Ohio University suffers at least three security breaches

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Stop using SSNs for identification!

I see some have been asking what OS was compromised in the attack. It wouldn't be out of the question for it to have been Windows machines. Even though the school I graduated from primarily used Unix and a mainframe or two, with some PC and Mac labs hooked up to a LAN (not connected to the internet--but this was before the Net became popular), I know a guy who graduated from a university at the same time I did where they primarily used DOS PCs (again, many years ago). I imagine they use Windows now.

This is almost here nor there though. The real issue is that universities continue to use Social Security numbers for student identification. They've done so for years. In this day and age this is just dangerous. SSNs used to be printed right on a student's ID card. It was used everywhere on campus. I imagine this is still the case. It needs to stop. This is not the first time a university's student IDs have been compromised. The way the universities have IDs set up just presents a nice juicy target to ID thieves. In this regard, they're behind the times (I hear people in the background saying "as usual"). Get with it people!

Posted by: Mark Miller   Posted on: 05/12/06 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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