rsman,

I think the more likely answer is that you're confusing what ZoneAlarm is asking you. ZoneAlarm doesn't know your SSN, and (as far as I know) it doesn't know when another application wants to send an SSN. What it's asking is if it is okay for these applications to allow outsiders to connect to you and vice versa. Read the message ZoneAlarm gives very closely -- it should say nothing specifically about a social security number.

Thanks.