Protecting your Social Security Number

[Barcelona]

Just wondering how much others care about protecting their social security number. The reason I ask is that one of the universities I attended, contracted with a company for some services which then posted online the social security numbers, names and addresses for a large number of the student body by accident. I discovered this a year ago and the university started taking steps to fix this. The website where the information was posted was removed but it could still be found by search engines.

Students and alumni affected then received a letter a few months later that this had been resolved and our information was entirely removed and they would offer credit protection for one year just in case. Well then I was surprised when I searched my name tonight and came across this information still available in search results. I sent a letter to the university departments involved and requested an extension of protection.

There has been no issues this past year with my credit in any way (purchased a car, signed a lease, opened new credit lines, score is still excellent), but I don''t like the idea of my SSN being "out there". I am overreacting? One of my roommates in college had his identity stolen and dealt with the issues for nearly a year and the police believe it originated from the hospital associated with the university we attended.

 

[Madam Bijoux]

Hope this is helpful:

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/


Also, you should never put the year and place you were born, your maiden name and your parents' full names on any internet forum. An ID thief can get your Social Security number just from that information.

 

[Barcelona]

Thank you for the link. I''m very careful about all those. But I hate that both universities I''ve attended used SSN as ID numbers (the one that I''m having an issue with has changed this) and that utility companies require them. I refuse to write them down on any other forms like the doctor''s.