Security Basics mailing list archives

Re: Suggestions for user password reset challenge questions?


From: Emmanuel Goldstein <goldstein101 () gmail com>
Date: Sun, 5 Jun 2005 21:57:46 +0200

-- What's your favourite beer brand?
-- Which ice cream flavour do you always choose?
-- Which brand is your hi-fi?
-- Favourite Tv Sit-com?
-- Which is the last letter that appears in your usual credit card?
-- When you get a bank statement, which is the last word that always
appears on the letter?

Dunno if these will help. The idea is asking stuff that nobody could
find out unless they really know the person. To increase security you
should ask at least 5 questions of this kind and expect all of them to
be answered correctly.

On 5/27/05, Adrian DuPre <adrian.security () gmail com> wrote:
Hi all,
    My company is in the middle of implementing an automated password
sync/reset application that supports user password recovery/reset by
answering predefined questions.  (We define the questions, each user
provides their own answers to the questions before they can use the
feature)

   What types of questions would work well for this application?  Our
company has offices worldwide, and I prefer to avoid collecting
information that is "too personal" in nature.  So while "what is your
favorite color?" would work well; "what is your home zip code?" and
"what is your bank account number?" would probably not work.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions!
-Adrian



-- 
Emmanuel Goldstein.
Room 101, Ministry of Truth.
W2, London. Oceania.


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