UA initiates Account Security Update (Security Q&A authentication added 2016)
Feb 15, 2016, 11:36 am
#166
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: DEN
Programs: UA-GS; WN A-list;Hyatt - CC; Hertz - PC
Posts: 644
I was shocked when at the questions with predetermined answers. These security questions seem to be some of the easiest there are to break if anyone has any remote knowledge of the persons account they are hacking. I am actually more offended now that they made me feel less secure.
Feb 15, 2016, 11:45 am
#167
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: DFW
Programs: UA peon (+decades 1K), AA Exec Plt
Posts: 1,117
I was shocked when at the questions with predetermined answers. These security questions seem to be some of the easiest there are to break if anyone has any remote knowledge of the persons account they are hacking. I am actually more offended now that they made me feel less secure.
Of course you need to remember that you answered the random color green not your favorite color blue.
In general you really don't want to provide any more personal information when answering security questions.
Feb 15, 2016, 11:59 am
#168
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 16,901
I assume the wording is generic since they don't know whether or not you've changed from PIN to Password until you attempt login.
Feb 15, 2016, 12:47 pm
#169
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: EAU
Programs: UA 1K, CO Plat, NW Plat, Marriott Premiere Plat, SPG Plat, Priority Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 4,712
If you're suggesting you can lie and say "green" when the answer is really "blue", that's hardly an improvement.
Feb 15, 2016, 1:01 pm
#170
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Are you sure that is the current law in all 50 US states? Not to mention Europe and the rest of the world?
Feb 15, 2016, 6:58 pm
#171
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: DEN
Programs: UA-GS; WN A-list;Hyatt - CC; Hertz - PC
Posts: 644
United initiates new Mileage Plus Account Security Update
There absolutely no way I could remember the fake answers I would give. Of course I could probably save them in a word document on my computer, but I'd forget where that file was too.
Last edited by goalie; Feb 15, 2016 at 7:25 pm Reason: Fixed typo in post title
Feb 15, 2016, 7:49 pm
#172
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: DFW
Programs: UA peon (+decades 1K), AA Exec Plt
Posts: 1,117
I'm on a Mac and I use a program called 1Password which stores all my passwords and logins. It has matching programs on iOS and they all sync. Also you can add notes and photos. It is all encrypted. I use secure passwords and do not use duplicate passwords. I could not function without it.
Feb 15, 2016, 7:54 pm
#173
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Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
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As long as physical currency exists, I couldn't see any government anywhere in the world mandating online access. But I also think we're off on a tangent to the thread topic. Frequent flyer accounts will never (or need) have the same level of security as a bank account.
Feb 15, 2016, 9:37 pm
#174
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 83
Just went through the process, hesitantly. Actually had a hard time deciding which security questions to answer, and I don't think I can remember my answers. Couldn't it be easier for everyone if the questions were something like "What is your mother's maiden name" or "What is the name of your first pet"?
Feb 15, 2016, 10:42 pm
#175
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Including identity thieves. But more obscure questions (like "Why does the mouse when it spins?") with freeform answers would certainly be better.
Feb 16, 2016, 12:47 am
#176
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: SYD; Central Coast, NSW
Programs: UA, 1K 2MM
Posts: 947
Well, despite the issues raised by many on this thread, I bit the bullet and accepted UA's email request today to update the security access to my UA account. All went seamlessly and no problems logging in or navigating UA.com after creating a new password. The security questions seem excessive and redundant and curiously was not asked a single security question on the multiple times I logged in today - so what is the point of these questions?
Feb 16, 2016, 5:17 am
#177
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Well, despite the issues raised by many on this thread, I bit the bullet and accepted UA's email request today to update the security access to my UA account. All went seamlessly and no problems logging in or navigating UA.com after creating a new password. The security questions seem excessive and redundant and curiously was not asked a single security question on the multiple times I logged in today - so what is the point of these questions?
Feb 16, 2016, 5:19 am
#178
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I wouldn't say that. FF accounts have grown up a lot around security over the years and I expect security will continue to improve one way or the other. Do you remember when we all got our account statements in the mail with all the account details include the PIN printed on the statement for anyone to read (assuming they stole our mail)?
Feb 16, 2016, 7:40 am
#179
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The (stupid) reason for the questions is that if you ever forget your password and ask them to reset it, you will probably be required to answer those questions. And as some of us will not know the answers because they have no meaning to us, we will have go through a big PITA to get our account access back. And that exercise will consume a fair bit of labor on UA's side too.