Article

2026-05-13 Cyber

Is ID.me safe to use? What you need to know

[FoxNews] A closer look at how ID.me works, what data it collects and how scammers exploit it

More people are running into ID.me when trying to access government services, and it can raise questions right away. Dave from Richardson, TX, recently emailed us after seeing it required across several federal sites.

"US gov't. sites asking to use ID.me for logon verification. VA.gov, SSA.gov and Medicare.gov, for example. Is ID.me safe to use?"
It is a fair question, especially when you are being asked to hand over sensitive personal information. Here is what you need to know before you decide to use it.

WHAT ID.ME ACTUALLY IS
ID.me is a private identity verification company. It helps confirm that you are really you before letting you access certain services.

You will see it on sites tied to agencies like the Social Security Administration and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Instead of each agency verifying your identity separately, ID.me acts as a middle layer. Once you verify your identity, you can use that login across multiple services.

3 THINGS YOU SHOULD THINK ABOUT BEFORE USING IT
This is where you need to pay attention.

1) It isn’t a government agency
Even though you see it on government websites, ID.me is a private company. That matters because your data is being handled by a third party.

2) You may need to upload sensitive information
Depending on the service, you might be asked for:

A driver's license or passport
Your Social Security number
A selfie or video for facial verification
That is a lot of personal data in one place.

3) Privacy concerns do exist
Some experts have raised concerns about:

Facial recognition technology

Centralized storage of identity data

How long is the data kept

ID.me says it protects this information, but it is still worth being aware of the tradeoff.

ID.ME VS LOGIN.GOV: WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?
You may also see Login.gov as an option on some sites.

Here is the key difference:

ID.me may require biometric verification, like a selfie

Both are secure. The choice often comes down to convenience versus how much personal data you are comfortable sharing.

WHY SCAMMERS LOVE USING ID.ME AS BAIT
Here is the part most people do not expect. ID.me itself isn’t a scam. The problem is that scammers know people trust it. That makes it a perfect disguise.

COMMON ID.ME-RELATED SCAMS TO WATCH FOR
Because ID.me is widely trusted, it has become a target for scammers trying to fool you. Scammers rely on urgency, fear and trust to get you to act quickly without thinking.

All the details can be seen at the link.

KURT'S KEY TAKEAWAYS
ID.me is a legitimate and secure tool used across the U.S. government. For most people, it is safe to use and is often required to access important services. At the same time, it asks for more personal data than many people expect. That makes it worth approaching with awareness instead of blind trust. The bigger risk usually comes from scammers pretending to be ID.me, not the platform itself. If you stay alert, use strong security settings and go directly to official websites, you can use it without putting yourself at unnecessary risk.
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Posted by Skidmark 2026-05-13 00:00|| E-Mail|| Front Page|| [1845 views ] Top

1 Data Breach Response: A Guide for Business

Posted by Skidmark 2026-05-12 12:54|| 2026-05-12 12:54|| Front Page Top

2 When given the 'opportunity' to choose, I looked into both and chose LOGIN.GOV.
Given likely incompetence vs. likely malfeasance, it was a given. A hell of a choice.
Also, some government websites only list ID.me. Payoffs anyone?

Posted by Whiskey Mike 2026-05-13 08:31|| 2026-05-13 08:31|| Front Page Top

3 /\ Yes, I am paranoid, but never enough it seems. It's kind of like the MSM, being only mortal, you can't hate them enough.

Posted by Whiskey Mike 2026-05-13 08:34|| 2026-05-13 08:34|| Front Page Top

4 Not paranoid, just aware. Always hover over links before clicking them to see where you are actually going...

Posted by Frank G 2026-05-13 08:52|| 2026-05-13 08:52|| Front Page Top

5 Just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean they are not out to get you.

Posted by Ebbuger Whuque4103 2026-05-13 09:56|| 2026-05-13 09:56|| Front Page Top

6 A private company? Not as trustworthy government agencies like the IRS, which leaked President Trumps taxes.

Posted by Regular joe 2026-05-13 12:35|| 2026-05-13 12:35|| Front Page Top

7 Watering Hole

A watering hole is a targeted cyberattack where attackers infect a legitimate, trusted website frequently visited by a specific group of people.

Posted by mossomo 2026-05-13 14:42|| 2026-05-13 14:42|| Front Page Top

8 I trust the government with my data as much as I trust a private company with my data.

Which is less than zero.

Posted by DarthVader 2026-05-13 20:22|| 2026-05-13 20:22|| Front Page Top

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