WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — A whistleblower alleges a former staffer tied to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) took Americans’ Social Security numbers with plans to use them in another job, according to reporting by The Washington Post.

The allegation highlights how sensitive personal data can be misused and how quickly identity thieves can take advantage of it.

Ron Zaius, CEO of Ironwall by Incognito, a company that helps remove personal information from the internet, said a stolen Social Security number can lead to serious financial fraud.

“Your Social Security number, if somebody has it, they can file a fake return for you,” Zaius said. “They can say, ‘I should be getting a $10,000 refund. Here’s the new bank account to put the money into.’ That’s where the real damage is.”

But Zaius said many Americans face a different privacy risk every day inside their own homes.

“Your internet service provider is legally entitled to take everything you’re doing on the internet and sell it,” he said. “Every search you’ve done at home, that is packaged together, and it’s being sold.”

That means searches about medical concerns, finances or other personal topics can end up in data sets sold to third parties.

Experts said consumers can take a few simple steps to reduce how much personal information circulates online.

Steps you can take to protect your information

• Use a VPN
A virtual private network encrypts your internet traffic so websites and providers have a harder time...

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