Security Questions - Why you should lie / myLot

Boston, Massachusetts

September 2, 2015 5:20am CST

It occurred to me some time ago that the security questions that you have to answer when you log in to some websites - like your bank or credit account - are really not that secure. It's because when we choose which 3 security questions we want to use, we answer truthfully. Bad move. Most of the questions relate to things that people might easily find out on Facebook or any other social media you engage in. Even myLot

! Questions about the name of your school, or your father's name - these are easily deduced or discovered even if you haven't filled out that personal information on an internet profile. They have your name, your location, and sometimes your birth date. Your friends and family are on Facebook and they may not be as guarded as you with info. And if you have blogged online, been in forums, etc., there's even more info to discover. Which is why when it comes to answering those security questions, I always lie. What was the name of your first school? Tell them Hogwarts or something. Make up fake answers when you choose the security questions, so that someone trying to access your account could never guess the right answers. Of course, the problem with lying is remembering which lies you told to whom. So, you have to make up good lies you won't forget. Do you choose easy to answer questions when you choose your security question? Would it be easy to hack your account? Tell the truth.

11 people like this

9 responses

Phyrre

@phyrre (2317)

• United States

2 Sep 15

Well, it depends. Yes, if you're answering silly ones like your mother's maiden name then people can find out. There are some that are more secure. First pet, for example. Nobody knows the name of my first pet (I've had many) and even if they did, the likelihood of them being able to spell it is relatively slim. I try to pick the ones that are most obscure. I do answer them honestly because if I lied, I'd forget the lie. xD There is some truth in that saying, at least.

3 people like this

AnjaP

@Rollo1 (16679)

• Boston, Massachusetts

2 Sep 15

You just have to have your lie answers be consistent or be one of a short list of answers that you generally use.

2 people like this

Phyrre

@phyrre (2317)

• United States

2 Sep 15

@topffer That's a sneaky way to do it! Also very smart since it's still an answer you can remember.

2 people like this

Jared D.

@loki1982 (780)

• Dallas, Texas

2 Sep 15

I figured this out several years ago. So now I also pick a certain question and answer it purposely with the wrong answer, For example, maybe I always chose the question my first pet. But I answer it with my aunts birthday. Something like that.

3 people like this

AnjaP

@Rollo1 (16679)

• Boston, Massachusetts

2 Sep 15

That is even more devious than just plain lying. No one would guess a date instead of a name.

1 person likes this

Koalemos

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

2 Sep 15

I realised the lack of security involved in answering these questions many years ago. There has to be a vast number of people who will know my father's name or the name of my first pet, which are the type of basic questions offered. It therefore makes far more sense to use absurd answers, such as mother's first name being Adolf or place of birth being Jupiter. I selected a personalised series of answers a long time ago and use the same ones on all sites that require high security, such as a bank account or building society account.

1 person likes this

AnjaP

@Rollo1 (16679)

• Boston, Massachusetts

2 Sep 15

That's what I thought, too. It would be too easy for someone to get through my security questions if I answer truthfully. I never thought of being born in Jupiter, though. That's quite good.

1 person likes this

Artgirl

@owstalaga (4707)

• Philippines

2 Sep 15

Well this is a tricky question to answer since I have lots of accounts online.

All I can say is security questions sometimes annoy me especially when I forget my answer.

1 person likes this

Anna

@LadyDuck (457190)

• Switzerland

2 Sep 15

I use security questions to answers that I never posted online and nobody know. Like the second name of the mother of my father.

Koalemos

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

2 Sep 15

When you consider how many people you have known over the years who could answer such questions, it does not constitute absolute security. I prefer to use imaginary and ridiculous answers to such questions.

1 person likes this

Anna

@LadyDuck (457190)

• Switzerland

2 Sep 15

@Asylum Put aside my Mother, who does not even have Internet, I believe I am the only one to know that my grandmother even had a second name. None of my cousins know.

Cahaya

@cahaya1983 (11121)

• Malaysia

2 Sep 15

Now why didn't I think of that! Looks like I've to start lying when I register in websites that ask security questions from now on. And I like that Hogwarts answer!

1 person likes this

AnjaP

@Rollo1 (16679)

• Boston, Massachusetts

2 Sep 15

I figure we don't have to make it easy for them, right?

1 person likes this