Nutty online banking security stuff

[firecat]

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.

Comments

[firecat]

I don't understand these people who find that inconvenience gives them a sense of security. Obviously there are a lot of them, or we wouldn't have security theater at airports or needlessly complex login requirements at some web sites. But having to take off my shoes and disclose my insulin syringes and remember bizarre password rules and input all of my private information to log in just makes me feel mad, not safe.

Your way is probably smarter.

[evilawyer]

But having to take off my shoes and disclose my insulin syringes and remember bizarre password rules and input all of my private information to log in just makes me feel mad, not safe.


Or having an airport security checkpoint person look down my underwear, but I console myself with the thought (and hopefully it's not delusional) that they don't like it any more than I do.

As for my way being smarter ---- Maybe. At least from a personal rebellion standpoint. When I run into to customer service reps who've never heard of checks, however, I'm not ssoure. I still do it, though. Just one small, probably ultimately meaningless thing that makes me feel a little bit better about my individuality in the global gestalt.

[firecat]

customer service reps who've never heard of checks

o_0

[evilawyer]

Scary, no? If you don't give them a card number, they need to put you on hold for 20 minutes to figure out what to do, even if all that is is to find and give you the address to mail your payment.