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A worthy FTC workshop

The old saying "Keep it simple, stupid" may be cliche but it certainly makes sense when applied to many things in life.

One of those is data protection. Instead of feeling obliged to purchase sophisticated technology to deter against insider and external cyberthieves, what if organizations just didn't have the information there in the first place to steal? I mean, duh.

Of course, that's easier said than done - especially when it comes to finding that sensitive data and removing it.

Nonetheless, the Federal Trade Commission is planning a worthy workshop Dec. 10 and 11 called "Security in Numbers: SSNs and ID Theft." It will address the use of SSNs within the private sector.

The discussion, open to the public, comes on the heels of an April report from the President's Identity Theft Task Force.

The report called on member agencies that regularly work with the private sector — including the FTC, Department of Justice and Social Security Administration — to detail the uses of SSNs in private businesses to determine if they are necessary.

The workshops, to be held at the FTC's satellite building conference center, also will be broadcast live on the web. The agency is currently looking for panelists.

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