In the U.S., citizens must continually hand over their social security numbers as a means of identity authentication.
In the U.S., citizens must continually hand over their social security numbers as a means of identity authentication.
But in the wake of the massive Equifax data breach, it has become clear that our social security numbers—a single identifier used in everything from our bank accounts to our health insurance profiles, and even shared with university registrars—isn’t secure.
Social security numbers were never intended to be used as general-purpose passwords. We’ll see the emergence of third-party, non-governmental providers of identity verification.
One example that’s already in the marketplace is CLEAR, the trusted traveler program that lets verified customers get through airport security faster.
This trend is part of our section on Security. Other trends in this section include:
Accountants, Advertising and Public Relations, Aerospace, Agriculture, Airlines, Alternative Energy Production & Services, Architectural Services, Auto Manufacturers, Banking, Bars & Restaurants, Beauty, Beer, Wine and Liquor, Book Publishers, Broadcasters, Radio and TV, Builders/General Contractors, Cable & Satellite TV Production & Distribution, Casinos/Gambling, Chemical & Related Manufacturing, Civil Servants/Public Officials, Clergy & Religious Organizations, Clothing Manufacturing, Commercial TV & Radio Stations, Construction, Corporate Boards & Directors, Covid-19/ coronavirus, CPG, Cruise Ships & Lines, Defense, Diplomacy, Doctors & Other Health Professionals, Drug Manufacturers, Education Colleges & Universities, Education K-12, Education Online, Education Trades, Electric Utilities, Entertainment Industry, Environment, Finance, Foreign & Defense Policy, Gas & Oil, Government - International, Government - National, Government - State and Local, Health Professionals, Heavy Industry, Hedge Funds, Hospitality, Hotels/Motels/Tourism, Human Resources, Information Technology, Infrastructure, Insurance, Law Enforcement, Lawyers/Law Firms/Legal Industry, Lobbyists, Luxury Retail, Magazines, Manufacturing, National Security, News Media, Non-profits/Foundations/Philanthropists, Online Media, Pharmaceuticals/Health Products, Private Equity, Professional Sports, Radio/TV Stations, Real Estate, Retail, Technology Company, Telecommunications, Trade Associations, Transportation, Travel Industry, TV Production, TV/Movies/Music, Urban Planning, Utilities, Venture Capital, Waste Management, Work (Future of)