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I can't understand why email delivery of the code wasn't built into SSA.
Quote:
Originally Posted by TFW46
I agree totally.
Because that would defeat the entire purpose of the two-step authentication process.
The whole point is to require two different means of communication to authenticate your account. If your computer security has been compromised by a keystroke logger or by some other means, then SSA emailing you a code obviously wouldn't be adding an additional level of security.
What SSA is doing makes perfect sense and should have been done a long time ago. I can't believe that people are actually looking to complain about a Government agency adding another level of security to protect their account.
I think the texting OPTION should be one of many for providing further substantiation of your account. There is no reason there cannot be a voice message left on your landline with a code for you to use in a call-back option that will get you to an automated system that accesses your account.
I agree that there should be at least one other option to access your information on line. Cell phone text messaging is fine for those individuals who own and use a cell phone as they are already spending money to buy and use a cell phone. For those of us who do not use a cell phone - we should not be required to buy and pay a monthly fee just to gain access to a government site.
My guess is that this new rule was designed by someone who can't go 5 minutes without texting and has no clue that many seniors do not have a reason to spend money on a cell phone they do not want or need.
Because that would defeat the entire purpose of the two-step authentication process.
The whole point is to require two different means of communication to authenticate your account. If your computer security has been compromised by a keystroke logger or by some other means, then SSA emailing you a code obviously wouldn't be adding an additional level of security.
What SSA is doing makes perfect sense and should have been done a long time ago. I can't believe that people are actually looking to complain about a Government agency adding another level of security to protect their account.
That is the important issue. I do not want some hacker getting my money.
My 89 y.o. mom cannot pop corn in a microwave but, by golly, she can text!
That is the important issue. I do not want some hacker getting my money.
My 89 y.o. mom cannot pop corn in a microwave but, by golly, she can text!
I should not be required to buy and use a cell phone to access a government site when I otherwise do not need a cell phone. There have got to be other ways such as via a landline to receive this information.
Because that would defeat the entire purpose of the two-step authentication process.
The whole point is to require two different means of communication to authenticate your account. If your computer security has been compromised by a keystroke logger or by some other means, then SSA emailing you a code obviously wouldn't be adding an additional level of security.
What SSA is doing makes perfect sense and should have been done a long time ago. I can't believe that people are actually looking to complain about a Government agency adding another level of security to protect their account.
Because many people don't text, obviously. My grandmother had trouble even answering her flip phone when it rang. My mother in law, aged 76, has the same problem. She doesn't even know what a text message is. Since most SS recipients are seniors, it makes zero sense to require an authentication process they can't/don't use.
Last edited by Scooby Snacks; 07-29-2016 at 09:00 AM..
Because many people don't text, obviously. My grandmother had trouble even answering her flip phone when it rang.
And did she have a computer and use email?
I didn't think so.
I would wager that the subset of seniors who have online accounts, but don't have a cell phone is quite small. If they're not online anyway, then this doesn't really affect them.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mary2014
I should not be required to buy and use a cell phone to access a government site when I otherwise do not need a cell phone. There have got to be other ways such as via a landline to receive this information.
Then if you don't want to use a cell phone you can just use your landline to call SSA and get whatever information you need, right?
Or are you really suggesting that SSA should continue to put tens of millions of people's accounts in danger of being hacked because you don't have a cell phone and don't want to be inconvenienced by making a phone call?
I was surprised when I saw this because a lot of seniors I know don't have cellphones or, the ones that do, have phones you buy minutes for. If they don't have the money for the current month, they don't purchase minutes; but, every time they don't purchase minutes their numbers get changed. Social Security says if your cell phone # gets changed, you need to call them and they will mail you a form with a security code, which will take up to 10 days. I agree that a lot of seniors don't text. Some seniors are just getting used to using email. Why they can't use a landline, which a lot of seniors still have, is beyond me. I honestly sometimes don't know how the Federal Government functions. They obviously don't investigate different options before deciding what they are going to do.
I sent an email to SSA to complain about the policy (if you click on the link in the email they sent you, you see the Contact Us button)
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