Community
Wiki Posts
Search

Rate this bonehead

 
Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 25, 2008 | 8:12 am
  #16  
cpx
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: 99654
Programs: Many
Posts: 6,450
Originally Posted by Tummy
I would say that the blame should not be on co.com, but on your father for having a weak password / pin.

You should use the hackers credit card to book a paid flight to Paris for them instead.
Its possible that someone stole the mail (snail mail) that had the pin number
on it. In this situation, I think CO should have done better job.

But for OP's situation, we do not know who was at fault. But its a good thing
that he managed to get the miles back.
cpx is offline  
Old Mar 25, 2008 | 8:35 am
  #17  
Original Poster
FlyerTalk Evangelist
10 Countries Visited
20 Countries Visited
30 Countries Visited
15 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: DFW
Programs: UA Pleb, HH Gold, PWP General Secretary
Posts: 23,199
I just wanted to add that I was not targeting Mr. Bonehead. Any resemblance to those living or dead is purely coincidental.

The post was not supposed to be a serious indictment of CO.com password protection. I am not thrilled that it is limited to 10,000 combinations but that is the way it is. I meant this post to be indictment of the bonehead that used his own credit card to steal airline tickets.

I am in agreement with the person who suggested that they meet them at the airport, have them arrested at the gate, and then have my parents board the flight to Paris.

This was supposed to be funny, not serious.

P.S. Mad props to the OPSC who quickly and cleanly cleaned this potential mess up.
colpuck is offline  
Old Mar 25, 2008 | 10:32 am
  #18  
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: ATL
Posts: 3,219
Originally Posted by SuperG1955
CO requires the use of a 4 digit PIN. This is literally childsplay to get through. CO also requires that you verbally communicate this PIN to their CSR's in easily overheard phone conversations as the primary method of "securely" identifying you as the OP Account holder.
I had been using what I thought was a strong password to get into my account, but after checking, I could get in with my old PIN or the password. So you're right, security is very bad and there really is no point in a secure password if they still allow a 4 digit pin to get in.
Tummy is offline  
Old Mar 25, 2008 | 2:32 pm
  #19  
All eyes on you!
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: San Antonio, TX
Programs: OP, SPG, Amex MR
Posts: 372
I could write a program (not bragging, because even a caveman developer can do it) to crack an OP account in an hour or so. Multiple threads, can crack any account under a few minutes, unless CO has lockout policies.. Do they?? If they don't, THAT is really criminal.

Good lockout policy coupled with forced changes to PIN numbers every set interval should secure this vault somewhat.
smcgrath12 is offline  
Old Mar 25, 2008 | 2:52 pm
  #20  
20 Countries Visited500k30 Nights15 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: UA S; Marriott LG; IHG P; Hertz PC; AA, WN, Pan Am!
Posts: 820
Originally Posted by smcgrath12
Good lockout policy coupled with forced changes to PIN numbers every set interval should secure this vault somewhat.
Please no.
texd is offline  
Old Mar 25, 2008 | 2:55 pm
  #21  
2M
50 Countries Visited
All eyes on you!
15 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: NYC, NJ, Long Island
Programs: DL DM, 1.6MM, UA Silver, NEXUS, SkyClub & AdmiralsClub Lifetime, Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 6,652
Originally Posted by smcgrath12
I could write a program (not bragging, because even a caveman developer can do it) to crack an OP account in an hour or so. Multiple threads, can crack any account under a few minutes, unless CO has lockout policies.. Do they?? If they don't, THAT is really criminal.

