Give your SSN# online ? [Archive] - Colorado AR-15 Shooters Club Discussion Forums

SideShow Bob

07-12-2016, 15:57

So,
If given an opportunity for a promotion, but as a stipulation you had to go through a background check. Also the background check is done by a low bid, third party contractor, and requires your SSN be given, but the only way this company has to get your information is through their website.
Am I the only one that thinks that this is not only bad, but a piss poor company, and that I would be opening myself up to a greater possibility of identity theft ?

CS1983

07-12-2016, 16:08

Potentially, but it depends on the website security (i.e., https:// (secure) vs http:// (non-secure)) and beyond that, the actual security of the company's network, their data-storage servers, if they encrypt that info on the server, etc.

https://www.instantssl.com/https-tutorials/what-is-https.html

I can tell you for a fact that even .gov uses a website for background investigations data input. If data spillage from various attacks and loss of laptops, file folders, etc. has taught us anything, it's that paper or non-web-based mediums are not exactly secure either. I wouldn't sweat it.

MarkCO

07-12-2016, 16:20

NO is always my answer.

I am a IC for a company (a major one you all would know) who wanted my SSN to do a background check. I told them no. I also told them they could not use my SSN (that they already have) for any purpose other than submission to the IRS on required forms. At one point, after some consternation and gnashing of teeth, they realized they did not need it.

It is not on my DL, or my checks, or 4473s either.

You have no control of a third party, and that is where the hacks come from most of the time.

WETWRKS

07-12-2016, 17:01

Per the Feds a ss# is not supposed to be used for any sort of identification. I would refuse.

SideShow Bob

07-12-2016, 17:32

Per the Feds a ss# is not supposed to be used for any sort of identification. I would refuse.

According to HR of my company, if I don't give this Low bid, third party vendor my SSN on line at their website, they cannot do the background check.
No background check, no promotion.

Can an you link this Fed. Regulation ?

CS1983

07-12-2016, 17:46

You are not required to give it, but neither are they required to conduct a BI and promote you. The SSN for a BI keeps you from being mixed up with other people, simply.

Rather than freak out, I would ask HR what provisions are contracted and/or legally binding on the holder of said info in the event they suffer a breach and your information is spilled into criminal hands.

crashdown

07-12-2016, 19:55

Agree with Foxtrot.

Plus all the people that take the high road about never giving it out except for the original reasons it was intended are usually not completely truthful, unless they don't have a cell phone, never financed a car, a mortgage, rent an apartment, a credit card, a checking account, etc.
It is just one piece of a puzzle to steal your ID, at this point in the game, not that big of one.

cstone

07-12-2016, 20:14

Are you familiar with the hacking of OPM's database on millions of current, and former employees, as well as those who merely applied for federal jobs? As Foxtrot mentioned, most of our information is already out there for those who want it. I personally have resigned myself to having my employer pay for identity monitoring services for the rest of my life. It is the least, legally that they need to do considering how easily and completely they were hacked.

I understand your choice. Do you want the promotion? How bad do you want it? Talk to your supervisors and HR people and relate your concerns. Either they will come up with some other method for transmitting your data, or you will have to choose.

Be safe.

fitz19d

07-12-2016, 21:12

Agree with others, it's out there largely. I've had probably 5 breaches besides OPM giving me credit monitoring if I wanted it. Watch statements and 3x/year free credit reports should be standard practice. Just deal with it and submit.

kidicarus13

07-12-2016, 21:30

hurley842002

07-12-2016, 22:20

I'm with everyone else saying no biggie, take the promotion and congrats! The OPM dropped the ball on my info, I'm not happy but also not too worried either.

wyome

07-12-2016, 22:44

I'm with everyone else saying no biggie, take the promotion and congrats! The OPM dropped the ball on my info, I'm not happy but also not too worried either.

Thanks to OPM someone in China can check my credit report and let me know what's up before LifeLock will.

Kraven251

07-13-2016, 11:05

If I have your name and an address that you have lived in the past 10 years, for $15 I have your SSN.

So...I'd ask yourself if you want the promotion, and then use the NRA discount on lifelock

Hound

07-13-2016, 12:01

Worst answer ever. I am powerless and should give up my right to protect myself. They will come after the other guy first because I am nobody.

