So I Got A Text From Social Security

[Igel]

23. When you get texts that might be important ...

Or which might be just spam or much, much worse, my practice is two-fold.

1. Don't ignore it. That "might be" doesn't mean "obviously isn't." It just means I have doubts--maybe big doubts--that it's true. But that allows for a chance that it is true.

2. Following that chance, I promptly delete the possibly or even probably spurious message, whether mail or text, do not click on their maybe malicious or simply annoying, but just possibly correct, link. Instead, go directly to the site they claim to be pushing--the site name looks good, maybe check it out. For example, https://Socialsecurity.ru/ would not check out but https://www.ssa.gov/ would.

SS requires a new kind of ID? You know that they'll have info about that new requirement on their website.

Yes, it takes a few minutes. But it means I preserve some semblance of agency over my device's security while not ignoring possibly useful or needed information.