Social Security Changes Taking Effect June 10, 2017
Starting June 10, people logging into their online Social
Security accounts will need to verify their identity by one of two methods: a
code sent to their cellphone or a code sent to their email accounts.
The move is part of a broader government push to ramp up online
security amid a number of hacks of government
and commercial websites that have
compromised the personal information of millions of Americans.
The new system is not expected to be as secure as cellphone-only
two-step authentication since many people use the same password for email and
other online accounts. If one of those accounts gets hacked, cyber intruders
would then be able to access their Social Security account via the victim’s email.
It is, however, one more layer of security. And it can be made
even more secure if users use a unique password reserved for email accounts
alone, said Stephanie Lucas, a digital media specialist with the Los Angeles
office of the law firm Baker & Hostetler.
Your personal account at ssa.gov can be used to check benefits
and manage direct deposits to bank accounts, among other things.
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