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Social Security rolls back two-factor mandate
FCW ^
| Aug 15, 2016
| Adam Mazmanian
Posted on 08/17/2016 5:07:47 AM PDT by ken in texas
The Social Security Administration is relaxing a recent security directive requiring beneficiaries to use two-factor authentication to log into personal accounts after complaints that the new restrictions hindered user access.
...
SSA has not come up with a new two-factor verification method. The agency is strongly recommending that users take advantage of the text-message security option, but beneficiaries are able once again to use a simple username and password to access their accounts.
...
(Excerpt) Read more at fcw.com ...
TOPICS: Government; Technical
KEYWORDS: cybersecurity; socialsecurity; ssa
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As noted in the recent thread on FR -
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3456388/posts, the SSA recently instituted two-factor authorization by requiring users to provide a cell phone number that could receive a text message.
The SSA has now dropped that requirement. I was able to log on this morning by providing only my username and password.
Apologies in advance if this has been posted already.
To: ken in texas
It is kind of a PITA. They make you change your password to stuff you couldn’t possible remember and have to write down anyway.
2
posted on
08/17/2016 5:15:31 AM PDT
by
from occupied ga
(Your government is your most dangerous enemy)
To: ken in texas
The last two times I logged in they used the two factor thing.
3
posted on
08/17/2016 5:16:41 AM PDT
by
Gaffer
To: Gaffer
Have you tried today? I suppose it's possible that since you already gave them a cell number they will do the two-factor thing with you.
I'm still poking around to see if I can find more details.
To: ken in texas
5
posted on
08/17/2016 5:29:10 AM PDT
by
WKB
(If you are on the "Trump Train" you can't get run over!!)
To: ken in texas
Typical bureaucratic stupidity. What they want to do would have worked just fine IF they had allowed the "receipt and response" to be done by email as well as smartphone.
Think about it....if the person is trying to access his account FROM HIS COMPUTER, then email actually makes more sense than smartphone txt message. But allow the choice, and the problem goes away. Those who don't have smartphones are not shut out as they were with the original requirement.
6
posted on
08/17/2016 5:31:24 AM PDT
by
Wonder Warthog
(The Hog of Steel and NRA Life Member)
To: from occupied ga
It's not only a PITA, but requiring regular password changes is also considered to be a poor security practice.
But then again, government bureaucrats always know better than anyone else. /s
To: Gaffer
Why would a person need to log into their account? I didn't even know there was such a thing on line. My Social Security is deposited every month electronically. Nothing I need to do ever.
8
posted on
08/17/2016 5:35:34 AM PDT
by
ASA Vet
(There are 10 kinds of people in the world, those who understand binary, and those who don't.)
To: Wonder Warthog
Think about it....That's just it, thinking is involved. Government drones don't think.
To: ASA Vet
[Why would a person need to log into their account?]
It makes it easier for people posing as the beneficiary to access the account.
(grin)
10
posted on
08/17/2016 6:03:34 AM PDT
by
headstamp 2
(Fear is the mind killer.)
To: ASA Vet
My Social Security is deposited every month electronically. Nothing I need to do ever.
Yeah, me too. I signed up on-line in 2009, and never even had to send in any documentation.
I was totally surprised how easy it was.
11
posted on
08/17/2016 6:05:33 AM PDT
by
oh8eleven
(RVN '67-'68)
To: ken in texas
There’s a box you can check to get around that BS, “Don’t send me any messages”.
12
posted on
08/17/2016 6:05:37 AM PDT
by
Carriage Hill
( Peace is that brief glorious moment in history, when everybody stands around reloading.)
To: ken in texas
This is happening with most computer online access to anything sensitive — bank accounts, remote work locations. Its the wave of the future in computer security so people are going to have to get used to it. It really does help with hacking.
13
posted on
08/17/2016 6:10:58 AM PDT
by
Opinionated Blowhard
("When the people find they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic.")
To: Thank You Rush; octex
14
posted on
08/17/2016 6:13:30 AM PDT
by
Roccus
(When you talk to a politician, any politician, just say, "Remember Ceaucescu"))
To: Wonder Warthog
15
posted on
08/17/2016 6:18:59 AM PDT
by
CatQuilt
(Lover of cats =^..^= and quilts)
To: ASA Vet
My account fluctuates because they keep screwing with what they take out, what they say I owe them and what I get. It varies from month to month, actually.
When you flirt with their income limits, they get on that crap right away and start penalizing you for making too much money or something.
16
posted on
08/17/2016 6:21:30 AM PDT
by
Gaffer
To: Wonder Warthog
Typical bureaucratic stupidity.
Typical bureaucratic wickedness.
To: Wonder Warthog
What about those of us who where receiving SS retirement benefits BEFORE they started the mySocialSecurity accts BS?
SSA sends me my 1099 every year by USPS. Same goes for any notice of benefit or Medicare premium changes.
18
posted on
08/17/2016 6:22:47 AM PDT
by
Roccus
(When you talk to a politician, any politician, just say, "Remember Ceaucescu"))
To: ken in texas
No, I haven’t but it really doesn’t matter now. In fact since they have the right number and my ID and password stuff correct, there is less chance of anyone getting into it.
19
posted on
08/17/2016 6:23:41 AM PDT
by
Gaffer
To: Opinionated Blowhard
This is happening with most computer online access to anything sensitive...True. And I have no problem with it if they let me opt-in to use the safety feature. Forcing its use and leaving people with no means to access the on-line account is another matter.
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