FTC recommends changes to cut identity theft

On Wednesday, the Federal Trade Commission announced that companies and schools should find new ways to authenticate the identities of customers, employees and students that do not involve social security numbers. "Requiring all private sector entities that maintain consumer accounts to establish appropriate, risk-based consumer authentication programs could reduce the misuse of consumer data and the prevalence of identity theft," the agency said in its report. The commission also asked businesses that still use social security numbers to be more discreet.