You need to know that Social Security is taking all reasonable and appropriate measures, including encryption, to ensure that your personal information is protected.

However, the Internet is an open system and there is no absolute guarantee that the personal information you have entered or requested will not be intercepted by others and decrypted. Although this possibility is remote, it does exist.

Encryption means that all information relating to you and your account is scrambled and locked with a mathematical key during the electronic transfer. Most browsers have an icon such as a key or a lock to represent an encrypted mode or session. A broken key, open lock, or no lock indicates that the session or mode is not encrypted.

For maximum protection of your privacy, Social Security requires that users have the stronger, 128-bit encryption (128-bit encryption means there are 2 to the 88th power - a three followed by 26 zeroes) to do business with them on the Internet.  If you are in a public place or are otherwise concerned about others viewing your information, Social Security strongly advises closing your browser upon completion of your Internet application .

See Social Security Administration's Internet Privacy Policy.