SSNs are already public information. There are numerous legal ways online to enter a person's name and 1 or 2 past addresses and get their SSN back.
Their main purpose is to serve as a primary key - many people have the same name, but SSN is unique. It should never be used for establishing identity - it's about as effective as asking someone for their middle name.
Their main purpose is to serve as a primary key - many people have the same name, but SSN is unique. It should never be used for establishing identity - it's about as effective as asking someone for their middle name.