<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The federal government is running a trial to make applications more secure for renters, potentially removing the vast amounts of information being handed to real estate agents.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>When applying for rental properties, people need to provide a significant amount of personal information to real estate agents, including their driver's licence, passport, bank statements, and utility bills.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The federal government has raised concerns about the growing risk of data breaches and identity theft.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LIVE UPDATES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/australia-weather-live-updates-nsw-heat-victoria-winds-storms-latest-news-headlines/496187bf-a2d6-41ca-9456-a1bc611ce4d0" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Major weather events facing millions; Record-breaking heat expected in NSW; Storms to batter south-east</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The growing threat has caused the government to look at potential alternatives, such as trialling digital IDs, such as government-issued myIDs.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Whatever we can do to minimise people sharing loads of personal data about themselves and then losing control of that, I think, is a good thing," Finance Minister Katy Gallagher said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Trials are set to begin next year. Using verified online tools, renters could soon be able to confirm their identities with a simple click rather than giving agents personal documents.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/trial-to-make-home-applications-safer-and-more-secure/d8ab3eb8-8a36-486b-99c0-bfdad244e136" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Rental applications are currently highly regulated and differ from state to state. The trials aim to make the process easier while also limiting the amount of sensitive data shared between renters and agents.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f"><em><strong><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></strong></em></a><em><strong><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727"><em><strong><span>Apple App Store</span></strong></em></a><span> </span><em><strong><span>and</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1"><em><strong><span>Google Play</span></strong></em></a><em><strong><span>.</span></strong></em></div></div>