Most inane security questions asked…

MartynSinclair: Welcome to the new world of “SECURITY”

This happens all the time but the security won’t help if you use someone like Western Union – they will need all your details but will not ask anything effective to confirm the identity of the person collecting the payment !

Equally if you use email and happen to log in to your account (for example, hotmail) from a hotel they will say “unusual activity…please fill in ….loads of details…and we will get back in 24 hours”….USELESS as by then you will be elsewhere….

(Interestingly Hotmail think an Accor hotel in the UK is in France…!)

Thanks Mrs May and the other idiots….

I once got asked to provide the Password for my O2 account when I called through. I politely explained that I had never been asked before for a Password and didn’t have one set up. Refused to speak to me and cut me off – so had to call back and speak to someone else after passing normal security. They explained that indeed I didn’t have a password set up so couldn’t have answered the question and would I like to set one up – 2nd person slightly stunned and couldn’t be more helpful.

I think it was a Phone password that they asked for. But either way wasn’t impressed. It was a while back.

@PeterCoultas

Oftentimes there are legal reasons why only people within a certain geography can access certain sites. Typical examples would be the National Lottery or BBC.

And using the IP Address is a good first level mechanism to identify possible inappropriate access. However, more often than not this is the only mechanism used, resulting in the situation you describe with Accor 🙁

To circumvent such problems, you could access the sites through a proxy server based in the correct geographical location.

So, for example, when we are in S France, and SWMBO wants to watch Eastenders – heaven forfend – she accesses it through our proxy server which has a “UK IP Address”. As far as dear old Auntie is concerned, we are watching it from within UK. Hence no moaning from the missus. Happy Days.

All you need is access to a proxy server running in Oz – there are plenty of publicly accessible ones available, which google can help you find – and you will get the fares you desire 🙂

No daft questions but I’ve been daft – I was once asked by the bank (on the phone) to confirm my home phone number. My mind went blank and I couldn’t remember it, said so, and then called out to my wife across the room and asked her what it was – you can imagine the bemused look I got back from her.

The bank immediately terminated the call and wouldn’t talk to me when I phoned back.

A follow-up to the point about passwords being stored or repeated “en claire”.

A certain academic publisher runs a couple of journals for which I referee papers. The refereeing request comes with a sentence saying “your username is XXXX and your password is YYYY”! No care about whether or not you had used one of the passwords you use for more serious things like bank cards and so on.

The only recourse was to go into their “change password” routine and set up a new password.

I chose “nameofpublishinghouseareabunchofcompletew*nk*ers”

Not only was this accepted (despite its length) but I also have the satisfaction of it being played back to me every time they want me to referee something new.

Tim, your password story reminded me of an incident a few years back,strolling through our London office I passed one our agents talking to a customer and I could hear distinct tone of frustration in his voice. On my way back he was now embroiled in a ” Yes there is-No there isn’t ” argument with the customer.

I stopped and asked what the problem was, “This idiot, insists he didnt put a password on his account, and there is a password” he exasperated. I glanced at the screen that held the all important access key and in the box that contains the password, there was indeed a word…………………”Declined”

And as I’ve mentioned previously on the forum, re-enforces my opinion that the education system is letting down our youth.

And, like most of us, it’s the further security questions that get me into trouble , normally asked when you can’t remember your password. My favourite is 1st school or favourite teacher. So I failed when asked about my school, I got James Whiteside right, but was told that wasn’t correct , and my own little yes/ no argument ensued, up to the point where I lost my patience and screeched out like a cat chucked into a bath ” Look ,I know I went o James Whiteside Elementary School up until Grade 7, then I went to junior high. With a voice of incredulously , she says I’m now able to access your account….thank you sir.