Guess we know which way people like this will vote. I get so tired of hearing this false line of thought.

Really at this point anyone's SSN can usually be determined if someone cares enough. And that's just from federal and state databases/public record. So much PII has been hacked that I wouldn't worry too much about your own info. (That sounds crazy, I know).

Basically there's a sea of hundreds of millions of data out there for sale for $5.00, and there isn't enough cons to go through even a fifth of it. Your data may already be floating but most likely nothing will ever come of it. The chance of a small site like that being hacked to harvest that information is quite low, actually lower imho than the bigger, juicier targets.

cstone

07-13-2016, 12:36

Worst answer ever. I am powerless and should give up my right to protect myself. They will come after the other guy first because I am nobody.

Guess we know which way people like this will vote. I get so tired of hearing this false line of thought.

Right. Stand up for your principle OP. Tell them to shove their promotion and believe that your SSN is secure because of your standing up because someone on this board told you to. No need for you to make up your own mind. [facepalm]

68Charger

07-13-2016, 13:10

Worst answer ever. I am powerless and should give up my right to protect myself. They will come after the other guy first because I am nobody.

Guess we know which way people like this will vote. I get so tired of hearing this false line of thought.

You are powerless, the Gov't has included many other reasons and avenues for your SSN# to be shared... used to be just credit or wages... not anymore.

Someone asked for statues regarding the protections and reasons for sharing SSN?
http://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title42-section405&num=0&edition=prelim
http://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title42-section666&num=0&edition=prelim

Good luck reading thru all of that and interpreting it.

Oh, and CavSct1983 (https://www.ar-15.co/members/4859-CavSct1983) nailed it- you're absolutely NOT required to provide it for the BGC... and the OP's employer is absolutely NOT required to promote him, either.

CS1983

07-13-2016, 13:16

There are known knowns. These are things we know that we know. There are known unknowns. That is to say, there are things that we know we don't know. But there are also unknown unknowns. There are things we don't know we don't know.
- Donnie

We know a promotion is on the line. We know that, like it or not, this is a fairly standard BI piece of info in order to not render false positives. We know said info is easily had with a few combos of resources and a few bucks. We know we don't know if OP's ssn is out there already (highly likely if he has done anything within the market -- those places are a more likely target for the # to make it to the criminal element). We don't know what else we don't know, which at least is a negative known. ( I know, I know).

cstone

07-13-2016, 14:00

- Donnie

We know a promotion is on the line. We know that, like it or not, this is a fairly standard BI piece of info in order to not render false positives. We know said info is easily had with a few combos of resources and a few bucks. We know we don't know if OP's ssn is out there already (highly likely if he has done anything within the market -- those places are a more likely target for the # to make it to the criminal element). We don't know what else we don't know, which at least is a negative known. ( I know, I know).

Third base!

spqrzilla

07-13-2016, 14:33

Thanks to the OPM, everyone who ever had a security clearance does indeed have their PI out there.

68Charger

07-13-2016, 15:10

[Flower]HILLARY 2016! [mlp] [flamingo]

You forgot [Queen][fag][fagpole][fags][sheepshagger][handbags][bad-banana]
(I tried to find an emojii for #BLM, but can't find one that much of a cluster)

asmo

07-14-2016, 01:20

Per Fed law, employees must have a Social Security number (SSN) to be verified using E-Verify.

William

07-20-2016, 19:47

Thanks to the OPM, everyone who ever had a security clearance does indeed have their PI out there.

At least we get free identity theft coverage [Sarcasm2]

BushMasterBoy

07-20-2016, 19:51

The .mil issues a military ID number now. Sort of like the old serial number of World War II...NO SSN#!

spqrzilla

07-20-2016, 20:06

At least we get free identity theft coverage [Sarcasm2]

Yes, aren't you enjoying all the false positive emails?

Joe_K

07-20-2016, 20:13

CS1983

07-20-2016, 22:56

Sorry for the thread derail BUT..... Wouldn't it be awesome if at the age of 18 you as an adult could decide to opt into SS, instead of parents entering thier children into permanent indentured servitude?

Also OPM sucks.

Velocitas, Opprimere,
Violentia Operandi

Be even more awesome if the pyramid scheme went away for good.

BushMasterBoy - are they using the DOD ID # on the CACs, or is it separate?