Security Questions I Cannot Answer

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Arks

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Nothing to do with innkeeping. I just have to complain somewhere, about those security questions some websites make you answer to get into your account.
Today I was resetting the password on my AT&T account and they wouldn't let me finish the setup without setting two security questions they can ask me in the future to assure that I am me. Like so often happens with these, NONE of the choices of questions they offer applies well to me, and I can't be assured of giving the same answer later to any of these questions. Here were my choices:
  • Last name of your favorite elementary school teacher?
    • I didn't have a favorite. I'm equally neutral about them all. No definite answer.
  • What is hour favorite hobby?
    • I've had many hobbies over the years, never more than one at a time, and none was my favorite. I liked it at the time, grew bored of it and moved on. No definite answer.
  • What is your favorite film?
    • I've liked about 200 films but don't consider any one to be my certain favorite. No definite answer.
  • Who is your favorite author?
    • People have favorite authors? I don't. I could probably come up with a name, but would likely come up with a different name if I'm asked this question later. No definite answer.
  • What country would you like to visit?
    • This changes with each new travel show I watch. I don't have any one place I sit around and dream about all the time. No definite answer.
  • Who is a famous person you'd most like to meet (living/dead)?
    • I could easily name a dozen, and likely give you a different dozen if you ask next week. I hate these stupid questions!
  • What is the farthest from home you have traveled?
    • Since I have no idea, I'd have to get out a map and measure, hoping not to forget one, and I'm likely to come up with a different answer next time I'm asked, not to mention that I may travel farther between now and the next time they ask me, so the answer is subject to change.
Grrrr. I HATE these things!
 
I feel your pain! As a bookkeeper, I often have to set up online logins for clients to their different accounts. I always have to run through these questions to find SOMETHING they can answer.
For one of them, a client was not around and I absolutely had to get an acct set up. I made up answers. My favorite: Childhood hero - Grape Ape
I always remember the answer because I got such a laugh out of it when I set it up.
regular_smile.gif

Another option - put the same answer for each question (if it will let you). Pick a word & use it every time. Then you'll always have the right answer.
 
Same here. What generally happens is we can't remember which one of us set up the account so we have no idea which superhero is the answer!
 
I have also had - What is your favorite book? I have several and can never remember which one I said.
I wish they would offer:
Your first car
first school
first grade teacher
where you were born
One answer questions!!! Not subjective.
 
When I was younger I worked with a guy who won the Newlywed game. He and his wife had a strategy as you can imagine happens. They even went back to the finals, of whatever it was at that time. They had the alphabet game between them, so if it is "what room did you last make whoopy" (using the newlywed game's vernacular) whatever room began at the start of the alphabet would be the answer they both gave. If that room had been used in a prev question, they went to the next one, so first might be bedroom, second might be den. etc
This has absolutely nothing to do with your thread here, but it reminded me of how they had anticipated the questions and won the game show. He, who remains unnamed, was reluctant to share this information, but we got it out of him.
In other news a security question for Sirius radio was set up by DH, what is your favorite pet's name? I was locked out after three attempts and the site telling me I must not really love my pet that much. As I figured, he would have used a shortened name for this pet, and spelling it "his way". In the end, that was correct, but I only had three tries to get it.
My mother has a joined first and second name, no middle name on her birth certificate legally. I recently was asked my mother's middle name. I thought, hm what did I put "nothing" "none" "absent" "doesn't have one" I couldn't remember what I put. Ex: Marylee, or Mary Lee, or Mary, but no LEE as the middle name.
 
When I was younger I worked with a guy who won the Newlywed game. He and his wife had a strategy as you can imagine happens. They even went back to the finals, of whatever it was at that time. They had the alphabet game between them, so if it is "what room did you last make whoopy" (using the newlywed game's vernacular) whatever room began at the start of the alphabet would be the answer they both gave. If that room had been used in a prev question, they went to the next one, so first might be bedroom, second might be den. etc
This has absolutely nothing to do with your thread here, but it reminded me of how they had anticipated the questions and won the game show. He, who remains unnamed, was reluctant to share this information, but we got it out of him.
In other news a security question for Sirius radio was set up by DH, what is your favorite pet's name? I was locked out after three attempts and the site telling me I must not really love my pet that much. As I figured, he would have used a shortened name for this pet, and spelling it "his way". In the end, that was correct, but I only had three tries to get it.
My mother has a joined first and second name, no middle name on her birth certificate legally. I recently was asked my mother's middle name. I thought, hm what did I put "nothing" "none" "absent" "doesn't have one" I couldn't remember what I put. Ex: Marylee, or Mary Lee, or Mary, but no LEE as the middle name..
Use the military shorthand: NMI or NMN (no middle initial, no middle name).
Funny thing is my mom and I do the same thing...we lie. DOB? Make it up. Where were you born? Make it up. Too many people can get the real info easily. Of course, then we have to remember what lie we told!
 
Of course, then we have to remember what lie we told!
Yes, that's the best lesson I've learned from life, never lie, then have to pile lie on lie, if you can't remember what you made up. Much better to stick with the truth and let the chips fall where they may. At least, that's the theory
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Glad other's are often confounded by security questions the way I am. Gillum has the right ones to ask, things that only have one possible, easy to know answer. No decision between this and that.
 
I lie as well but use the same lie for the same security question no matter what site... i.e for DOB I use DH birth day & month with my birth year.... DH uses my day/mth his year. While I had several favorite teachers, for the answer - I have one.
 
