Since January 2009, McAfee has counted more than 108 data breaches that have compromised people’s Social Security numbers at colleges and universities alone. When expanded to include the myriad other government, nonprofit and business organizations that collect and store what McAfee calls the “de factor national ID,” the problem becomes almost epidemic.
In an alarming new report, McAfee has compiled a list of the 10 most dangerous environments with which to share your Social Security number, and the perilous conditions that unwittingly abet identity theft. eSecurity Planet takes a look.
Security software vendor McAfee kicked off National Protect Your Identity Week by warning consumers that colleges and universities are the most dangerous places to leave or use their social security numbers, making them more likely to become victims of identity theft.
According to McAfee (NYSE: MFE) consultant and identity theft expert Robert Siciliano, between January 2009 and October 2010, more than 108 data breaches that exposed people’s social security numbers took place at major U.S. colleges and universities, more than any other private or public sector industry.
