Cybersecurity Is a Chore: How Couples Can Protect Their Money and Identity

These days, protecting your family’s financial future isn’t just about paying bills on time or budgeting well. It also means protecting your identity and personal data, as a shared household responsibility. That’s because even the most sensitive information isn’t as secure as you might think.

According to a new Washington Post report, the U.S. government recently admitted that a unit known as DOGE accessed and shared Social Security data without proper authorization, raising serious questions about formal protections around some of the most personally identifiable information Americans have. Privacy experts view this as a troubling indicator of how badly data safeguards can fail, even within federal systems designed to protect citizens.

When institutional defenses falter, individuals and families are left to bear the brunt. For couples who share finances, plan for retirement, or file taxes jointly, a single breach can affect both partners. That makes cybersecurity a shared responsibility.

Why Cybersecurity Matters More Than Ever

Cybercrime isn’t some distant or abstract threat. It’s real, common, and increasingly sophisticated.

Identity theft, in which someone uses your personal information without your permission, can lead to unauthorized credit accounts, stolen tax refunds, fake insurance claims, and more. During Identity Theft Awareness Week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) underscores that this risk touches everyone. Proactive steps matter more than ever.

Couples often combine financial lives. You may share bank accounts, credit cards, or Social Security information. If a scammer steals one partner’s credentials or files fraudulent claims using one spouse’s identity, both of you can be affected. This makes cybersecurity not just a personal concern, but a household chore that demands teamwork.

How Couples Can Protect Money & Identity Together

The good news? You don’t need to be a cybersecurity expert to start protecting yourselves. Here are practical strategies couples can adopt together.

1. Secure Your Personal Identifiers

Start with the basics: Social Security numbers, benefit accounts, and key documents.

As the Modern Husbands article points out, even trusted systems designed to protect Social Security benefits are showing cracks — such as personnel changes and data-access controversies that have raised questions about how securely this data is held. That’s why couples should treat this information carefully.

Actions to take now:

• Log in to your Social Security accounts together and confirm you both recognize all recent statements and activity.

• Store key documents (SSN cards, benefit statements, tax IDs) in a secure, locked place at home or in a safe deposit box.

• Consider periodically reviewing your full credit reports. Go to annualcreditreport.com to access one of three credit reports each year. 

  
  

2. Use Layered Defenses Recommended by the FTC

Identity Theft Awareness Week resources highlight several straightforward defenses:

• Unique passwords + multi-factor authentication (MFA): Don’t reuse passwords across accounts. Use a password manager and enable MFA wherever possible.

• Credit freezes and fraud alerts: These make it harder for someone to open new accounts in your names without authorization.

• Monthly reviews: Look at bank and credit statements together at least once a month — it’s harder for fraud to hide when two sets of eyes are checking.

• Device safety: Keep software updated on phones and computers, and be cautious about clicking links in texts or emails, especially unsolicited ones.

FTC’s Identity Theft Awareness Week also offers free tools, webinars, and educational materials you and your partner can explore together. These resources are designed to help you spot scams, report fraud, and learn recovery steps before a crisis hits.

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Related: Join our newsletter subscribers for ideas to manage money and the home as a team.

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3. Make Cybersecurity a Joint Habit

Just like scheduling date nights or planning finances, treating cybersecurity as something you routinely check off together makes it much more effective.

Try these couple-friendly habits:

• Quarterly cybersecurity check-ins: Pick one evening every few months to update passwords, review linked accounts, and delete old or unused accounts.

• Shared calendar reminders: Use your shared calendar to remind each other about security tasks like changing passwords or checking credit reports.

• Open communication: If one partner receives a suspicious message or alert, share it immediately. Rumors and half-truths only help scammers thrive.

Conclusion

Cyber threats are evolving rapidly, and as long as we live, work, and bank online, your household’s cybersecurity defense matters just as much as chores like cleaning or budgeting. When couples take shared responsibility by making simple practices routine, checking in regularly, and using FTC-recommended tools, they build a more resilient team against identity theft and financial fraud.