What The Tech: How the government shutdown could affect you
BY JAMEY TUCKER, Consumer Technology Reporter
You may not think a federal government shutdown affects you, but it will, especially on your phone and computer.
Some federal websites may stop updating or even go dark. USDA.gov displays a message from the Trump Administration, and Homeland Security’s homepage says it won’t be updated or maintained.
That could mean no new food safety alerts, delays on passport or visa applications, and fewer updates from agencies like NASA.
While critical services like Social Security, TSA, and air traffic control continue, their tech support may be limited. That might mean longer wait times at airports and slower responses to online questions.
But the biggest concern during a shutdown? Scammers. They know people are worried about benefits and refunds, so expect fake emails and texts. They’ll say things like ‘click here to keep your social security active, or ‘re-enter your banking information for your refund’.
Remember, government agencies will NEVER text you asking for your log-in, social security number, or money. They might say “confirm your social security number”. Don’t say it first.
