The safest way to send your Social Security number (SSN) is by using a password manager. A password manager is a tool used to keep passwords and other sensitive data secure at all times. A little-known benefit to password managers is that in addition to generating and storing strong passwords, they also aid users in securely sending sensitive information such as Social Security numbers, MFA codes, home deeds, identification cards and more.
Continue reading to learn the importance of keeping your Social Security number safe and how a password manager can help securely send it.
The Importance of Keeping Your Social Security Number Safe
It’s important to keep your Social Security number safe because if a cybercriminal were to get their hands on it they could use it to steal your identity, take out loans under your name or steal benefits such as your workers’ compensation or medical insurance. Having a cybercriminal take out loans under your name can negatively impact your credit score and is difficult to recover from, both financially and emotionally.
Your Social Security number is a nine-digit number used for identification purposes and a way to keep track of your financial information. For example, your Social Security number is used to verify your identity when filing taxes, recording your income and viewing credit reports. When you’re asked to provide your Social Security number, the primary reason is to verify that you are who you say you are.
How a Password Manager Sends Your SSN Safely
When using a password manager to send your Social Security number, it’s sent safely because password managers use encryption. Encryption is when data is turned into ciphertext, which means an unreadable format. Most password managers are zero knowledge, meaning no one but the individual who owns the password manager account is able to access the data stored in it. To access the stored data, the encryption key is needed, which is the master password.
When a password manager is zero knowledge, it also means that data is encrypted at rest (when it’s in the password vault) and in transit (when it’s being shared with someone else). This prevents cybercriminals from being able to intercept the data while it’s being shared.
An added benefit of using some password managers is that they allow you to share a record for a predetermined period of time. For example, Keeper Password Manager has a feature called One-Time Share. This sharing option allows you to share a record with someone, even if they don’t have a password manager account. When using One-Time Share, a link is created and you can choose the amount of time you wish to share the record with the recipient. Once that time expires, access to the record is revoked. You can also manually revoke access to the record at any time.
Sending your Social Security number through the use of a password manager ensures that no cybercriminal is able to intercept the data being sent, and that the recipient is only able to access it for a certain period of time – preventing unauthorized individuals from being able to view it.
Why You Shouldn’t Send Your SSN Through Email
Sending your Social Security number, or any other sensitive information, through email is never a secure sharing method. Standard email services are not encrypted, which means that any information sent through them is vulnerable to being intercepted by cybercriminals. Emails are vulnerable to Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attacks. A MITM attack is a cyber attack in which a cybercriminal intercepts data being sent over the internet for the purpose of stealing it. This type of attack is most common when using public WiFi networks since these networks are often unsecured.
Sending your Social Security number through email also places it at risk because your email account or the recipient’s email account could become compromised due to a data breach. This is particularly risky if the recipient never deletes their emails, because your Social Security number will stay in their inbox as long as they have that email account.
When To Provide Your Social Security Number
Now that you know how to send your Social Security number safely, you need to understand when you should provide it. There are only six scenarios where you’ll need to provide your Social Security number:
- Filing your taxes
- Starting a new job
- Getting your driver’s license
- Applying for government benefits
- Applying for a line of credit or a loan
- Making a cash transaction that is $10,000 or more
For example, if you file your taxes with an accountant, you should send your Social Security number using a password manager. Another example would be when you’re starting a new job that is remote, you should send your Social Security number to HR using a password manager, rather than sending it through email. However, not every scenario will require you to use a password manager. If you’re filling out paperwork in person, for example, and you have your Social Security number memorized, you won’t need to use a password manager.
Even if a request for your Social Security number seems legitimate, there’s always the possibility of falling for a phishing scam. Here are a few questions to ask before sending your Social Security number to verify the legitimacy of who’s requesting it.
- Why do you need my SSN? Asking the individual requesting your SSN why they need it is one of the most important questions you should ask. The individual should answer clearly why they need your SSN. If their reasoning doesn’t make sense or you feel uneasy after their response, ask more questions before choosing to send your SSN.
- Is there an alternative ID verification? Depending on who’s asking for your SSN, you may have the option to provide an alternative form of identification such as your driver’s license.
- What’s your privacy policy? A privacy policy is a statement that organizations have on their websites to inform users what data they collect and process, and what they do to protect the data they store. When an organization asks you for sensitive information like your SSN, you should always look at their privacy policy to ensure your data is protected.
- Where will my SSN be stored? Knowing where your SSN will be stored after you provide it will let you know if it’ll be stored securely or not. If an organization experiences a breach, your SSN can end up being a part of it, so you want to ensure that the organization keeps it safe, even in a worst-case scenario.
Protect Your Social Security Number From Cybercriminals
Your Social Security number getting into the hands of cybercriminals can lead to your identity being stolen, so it’s important to take precautionary steps to ensure it’s always protected. Here are three tips for keeping your Social Security number safe at all times:
- Don’t carry your Social Security card with you
- Keep your Social Security card in a secure location
- Shred documents that contain your Social Security number
The better you protect your Social Security number, the less likely you are to fall victim to different types of identity theft. If you ever need to send your Social Security number or any other sensitive information, don’t send it through email. Instead, send it securely by using a password manager. Start a free 30-day trial of Keeper Password Manager to try our One-Time Share feature so you can securely share your Social Security number and other sensitive information.
