Not So Daily Computer Tip #2

Today’s topic: “Security Questions”

Many websites that we go to and create logins for… banks, e-mail accounts, etc. And we must create “security questions” to confirm that we are indeed the owner of the account. Common security questions are “What was the name of your elementary school?” or “What is your mother’s maiden name?”

In my opinion, these security questions are, at most, easily guessable… Most of this information can be obtained online! If someone was really head-set on breaking into your account by guessing your security questions, they could go to a “background information” site that has information about you… former addresses, relatives, and so on and so forth.

Due to this security flaw, I don’t like putting legitimate answers as my security answers. My tip? Think of the answers to your security questions as PASSWORDS. The answers need to be as secure as passwords.

Example: “What is your mother’s maiden name?” Answer: “1234abcd”
Example: “What was the name of your first elementary school?” Answer: “1234abcd”

The answers don’t have to make sense. Actually, the less sense they make, the better and more secure they are. Think about it, if all I needed to know to get access to (and hack) your account is your e-mail address (most people use the same e-mail address for all accounts, to make it ‘easier’–I say, easier for who? You or the hacker?) and what your mother’s maiden name is, I could use the “Forgot Password” feature to crack open your e-mail account to GET the new password they reset, AND change the password so YOU can’t get in it. Oh, I could also go and change your security questions and answers, too, once I got in there, so that when you call the company to get into your OWN account, you can’t verify that you’re the owner. How about that.

So treat your Security Questions and Answers just like your passwords–make them hard to guess, but easy for you to remember. The more symbols and numbers, the better.

Until next time, be safe!

Tags: Advice, Blogroll, Computing

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