COLUMN-Social Security online accounts: safe from identity theft?

More than 34 million Americansnow conduct business with the Social Security Administration(SSA) online - and with that shift comes an increased risk ofidentity theft.For many, a MySSA account now is the only way to obtain anestimate of future benefits, since the agency no longerregularly mails annual benefit statements.MySSA also offers theconvenience of handling routine paperwork online, and theability to update the address on file for your account or startor change direct deposit of benefits.