I have a mortgage and I pay it online. When I log into the account, this is what usually happens:
1. They demand that I change my password to something different from what it was before. So I do it. I believe that the strongest passwords include letters, numbers, and symbols. So I enter a password like that. Then they tell me I can't use any symbols. So I have to redo it to something less secure.
I have a program that stores all my passwords now, but before I had that, I had trouble remembering what password I was using for this site (because I constantly had to change it and couldn't use symbols) and I kept having to call them up and get them to reset the account.
2. They demand that I answer a "security question" that I previously set up.
3. When I confirm my payment, they demand that I enter the last 4 digits of my social security number.
This seems ridiculous, especially since a mortgage account ONLY INVOLVES MY GIVING THEM MONEY. I can see reasons for using multi-factor security to protect checking accounts and credit accounts, but I can't think of any reason for someone to hack into a mortgage account.
This entry was originally posted at http://firecat.dreamwidth.org/732697.html, where there are
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1. They demand that I change my password to something different from what it was before. So I do it. I believe that the strongest passwords include letters, numbers, and symbols. So I enter a password like that. Then they tell me I can't use any symbols. So I have to redo it to something less secure.
I have a program that stores all my passwords now, but before I had that, I had trouble remembering what password I was using for this site (because I constantly had to change it and couldn't use symbols) and I kept having to call them up and get them to reset the account.
2. They demand that I answer a "security question" that I previously set up.
3. When I confirm my payment, they demand that I enter the last 4 digits of my social security number.
This seems ridiculous, especially since a mortgage account ONLY INVOLVES MY GIVING THEM MONEY. I can see reasons for using multi-factor security to protect checking accounts and credit accounts, but I can't think of any reason for someone to hack into a mortgage account.
This entry was originally posted at http://firecat.dreamwidth.org/732697.html, where there are
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chasethestars
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these people are beyond stupid. i know i would benefit from online banking, but i really can't be bothered with the rigmarole. bad enough having to have passwords for all the other stuff i do online. if you knew some of my passwords you would be SO ASHAMED of me.
No way! They'd have to get past my ATTACK CATS!
if you knew some of my passwords you would be SO ASHAMED of me.
I recently discovered that one of my passwords that I thought was fairly unusual was in the top 100 frequently used passwords found when Gawker's password database was hacked. Fortunately it wasn't one I used for things I actually cared to keep secure, but still, embarrassing.
it's like tidying the flat...
Most of my passwords have at least 15 digits.