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Identity Finder

How to Use Identity Finder to Search Home Directory

Using Identity Finder to Locate Social Security Numbers

Identity Finder is the UVa supported software for locating Social Security Numbers. The software can be downloaded at https://www.web.virginia.edu/rescomp/ldbhome.asp.

Below are instructions on how to search your files on the Home Directory Service for Social Security Numbers. Please be advised that the Home Directory is not appropriate storage for highly sensitive data as defined by policy http://its.virginia.edu/security/highlysensitivedata/.

After running Identity Finder, please delete or move any found Social Security Numbers to a server that is secured in accordance to UVa policy. Please email it-policy@virginia.edu if you have questions about the appropriate storage of Social Security Numbers.

Note: These instructions will work with versions of Identity Finder downloaded from the Research Computing Database as of date. If you have an older version of Identity Finder installed, please uninstall Identity Finder and download a new version from the Research Computing Database.

Instructions for Windows Operating Systems

  1. Download and install the Home Directory Application.
  2. Download and install Identity Finder.
  3. Launch the Home Directory Application.
  4. Log into your Home Directory.
  5. Launch Identity Finder.
  6. Click on the green start button.
  7. Identity Finder will start searching for Social Security Numbers.
  8. When Identity Finder has finished, use the report to files containing Social Security Numbers.
  9. Delete or move the files to a secure storage location. A personal office computer is not sufficiently secure for storage of Social Security Numbers.

Instructions for Macintosh Operating Systems

  1. Download and install the Home Directory Application.
  2. Download and install Identity Finder.
  3. Launch the Home Directory Application.
  4. Log into your Home Directory.
  5. Launch Identity Finder.
  6. Click on Locations.
  7. Select Custom.
  8. Click on the Ellipsis button.
  9. Navigate to and select your home folder as denoted by your computing ID.
  10. Click OK.
  11. Click Add.
  12. Click OK.
  13. Click on the green start button.
  14. Identity Finder will start searching for Social Security Numbers.
  15. When Identity Finder has finished, use the report to files containing Social Security Numbers.

Page Updated: 2012-02-16

Standards & Policy

University of Virginia
Information Technology Services
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P.O. Box 400324
Charlottesville, Virginia, 22904-4324 USA

UVa Help Desk: 434-924-HELP (434-924-4357) • 4help@virginia.edu

Page Updated: 2012-02-16; © 2012 by the Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia.

The information contained on the University of Virginia’s Department of Information Technology Services (ITS) website is provided as a public service with the understanding that ITS makes no representations or warranties, either expressed or implied, concerning the accuracy, completeness, reliability or suitability of the information, including warrantees of title, non-infringement of copyright or patent rights of others. These pages are expected to represent the University of Virginia community and the State of Virginia in a professional manner in accordance with the University of Virginia’s Computing Policies.