Social Security Numbers were originally created for benefits distribution, but are now used for identification and security, leading to issues like insufficient protection and predictability.
Flaws of Social Security Numbers
Social Security Numbers suffer from two main issues: the entropy problem and the symmetry problem. They are easy to guess as they're not random, which makes them poor identifiers. When you share your number to prove legitimacy, it is no longer secret.
Symmetry and Entropy Issues
A study found that for some individuals, their Social Security Number could be guessed in fewer than ten attempts. Using the same number everywhere means its compromise is a global issue. Social Security Numbers are worse than passwords, as some breaches have leaked millions of them.
Cryptographic Future of Identification
Modern technological solutions suggest using public key cryptography to address these issues. It randomly generates secrets and does not reveal them. For more complex data, zero-knowledge cryptography can be used, allowing data verification without full disclosure.
The transition to more modern identification systems is challenging but necessary. Cryptography can provide a higher level of security than traditional Social Security Numbers.