As the CEO of a company that helps people monitor and protect their credit, I can tell you the time it takes to implement preventive measures is far less than the time, frustration and expense it'll take to remedy your poor credit history. -Phil Melugin
 
I hate those subjective security questions...'what's your favorite...whatever'!! My favorite today might not be my favorite next week, or next month. When forced to pick a pre-written question, I usually go for the objective ones like, 'what was the name of the street you lived on as a child?' or the name of the city where you met your significant other. Well I suppose, the answer to that question could change if the 'other' is not as significant next week as he was last week. oops...
 
Just saw this on FB and thought of this thread:
Sorry, but your password must contain an uppercase letter, a number, a haiku, a gang sign, a hieroglyph and the blood of a virgin.
 
OK, here we go again. Went to the new national healthcare website to see if I can lower my current $700/month health insurance bill. Got as far as the security question section. These are as bad as any I've run across:
  • My favorite toy? None was my favorite. NOTHING comes to mind.
  • First name of my oldest niece? I have no niece.
  • A relative's phone number? I guess I could look one up, but it probably wouldn't be the same one next time I'm asked.
  • Favorite pet? No favorite. Nothing comes to mind.
  • A significant date in my life. That could be anything, and never the same thing twice. Stupid question.
  • Favorite childhood friend. I don't play favorites. No one person comes to mind.
  • Parents' anniversary date? Who knows that????
  • Manager at my first job? I've always been self-employed.
  • Nick name of my grandmother? I had TWO grandmothers, as does ever human on earth, and in my case they were both dead before I was born, so no nick name.
I HATE security questions!!!!!
 
OK, here we go again. Went to the new national healthcare website to see if I can lower my current $700/month health insurance bill. Got as far as the security question section. These are as bad as any I've run across:
  • My favorite toy? None was my favorite. NOTHING comes to mind.
  • First name of my oldest niece? I have no niece.
  • A relative's phone number? I guess I could look one up, but it probably wouldn't be the same one next time I'm asked.
  • Favorite pet? No favorite. Nothing comes to mind.
  • A significant date in my life. That could be anything, and never the same thing twice. Stupid question.
  • Favorite childhood friend. I don't play favorites. No one person comes to mind.
  • Parents' anniversary date? Who knows that????
  • Manager at my first job? I've always been self-employed.
  • Nick name of my grandmother? I had TWO grandmothers, as does ever human on earth, and in my case they were both dead before I was born, so no nick name.
I HATE security questions!!!!!.
Arkansawyer said:
OK, here we go again. Went to the new national healthcare website to see if I can lower my current $700/month health insurance bill. Got as far as the security question section. These are as bad as any I've run across:
  • My favorite toy? None was my favorite. NOTHING comes to mind.
  • THOSE THINGS ON MAMA THAT HELD BREAKFAST
  • First name of my oldest niece? I have no niece.
  • THEY ARE TWINS
  • A relative's phone number? I guess I could look one up, but it probably wouldn't be the same one next time I'm asked.
  • UNLISTED - AND IF I GAVE IT TO YOU I WOULD HAVE TO GO INTO THE WITNESS PROTECTION PROGRAM
  • Favorite pet? No favorite. Nothing comes to mind.
  • DADDY'S SCORPION
  • A significant date in my life. That could be anything, and never the same thing twice. Stupid question.
  • TBD - YOU WILL HAVE TO ASK THE MORTICIAN
  • Favorite childhood friend. I don't play favorites. No one person comes to mind.
  • HARVEY
  • Parents' anniversary date? Who knows that????
  • AT LEAST 9 MONTHS BEFORE MY DATE OF BIRTH I HOPE
  • Manager at my first job? I've always been self-employed.
  • ME
  • Nick name of my grandmother? I had TWO grandmothers, as does ever human on earth, and in my case they were both dead before I was born, so no nick name.
  • GRAN
I HATE security questions!!!!!
I gave you your answers in caps. Enjoy them. I hope you did not mind sharing your friend with Jimmy Stewart.
 
The Obamacare wanted to know various things related to School Grades, we did not have Grades when I went to school.
 
I have a little black book in which I now have to write all my passwords.
As for a favorite teacher? I didn't have one either but one name stood out because it was so darn funny and silly. I chose that. What can I say, I suppose they try to keep your shtuff save.
 
I have a little black book in which I now have to write all my passwords.
As for a favorite teacher? I didn't have one either but one name stood out because it was so darn funny and silly. I chose that. What can I say, I suppose they try to keep your shtuff save..
IrisoftheWayfarer said:
I have a little black book in which I now have to write all my passwords.
I use one of those iPhone apps that syncs my info to a secure online database so I can access all my info from either the phone or the desktop. That way I only have to remember the password to the one app, and it handles remembering all the rest.
It's nice to be able to copy/paste in usernames and passwords because some of them are long, complicated, and hard to type in manually.
IrisoftheWayfarer said:
What can I say, I suppose they try to keep your shtuff save.
Yes. I just don't like the questions they use. Too many I don't have an answer for. I think they could ask better questions.
 
Up until today I could get in enough to at least try the security questions to set up an account. Today I click "Enroll Now" and it just sits there waiting. Incredible. Surely it's not software faults. Surely it's the number of people trying to get in.
But Facebook can handle billions at once. They're only expecting 7 million to use the healthcare exchanges. I repeat, incredible!
 
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