Secret questions invariably thwart me, maybe because they always ask for something that I can't remember, that changes, or that doesn't apply to me. Which phone number - my cell or land line? Address - did I set this up before or after I moved? I went to 11 different schools, my favourite colour and food change often, and my husband took my last name, so he's the one with the maiden name, not me... (Maybe I'm odd, but all of this is true.) The only secret question that has ever done me any good is "Type your own secret question and answer."
Bruce Schneier's article makes a very good point, too, that this is just a less secure, backup password. I'm not versed in internet security, but it seems odd to me that my bank account protects my atm access with a single 4-digit code, while Yahoo Groups went to incredible lengths to punish me and lock me out for having the audacity to forget my password. *I'm sure this is a naive question,* but some major sites will simply send a reset link to the email on file when i forget my password (after making me verify that I'm a real human by copying text from a janky image)... what's wrong with that? Cheers, Sylvania User Experience Designer ________________________________________________________________ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ....... [email protected] Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help
