The government will now redact Social Security numbers from physical mail

The Department of Homeland Security is changing its rules for how it handles Social Security numbers on physical mail. It will now redact these numbers when possible, and only include them when absolutely necessary.

For decades, government agencies have printed Social Security numbers on mail, creating a constant risk of identity theft. This change means that the default will now be to hide these numbers. It shifts the burden from individuals to the government to protect this sensitive information.