this post was submitted on 03 Sep 2026
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Wait until non Americans hear that our national social security ID number is only 4/9 digits worth of “random” numbers. (Fun fact, the entire number was procedurally generated based on where you were born and in what order at the hospital for generations until they changed it recently)
The numbers aren't random. They are sequential. The early digits are assigned geographically, but the rest are in sequence. If you know a valid social security number, adding or subtracting 1 will be another valid social security number, most likely someone born in the same hospital on the same day.
They did change it somewhat recently, but they don't re-assign the numbers when making that change, so most of the numbers are completely insecure.
Yeah, we know. We just can't believe that you actually use it for anything important.
That stupid ass number is used as one of the identifying factors when financing anything. Yes, a house is bought and mortgaged with that number next to 2 other forms of ID lmao.