Security Questions - Why you should lie
By AnjaP
@Rollo1 (16679)
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 (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
@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
@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
@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
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• 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
@Cristi_Ichim (3743)
• Bucharest, Romania
3 Sep 15
I admit that I am also sometimes refrained from sharing my location and personal information