The Treasury Department granted Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency access to its payment systems this week, a decision that drew large amounts of criticism from federal employees, lawmakers and citizens.
An agreement following a lawsuit brought by a group of federal employee unions has temporarily stopped the sharing of sensitive data with DOGE until a judge can hear legal arguments, according to Reuters.
Two members of DOGE have already received "read-only" access to the Treasury's spending on tax refunds, federal grants and programs like Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and more. Plaintiffs argue Musk and DOGE illegally searched them. The nongovernment advisory group, created via an executive order by President Donald Trump, also gained access to the Social Security numbers of most taxpayers in the process.
This has triggered much chatter on social media platforms like X and TikTok about the importance of freezing your credit, with countless American's Social Security numbers potentially at risk amid government watchdog and politician claims that DOGE is bypassing established cybersecurity practices and regulations.
As a cybersecurity editor, I'm in favor of Americans freezing their credit, no matter the reason.
But there's also the elephant in the room that has to be acknowledged: your Social Security number may already be compromised.
Why your SSN may be already compromised
There hasn't been a data breach related to DOGE's activity -- not yet anyway. But there are countless others that have exposed the personal identifiable data of everyday people. Last year, there were at least 196 data compromises and more than 860 million victim notices sent by companies, according to new research by the Identity Theft Resource Center. The hacks of background search company National Public Data and UnitedHealth Group subsidiary Change Healthcare exposed the personal information of hundreds of millions of people alone.
If a cybercriminal gets their hands on your Social Security number, they can cause a lot of damage. For example, they can take out lines of credit in your name or file taxes on your behalf to steal your tax return.
Cybercriminals are also known to craft targeted phishing scams via telephone, text or email to strip you of your hard earned money or sensitive information. Some bad actors have even adopted the use of AI to help expedite efforts and create new swindles like deep fakes.
How can I protect my identity if my SSN is exposed?
There are many steps you can take to protect your identity if you fear your Social Security number has been exposed in a data breach or if you want to be proactive.
Freeze your credit reports
Freezing your credit reports with each of the three major credit bureaus (TransUnion, Experian and Equifax) prevents anyone from opening lines of credit in your name. This includes you. So if you want to take out a mortgage, car loan or apply for a new credit card while your credit is frozen, you must "thaw" or unfreeze your credit reports first.
Freezing your credit is completely free. I actually did it myself last year, and found the process to be quite easy. You can also freeze your children's credit reports, though it will require some extra steps.
Sign up for identity theft protection
Identity theft protection services help monitor your personal data on the dark web. They also monitor your credit reports and bank accounts if you are too lazy to do it yourself, which I really like.
Most plans come with identity theft protection insurance and white glove restoration services. The latter means a dedicated restoration specialist will handle most of the grunt work in restoring your identity, including filing disputes with credit bureaus and contacting different financial institutions.
Individual ID theft plans cost anywhere from $7 to $15, but there are plenty of family options and even packages catered to couples available as well. If you're just interested in keeping an eye on your credit report, you could also consider a credit monitoring service.
Protect your personal data and get peace of mind with CNET's top pick for identity theft prevention software.
Lock your Social Security number
You can lock your Social Security number with the Social Security Administration over the phone or by creating an E-verify account.
Locking your SSN prevents bad actors from collecting government benefits and applying for work in your name. Similar to freezing your credit, you must remove the lock on your SSN in order to perform these actions, however.
Don't carry around your Social Security card
Your Social Security card should be kept in a secure place, ideally a safe that only you know the combination to. Never carry it around with you unless it's absolutely necessary.
Don't overshare your SSN either
Be cautious about who you disclose your SSN to. Your SSN is a requirement when you apply for a job or file a tax return. But it's okay to ask anyone asking for your SSN why they need it. Some common tasks like getting your driver's license or applying for subsidized housing won't require you to share your SSN.
