A matter of security 16.04.08
You know I’ve been starting
to feel a bit like Ali Baba lately having to remember
all sorts of passwords and security type thingys.
Actually come to think of it wasn’t Ali Baba able to
remember the password, it was his brother (I can’t
remember his name) who got caught in the cave trying to
steal the gold that the forty thieves had stolen from
others.
Yep, it must be him I feel like when I try - not to
steal - but sometimes just to check up on - money I have
put into my very own bank account. This of course is for
security reasons because like most banks these days, my
bank would prefer if they never ever saw my face again.
Ok, so they haven’t said it exactly in those words, but
I’ve been able to read between the lines when they sent
me letters saying how to make things easier for me they
have introduced things like telephone banking and
internet banking. |
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At first that seemed like a
pretty good idea, although I did wonder how I could
internet bank the €93 in 10 cent and 20 cent coins I had
gathered up from various jars and coat pockets. I
guessed I would just have to scan pictures of them and
e.mail them to the bank.
Of course that was way back when I first began to use
this internet and telephone banking, but now it’s a
doddle. Well, okay, it would be if I could just remember
my passwords and more importantly the answers to my
security questions.
This was never a problem when I went in to the bank
because Dorothy and Patricia and Anne and Gerry who have
been working there for years all know who I am and
didn’t feel the need to ask me stupid questions before
they would check my bank balance for me.
On the other hand when I call the banking phone line,
not only do I need to remember a series of numbers for
the automated service, if I actually want to speak to a
real person I need security question answers as well.
The easy one is the answer to what is my mother’s name.
I think this is a question that many people will choose
from the list of options when setting up such an
account. But it has always kinda troubled me that
banking security might hinge on what your mother’s
maiden name was. I mean it’s not exactly the hardest
thing in the world for somebody to find out.
On the other hand, some of the other options we get are
positively ridiculous.
“What’s your favourite movie?” was an option I was once
given on a list of questions I could choose from. Come
on now. My favourite movie right now could be something
completely different from what my favourite movie was
last year.
And I could just picture myself like Ali Baba’s brother
going “Is it Shawshank Redemption,” “Is it the Big
Lebowski,” “umm...well is it The Simpsons Movie?”
Another option on a list I once saw was – “Name of
Brother or Sister.”
Coming from a family of thirteen, I think I’d take my
chance with the movie one before I’d have chosen that.
And we also get stupid things like – “pet’s name” (don’t
have one), “wedding anniversary date,” (not married,
well okay I am, but I’m under enough pressure from other
sources to remember the date).
Why can’t they ask things you’d remember like “when you
were 13 who scored the own goal that knocked you |
out of the cup” or “who
stole the master’s cigarettes and was caught smoking
them behind the shed when you were in sixth class?”
All that said I don’t think I’m going to have any more
problems with all this because I’ve created a file on my
computer where I’ve put down all my Pin numbers,
passwords and answers to my security questions. For
security reasons of course I have not named this “Pin
Nos, Security answers and passwords.doc”
And now if I can just remember what I actually did call
it...I might be able to ring up and check my bank
balance. |
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A DROP OF
PORTER is
the weekly
column of
Inishowen
Independent
editor,
Liam Porter. |
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