sites have become as important to teenagers as cell phones and ipods. Now, it is much more common for someone of the high school or college age to have a website than not. There are well over 500 members in the Loyola 2012 network alone. And recently a huge surge of people, a generation before us, has started to make good use of sites like these to keep in touch with people from their high school, college, or past. It has become part of everyday communication and activity. Many people also use it for groups and organizations around campus. With all of this usage, it is inevitable for countless pieces of information to circulate through public and semi-private websites.
Not only do I have a Facebook page, but it also displays both my birth date and hometown. After reading this article, I was extremely shocked and scared about how easy it is for a stranger to obtain such serious and important information about me. On top of these sites, how many times does a website, or any other form of organization, prompt us to give the last four digits, the hardest to decode, of our social security number? Although sometimes these places seem trustworthy and giving the information seems integral, we have to look at the facts. If someone has knowledge of our name, birth date, hometown, and social security number, it is only a matter of time before they are able to adopt our entire identity.
Although very interesting to learn how Social Security numbers are made up, it can be somewhat alarming that something so private can be decoded. Until reading the article, I was under the impression that my social security number was completely random. Acquisti wants to see the Social Security Administration change the way they designate Social Security number to people. They should definitely come away from such a systematic method due it the ability to decipher them. Acquisti and Gross, and now I, warn you to be mindful about the information you choose to disclose on public websites. Although we expect the government and Social Security Administration to protect us from things like identity theft, we need to realize that there are things we can do to lower the chance of something like that happening to us.
http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2009/07/09/how-social-networking-sites-can-reveal-your-social-security-number/?mod=relevancy
I was more surprised than i should have been by this article. I always knew that identity theft was possible, but never thought it was this easy. I use Facebook regularly and I also make online purchases with my debit card. I can't even imagine how much information about me is all over the internet for everyone to see. I never thought anything of such seemingly insignificant pieces of information spread throughout the web, but I now realize how easily my identity can be replicated and I will definitely be more conscious in the future.
ReplyDeleteI find it extremely alarming that websites like Facebook portray enough information to allow for identity theft. Teachers and parents are constantly lecturing students about the negative aspects of public websites. Usually, however, the students are being told not to put up any inappropriate pictures or posts. I have never had a professor discuss the dangers of identity theft with regards to Facebook. It is very helpful to know that such an insignificant amount of information can lead someone to one's social security number. I will definitely rethink how much information I post about myself for everyone to see.
ReplyDeleteLike most articles I have read in regards to the internet, it is very concerning how much information websites can obtain from a user. Identity theft is something that can basically ruin somebody's life and it should not be something that people are concerned about when using networking websites. I had no idea that providing your date of birth and place of birth could lead to your social security security number. With the amount of people that are now using networking websites, I really hope that they do change the method in which they assign social security numbers.
ReplyDeleteI was really surprised after reading this article. I've always known and agreed that people should censor what they put on social networking sites, but usually, students especially, are cautioned to censor their pictures because of the availability to future employees. I didn't realize how easy it actually is to put listed information together and produce more valuable, unlisted information and I never would have thought that a date or town could lead to a social security number. This is just another example of how technology can be manipulated. Even though Facebook is a great way to stay connected, it also allows a lot of open access to personal information, which creates the temptation and ability of misusing the site.
ReplyDeleteThis article is very interesting to me. Social Networking has been all the rage these days and so many young kids are getting themselves into dangerous situations by putting things on the internet. I never realized that someone can find your social security number with your name and hometown. It scares me how much we can do on the internet now.I am going to be more careful from now on with the information I put on my facebook page. Overall this article was very interesting and it let me know that I must be careful.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I was not as suprised as I should have been while reading this article. There are numerous ways for people to hack, track, and find out information about people these days. This is a chance we all take when we enter any information on the internet-especially non secure sites and non secure connections. The idea that even having safe sites and safe connectivity one could be unconsiously providing information about themsleves is a bit creepy-but to me, not suprising. I think the general public will continue to post all sorts of information on sites such as facebook until there is an epidemic with social security number theft. Once it reaches this point, I believe the government may implement regulations or software to hault such actions. Until we reach that point, I don't think society will really take this fact seriously.
ReplyDeleteIn high school, I had to sit through countless presentations on the dangers of internet social networks. They talked about the dangers of being stalked or believing people were not who they really were. Never once did I think through Facebook I was revealing my social security number. If anything I thought that my excessive online shopping would get me in any financial trouble. Also, I always assumed that since I was young my identity would be useless to someone trying to get rich, but maybe targeting a large number of young adults is the easier way to go.
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