Your Social Security number is the key to almost everything in your financial life. But recent data breaches affecting about 91 million people at two giant health care companies show how vulnerable Social Security numbers are to hackers. Consumer Reports has important advice on how you can protect yours.
First, don’t give out your Social Security number just because you’re asked for it. Share your Social Security number only with those you choose and those who absolutely need it, such as potential creditors or employers.
Surprisingly, doctors don’t need your Social Security number, even though they often ask for it. Unless you’re covered by Medicare, you can leave that spot on medical forms blank, and most health care providers won’t question you. Even Medicare is moving to drop Social Security numbers from its cards and replace them with another type of identifier.
Another place you don’t need to give up your Social Security number when asked is school. That request often comes when kids enroll or register for sports or other after-school activities.
Consumer Reports says companies that already have your Social Security number may well be vulnerable to hackers. So it’s important to check for suspicious activity by getting your free credit report once a year from each of the three credit bureaus: TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax. Stagger the requests and you can check the report free every four months on the website AnnualCreditReport.com.
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