Social Security Hack

By now, you've probably heard a rumor about a "Social Security hack." It's understandable to be worried, but I'm here to tell you the truth: there's no evidence to support this claim. It's like that time your coworker swore there were cameras in the office coffee maker—sometimes rumors just take on a life of their own.

So, where did this rumor even come from?

Well, the Social Security Administration (SSA) recently announced a change in how they issue new Social Security numbers. Instead of assigning them randomly, they'll now be based on the applicant's birth date and other factors. This is a good move that will increase security and make it harder for identity thieves to steal your number.

Unfortunately, someone took this news and twisted it into a wild conspiracy theory. They claimed that the SSA was "hacking" into people's accounts and changing their numbers. This is simply not true. The SSA does not have the ability to access your personal financial information or change your Social Security number without your consent.

What can you do to protect yourself?

Even though there's no evidence of a "Social Security hack," it's always a good idea to be vigilant about protecting your personal information. Here are a few things you can do:

Use strong passwords and don't reuse them for multiple accounts.
Be careful about what information you share online.
Keep your software up to date.
Shred any documents that contain your personal information before throwing them away.
If you think your identity has been stolen, contact the SSA and the fraud department of the three major credit bureaus.

The bottom line is this: don't panic. The "Social Security hack" is a hoax. The SSA is not hacking into your accounts and changing your numbers. If you're concerned about your personal information, you can take the steps I outlined above to protect yourself.