Colleges' use of Social Security numbers may invite identity theft [Fla.]

To identity thieves, a Social Security number can be as good as a front-door key.

Police, prosecutors, privacy advocates and consumer groups warn against carrying the number around, using it as a computer password or letting it be used for record-keeping convenience.

But many college students have had to do some or all of the above. Colleges historically have used the numbers as handy identifiers for student ID cards, class registrations online and on paper, class rosters and grade postings, among other purposes.

from Knight Ridder Tribune News Service