Gain Security with a Federal Tax ID Number

This is from the September Working Solo newsletter:

Wary of constantly giving out your Social Security Number to various employers? A great way to protect yourself against identity theft is to apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS. It's particularly useful for freelancers [italics added] who must constantly give out their Social Security numbers. The application is easy and you'll get your EIN immediately. Apply here: http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=102767,00.html