Focus On: Identity Theft

Published data reveals that, when identity thieves want Social Security numbers, they head for the fountainhead: Government. No other entity is as efficient at losing SSNs. The preferred method of acquisition? Unattended laptops. When that fails, crooks fall back to tapes, printouts, web postings, inside theft and other tricks wholly dependent on bureaucratic incompetence. After all, cracking networks from the outside can be tricky.

You'd be amazed at how many people entrusted with your Social Security Number have lost or given away plenty of them, including the Department of Veterans Affairs, universities, hospitals, credit agencies, county recorders, data warehouses, public utilities and internet service providers. Whether thieves acquire SSNs through equipment theft, network penetration, virus attack, or an employee with sticky fingers, the likely outcome is the same. The victim's identity is available to the black market. As the venerable identifier becomes ever less secure, many experts are clamoring for better solutions.