Good lockout policy coupled with forced changes to PIN numbers every set interval should secure this vault somewhat.
Originally Posted by texd
Please no.
And there you have your annswer as to why CO will not implement secure passwords or a secure password policy.
SuperG1955 is offline  
Old Mar 25, 2008 | 3:04 pm
  #22  
20 Countries Visited500k30 Nights15 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: UA S; Marriott LG; IHG P; Hertz PC; AA, WN, Pan Am!
Posts: 820
Originally Posted by SuperG1955
And there you have your annswer as to why CO will not implement secure passwords or a secure password policy.
You don't have to change a password every 3-6 damn months in order for it to be secure!
texd is offline  
Old Mar 25, 2008 | 3:08 pm
  #23  
All eyes on you!
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: San Antonio, TX
Programs: OP, SPG, Amex MR
Posts: 372
Originally Posted by texd
You don't have to change a password every 3-6 damn months in order for it to be secure!
You are absolutely right. But in CO's case, specifically, the 4 digit PIN, is so easy to crack that a change policy should do some good for securing OP accounts.
smcgrath12 is offline  
Old Mar 25, 2008 | 3:09 pm
  #24  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
10 Countries Visited
20 Countries Visited
30 Countries Visited
15 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: AS Titanium, Marriott Lifetime Plat, UA Gold
Posts: 11,596
Personally, I think CO should consider ridding itself of the PIN system altogether and going with passwords alone. Only allow strong passwords (6+ characters that are not in the English dictionary) and you already have a much better system.
Hartmann is offline  
Old Mar 25, 2008 | 3:16 pm
  #25  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
10 Countries Visited
20 Countries Visited
30 Countries Visited
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: DEN
Programs: UA MM Plat; AA MM Gold; HHonors Diamond
Posts: 15,892
Originally Posted by Hartmann
Personally, I think CO should consider ridding itself of the PIN system altogether and going with passwords alone. Only allow strong passwords (6+ characters that are not in the English dictionary) and you already have a much better system.
What, like this?

แดนใกล้

I've never seen such a site requirement. Who has those?
Bonehead is offline  
Old Mar 25, 2008 | 3:20 pm
  #26  
10 Countries Visited
20 Countries Visited
30 Countries Visited
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: various cities in the USofA: NYC, BWI, IAH, ORD, CVG, NYC
Programs: Former UA 1K, National Exec. Elite
Posts: 5,487
Originally Posted by smcgrath12
Good lockout policy coupled with forced changes to PIN numbers every set interval should secure this vault somewhat.
Regular forced PIN/password changes is contrary to good security, as it results in people writing down the PIN. I see this with passwords; the moment IT implements such policies people start writing down passwords on post-its next to their screen.

It would also result in a significant increase in calls/emails to the OPSC.

PIN number: personal identification number number?
ralfp is offline  
Old Mar 25, 2008 | 3:23 pm
  #27  
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: EWR
Programs: Il Postino della PWP, CO, TrueBlue, Priority Club
Posts: 5,190
Originally Posted by Bonehead
What, like this?

แดนใกล้

I've never seen such a site requirement. Who has those?
English word passwords, so no passwords like "password" or "boeing", but something that can't be guessed like "pq12-@w" or so. Similarly it should try to warn against "words" that use numeric substitution like "c0nt1n3nt4l" (1 is i, 3 is e, 0 is o, etc).
AMF in NJ is offline  
Old Mar 25, 2008 | 3:26 pm
  #28  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
10 Countries Visited
20 Countries Visited
30 Countries Visited
15 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: AS Titanium, Marriott Lifetime Plat, UA Gold
Posts: 11,596
Originally Posted by Bonehead
What, like this?

แดนใกล้

I've never seen such a site requirement. Who has those?
AMF in NJ explained it well. A lot of sites and corporations have the requirement, plus, it's just good practice.
Hartmann is offline  
Old Mar 25, 2008 | 3:33 pm
  #29  
All eyes on you!
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: San Antonio, TX
Programs: OP, SPG, Amex MR
Posts: 372
Originally Posted by ralfp
Regular forced PIN/password changes is contrary to good security, as it results in people writing down the PIN. I see this with passwords; the moment IT implements such policies people start writing down passwords on post-its next to their screen.

It would also result in a significant increase in calls/emails to the OPSC.

PIN number: personal identification number number?
Yeah, I have seen that where I work. But if CO persists in using PIN numbers as passwords, I see no other way to secure it (especially if CO does not have a lockout policy, unless they implement a system of security Qs coupled with IP recognition)
smcgrath12 is offline  
Old Mar 25, 2008 | 3:44 pm
  #30  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
10 Countries Visited
20 Countries Visited
30 Countries Visited
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: DEN
Programs: UA MM Plat; AA MM Gold; HHonors Diamond
Posts: 15,892
Originally Posted by AMF in NJ
English word passwords, so no passwords like "password" or "boeing", but something that can't be guessed like "pq12-@w" or so. Similarly it should try to warn against "words" that use numeric substitution like "c0nt1n3nt4l" (1 is i, 3 is e, 0 is o, etc).
That's different from "characters" that are not in an English dictionary. The poster clearly meant "character strings".
Bonehead is offline  


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.