Which of the following is Identifying Information?

• A. A social security number
• B. A library card number
• C. A vehicle color description
• D. A mailbox key

Answer: (A)

Identifying Information is data that directly ties to a specific person. A social security number is a unique government-issued identifier that is linked to one individual, making it the clearest example of identifying information. It’s the kind of data that, on its own, can confirm exactly who someone is.

A library card number can point to a person within a library system, but it isn’t as universally identifying outside that context. A description like vehicle color describes a characteristic rather than who a person is. A mailbox key is an object, not information about a person’s identity.

So, the social security number stands out as the definitive example of identifying information.