I just found out my password reset questions were a huge security risk

My bank account got locked last month after someone guessed my mother's maiden name. I always used real answers for those security questions, thinking it was safe. Turns out a lot of that info is easy to find online if someone looks. Now I use made-up answers and store them in my password manager. Has anyone else switched to fake answers for stuff like that?

3 comments

3 Comments

quinn_barnes61mo ago

Wait they actually guessed it? That's terrifying. I figured those questions were just for show. I started using fake answers after my high school mascot was in a public alumni directory.

the_luna1mo ago

My fake answers are so bad I'd fail my own security check.

emma_clark23d ago

Honestly, how did you even figure out they guessed the maiden name? That's so scary. I switched to fake answers after a data leak at my old college had my first pet's name floating around. My go-to move now is picking a random word and sticking with it for every question, like "blue" for everything. I keep a note in my phone with which fake answer goes to which account.