|
NEWS
| SEPTEMBER 2, 2005
Safety
ID numbers to be changed
OIT says Social Security numbers
will be replaced beginning summer 2006.
By Cameron
Phillips
Contributor to The Shorthorn
As college campuses across the nation suffer a series of security
breaches, the UT System is preparing to sever its reliance on Social
Security numbers as primary identifiers for students.
According to the Office of Information Technology Web site, summer
2006 will see the implementation of a unique identification number
for each student. By September 2007, this number will usurp Social
Security numbers as the primary identification number. Unlike Social
Security numbers, this unique identifier cannot be used for financial
purposes, such as obtaining credit.
“They should just get rid of it … I think that using
the Social Security number is a security risk,” English junior
Sarah Borroum said.
Once the new identification numbers are assigned and the prevalence
of Social Security numbers in
university systems has been reduced, the likelihood of an attacker
obtaining information such as birthdate and addresses is much less,
said Charles Jackson, Social Security coordinator for the university.
“There will be a much reduced chance that [sensitive data]
will be on somebody’s PC or laptop,” he said.
Additionally, university employees will be required to inform an
individual whether disclosure of his or her Social Security number
is mandatory or voluntary each time they ask for it.
“Anyone asking for it after September 2007 will have to have
a legitimate need, such as financial aid or tax purposes,”
Jackson said. “The Social Security number won’t be handed
out as frequently as it is today. Anybody asking for your Social
will have to explain why they need it and what they will do with
it, which ought to be going on now, and it is in most cases.”
As part of the plan to improve security, Social Security numbers
will no longer be allowed to be posted in-full or in-part on grades
or Web sites. Because of this, students’ university e-mail
addresses will have to change.
“We’re making strides to remove the four digits of the
Social Security number from e-mail addresses,” said Suzanne
Montague, vice president for the Office of Information Technology.
However, she prefers not to disclose exactly what will be done about
addresses until a university-wide announcement to come sometime
in the next few weeks.
In the meantime, Jackson urges students to be vigilant about protecting
their computers and passwords.
“Know who you’re talking to. Know who is asking for
information. Be downright inquisitive, even with your fellow students,”
he said. “Just think, ‘How exposed would I want my wallet
to be?’ ”
CORRECTION
This story should have stated that Chauncey Jackson
is the university’s Social Security coordinator.
|
|
