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This stinks thread

cooby May 12 2008 06:44 PM

I've been trying to log into one of my bank accounts for two days at home. It keeps telling me that I am not logging in right. I get to work today and try it, and it's smooth sailing. I hate all those stupid little passwords and favorite restaurants and crap. Who cares what my grandfather's nickname was? Idon't even know, I had to make one up! I don't care if anyone knows if I have 12 bucks in my checking account, so let them in! And me too! Now I have to do my banking at work. I'll probably get fired.

Elster88 May 12 2008 08:00 PM

Grandfather's nickname? That's a random one. Some of those clues are pointless anyway. If someone wants my money bad enough I'm sure they can get my mother's maiden name or the town I grew up in.

themetfairy May 12 2008 08:14 PM

The amount of homework my son gets on a regular basis truly stinks.

RealityChuck May 13 2008 09:37 AM

It's a thorny problem (we're wrestling with it here): how do you allow people to reset their forgotten password? Maybe you don't mind if someone can see your account, but you'd feel differently if they could transfer money out of it. If someone got into your Paypal account, you'd be in serious trouble; it'd be like posting your credit card information on the net. Also, a lot of banks offer online bill paying options (my bank has a separate password for bill pay and transfer, a wise precaution). For a bank, the solution would be to send a forgotten e-mail to an address you have given them. The questions are unnecessary. In our case, the password people have forgotten is also the password to read their e-mail. So we have to ask questions. Designing questions that are only known to the user is difficult (if, for instance, anyone on this board answered the question as to their favorite sports team correctly, anyone who saw the board would know what it was). Mother's maiden name is actually pretty good, since you don't usually share it with others. Even better is your maternal grandmother's maiden name. The last name of your third grade teacher is also a good one. These are things known to you, but which you rarely mention to others. Giving the wrong answer to the question helps, except what happens if you forget what the answer is? (I've had students would didn't know the answer to the security question; evidently the chose something to stump themselves). Most people are sloppy about security, using easy to guess passwords. That's OK until someone guesses it, and you're stuck. But it's hard keeping track of secure passwords. Mnemonics help -- take a phrase ("We all live in a yellow submarine") and convert it to a password (Wali1ys). It also helps to have a password safe somewhere -- but don't forget that password (since the key to the treasure is the treasure). It is a nuisance, but a far smaller nuisance if someone gets full access to your financial information.

Nymr83 May 13 2008 09:42 AM

lots of password anhd confirmations is a good thing. if you trust the people in your house just keep a notebook with all the relevant info near your computer.

themetfairy May 13 2008 11:48 AM

When I travel, I keep my credit cards written on a sheet of paper along with the numbers to call in case they are lost or stolen. But I insert faux digits into the numbers. The faux digits are of the MBTN variety, so I recognize them instantly, but anyone picking up the sheet of paper wouldn't be able to figure out why the credit card number is two digits too long. On Edit - I forgot this was the This Stinks thread. But if one were to keep a password list hanging around, I'd still suggest inserting something that you'd recognize as a red herring but other people wouldn't understand.

Kong76 May 13 2008 12:45 PM

I don't highly recommend a lot, but this program is great: http://keepass.info/ Been using it for about a year on the recommendation of a high tech dude that did some consulting work in my office.

Edgy DC May 13 2008 12:55 PM

That's what I've been looking for. I find ass, I want to keep ass.

Fman99 May 13 2008 01:51 PM

Edgy DC wrote: That's what I've been looking for. I find ass, I want to keep ass. Well done sir.

RealityChuck May 13 2008 02:23 PM

I actually use a ten-letter code for numbers. Then I just write the letters. If anyone finds it, it's one more hurdle (and it works nicely since numbers are not distributed in any pattern like etaoinshurdlu).

cooby May 13 2008 05:15 PM

No, no, no. You don't understand at all. I was doing everything exactly right, and it keeps locking me out. This happened last week too. My bank is merging with another bank So I get ahold of a lady again today, (after trying several phone #s and getting cut off once) that some people are getting locked out immediately when trying to access their accounts. The customer service hours are 8-5, which means that I had to 1) get online at work and 2) use my cell phone at work, both of which are highly illegal to get this straightened out. And who knows, it could happen again next time. THAT is what stinks. Anyway, several people traveling past my desk during this time saw "Omega Bank" website on my screen and said "ahh...you too?"

Kong76 May 13 2008 05:57 PM

Omega Bank sounds like the name of some early 70's sci-fi movie.

cooby May 13 2008 06:16 PM

Guess what the new name is. Get ready! First National Bank.