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UA initiates Account Security Update (Security Q&A authentication added 2016)

UA initiates Account Security Update (Security Q&A authentication added 2016)

Old Aug 14, 2017, 3:31 pm
  #556  
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Originally Posted by Kacee
UA seems to have "updated" this feature such that it now asks me to answer all three questions each time I sign in from a new country (same device). Pretty silly given that this is an airline website, which by definition means it is used by those who travel.
Strangely that has not happened for me (on my laptop at least).
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Old Aug 14, 2017, 3:38 pm
  #557  
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Originally Posted by Silver Fox
Strangely that has not happened for me (on my laptop at least).
I'm two for three on this trip - Hungary and Austria, yes; Switzerland, no.
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Old Aug 14, 2017, 3:45 pm
  #558  
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Originally Posted by Kacee
I'm two for three on this trip - Hungary and Austria, yes; Switzerland, no.
NZ is a no question country for me. Interestingly I just tried on my phone and it says "United services are currently unavailable". I'll try later and see what happens.
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Old Aug 14, 2017, 11:44 pm
  #559  
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So, tried again on my mobile in NZ and it does not prompt me for the 2FA questions.
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Old Nov 24, 2018, 7:37 pm
  #560  
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Was asked my security questions when booking with an agent over the phone. Even after their system had correctly recognized my phone number.
It's like when the TSA asks me where I'm going as they review my boarding pass.
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Old Nov 24, 2018, 7:47 pm
  #561  
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Originally Posted by TBD
Was asked my security questions when booking with an agent over the phone.
Doesn't that defeat the whole purpose?
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Old Nov 24, 2018, 7:48 pm
  #562  
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Hm, never been asked for my destination by TSA, but have been asked for my secret answers.

Agent probably wan't aware that your phone # was recognized.
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Old Nov 24, 2018, 7:51 pm
  #563  
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Originally Posted by EmailKid
never been asked for my destination by TSA,
Standard psychology test. They don't care what the answer is, they're just watching how you react.
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Old Nov 24, 2018, 8:09 pm
  #564  
 
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Originally Posted by mahasamatman
Doesn't that defeat the whole purpose?
You mean because the agents can see your answers?
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Old Nov 24, 2018, 9:15 pm
  #565  
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Originally Posted by zitsky
You mean because the agents can see your answers?
That, and they require you to speak it over an unencrypted line. There's a reason reputable sites use https and not http.
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Old Nov 24, 2018, 9:24 pm
  #566  
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Originally Posted by zitsky
You mean because the agents can see your answers?
The agents are not shown the correct answer, they use your answer and if it verifies, things are good.
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Old Nov 25, 2018, 9:15 am
  #567  
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Originally Posted by WineCountryUA
The agents are not shown the correct answer, they use your answer and if it verifies, things are good.
....isn't the end result (either way) that the agent has your "secret" answers?
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Old Nov 25, 2018, 11:59 am
  #568  
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Originally Posted by TBD
....isn't the end result (either way) that the agent has your "secret" answers?
The agent only has what you provide for answers and only knows if that information is correct once it is entered into the computer. I'm not sure that I really care that an agent somewhere can know that my favourite movie type is "Bad". Agents have always had access t private/personal information.
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Old Nov 25, 2018, 12:53 pm
  #569  
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Originally Posted by Xyzzy
I'm not sure that I really care that an agent somewhere can know that my favourite movie type is "Bad".
Do you happily hand out your passwords and PINs to anyone who asks?
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Old Nov 25, 2018, 12:56 pm
  #570  
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Originally Posted by mahasamatman
Do you happily hand out your passwords and PINs to anyone who asks?
No - but when I call UA and ask to use miles or something else in my account I hand out the authentication information that they request. I'm happy to do that so they don't allow just anyone to access my account in that manner. That was the context in which I made the comment you quted.
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