Submission + - US Social Security Web Access Requires Two-Factor Authentication 1
DERoss writes: Effective 1 August, the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) requires users who want to access their SSA accounts to use two-factor authentication. This involves receiving a "security" code via a cell phone text message.
This creates two problems. First of all, many seniors who depend on the Social Security benefits to pay their living costs do not have cell phones. In order to manage their SSA accounts, they will now have to buy a cell phone and pay monthly subscription fees; but the SSA will not be increasing benefits to pay those costs. Many seniors who do have cell phones use them only as phones and are not knowledgeable about texting.
More important, cell phone texting is NOT secure. Text messages can be hacked, intercepted, and spoofed. Seniors' accounts might easily be less secure now than they were before 1 August. For example, seniors might find the direct deposits of their benefits being redirected to hackers' bank accounts.
This is not because of any law passed by Congress. This is a regulatory decision made by top administrators at SSA.
This creates two problems. First of all, many seniors who depend on the Social Security benefits to pay their living costs do not have cell phones. In order to manage their SSA accounts, they will now have to buy a cell phone and pay monthly subscription fees; but the SSA will not be increasing benefits to pay those costs. Many seniors who do have cell phones use them only as phones and are not knowledgeable about texting.
More important, cell phone texting is NOT secure. Text messages can be hacked, intercepted, and spoofed. Seniors' accounts might easily be less secure now than they were before 1 August. For example, seniors might find the direct deposits of their benefits being redirected to hackers' bank accounts.
This is not because of any law passed by Congress. This is a regulatory decision made by top administrators at SSA.
