Frauds & Scams

New Online Security

August 3, 2016 • By

Reading Time: 2 Minutes

Last Updated: November 3, 2023

MFAWe’ve added an extra layer of security for our customers when they interact with us online. Now, my Social Security account holders are required to use their cell phone — in addition to their username and password — as another authentication factor during online registration and every sign in. An authentication factor is information used to determine if someone is who they claim to be.

This extra layer of security is called “multifactor authentication” and complies with an executive order requiring federal agencies to provide more secure authentication for their online services. Any agency that provides online access to a customer’s personal information must now use multifactor authentication.

Since my Social Security became available in May 2012, almost 26 million people have created an account. We have always offered multifactor authentication, but only for customers who opted for extra security. For your protection, we now require multifactor authentication for all my Social Security users. To register and sign in, you must now enter a security code that we will send to your cell phone. Your cell phone provider’s text message and data rates may apply.

Our research shows that an overwhelming majority of American adults have cell phones and use them for texting. Because of technical and resource constraints, we are not currently able to offer alternative methods of satisfying this security requirement. However, we may consider adding more options in the future. We appreciate your patience as we work continuously to secure your online information.

We’re committed to using the best technologies and standards available to protect our customers’ data. Multifactor authentication is just one of the ways we’re ensuring the safety and security of the resources entrusted to us. Visit my Social Security to learn more about this helpful suite of online services, including additional details about our latest security measures.

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About the Author

Jim Borland, Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Communications

Jim Borland, Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Communications

Comments

  1. pablo m.

    Hello everyone my name is Pablo Monreal and I’m here to fulfill a promise I made to PROTONVIRUS ‘my hacker friend’. I had a bankruptcy, eviction and a judgment, medical bills with some couple of late payments on my credit report. My credit score was 432 and that was really bad. He came through, deleted all the negative items, raised my score to 798 and also added primary tradelines; mortgage, installment, auto tradelines and revolving credit cards on my profile to help boost my score more effectively, efficiently and less costly. I must confess that PROTONVIRUS put a big smile on my face. Write him now on PROTONVIRUS123@TECHIE.COM or text him via +1 347 480 9812. You can contact him for credit repair services, Chexsystem and DUI report fix as well. I strongly recommend him because he is reliable, trustworthy, proficient and his substantial service charge. PROTONVIRUS is good at what he does. Email him he will definitely put a smile on your face also.

  2. CL J.

    Forcing people to use cell phones is wrong. There are those of us who cannot use cellular services because we cannot see or hear. I have been trying since November 2016 to access my online account and cannot do so.

    Attempted contacting webmaster, calling 800 number and still no success. This violates my rights as a disabled consumer.

  3. Emily P.

    My Husband is a doyen. We have really done a few good on our credit reports. We have been trying to raise our scores to mid-800 his score is 519 while mine is still in the high 500’s. (I think is 536 currently.) I also have a judgement against me for a credit card. The judgement doesn’t appear anymore on my credit report, I assume because it’s over 6 years old. I’m pretty sure it didn’t just “go away”. All effort to increase my credit score and eliminate all the negative items on my report proved abortive until I saw good remarks of how this credit expert “DERRICK” had helped people. Here is his contact [DERRICKREPAIR@TECHIE.COM]. He did a monumental job by helping us raise our credit score to 826 and 814 respectively and removed all the negative items replacing them with beautiful tradelines. Just a couple of days after, we fixed agreement. Thanks am highly indebted Derrick.

  4. Gary S.

    Absolutely impossible to answer questions correctly. 3 letter acronym for a credit card account that was opened in 1991. Who could possibly answer unless they had only ever had one card. I have tried 4 time now and failed each time. You have not increased security you have simply closed sign ups.

  5. David B.

    Why can’t you automaticly call some one back when you can’t call them back?

  6. Glenn M.

    How do I add adopted daughter age 16 to me and my wife’s social security benefits I am 67 years old

  7. Roger B.

    Have not been able to make contact with my account for two months. Can not make the adjustments as noted. Need assistance.

    • R.F.

      Hello Roger. For assistance with your personal my Social Security account, please call 1-800-772-1213. After you hear “Briefly tell me why you are calling,” say “Help Desk” for help with a my Social Security account. Thanks!

  8. Frank

    Customs and Border protection is moving its Trusted Traveler initiative to a new system which requires you to have an account with the US Government’s login.gov. Login.gov requires verification via phone call or SMS each time you login so its as secure as my SSA. The difference is that folks overseas can have a login.gov account, unlike the SSA which doesn’t allow those without US mailing addresses to have an account. This makes it difficult or impossible for us to check Soc Sec statements etc. When are you folks going to migrate to use login.gov so your online service can be available to all Soc Sec clients, and not just those with US mailing addresses?

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