Choose a security question

I can't even answer most of these.  Those that I can answer, there is nearly no chance of me answering the same way a second time.

Anyone have a trick for dealing with these?

Make the answer to all the questions, "Purgatory".

One way is to pick an answer that you use, regardless of the question. 

For example: Just pick any of the questions and put Miata as the answer, no matter what the question is. 
 

Streetwiseguy said:

Make the answer to all the questions, "Purgatory".

I absolutely HATE the "What's your favoriet _____?" security questions, or any others that can either change with time or are entirely forgettable non-events in a persons life.  Any, or rather EVERY, so-called security 'expert' that thinks up those types of questions and thinks they are even an acceptable (let alone good) idea deserves a swift kick in the nuts from each and every person forced to answer them.

Of all the bad security question lists, that is one of the worst I've seen. Sorry I have only ranting but no help to provide, as I'm at a loss too. Good luck.

ProDarwin said:

Streetwiseguy said:

Make the answer to all the questions, "Purgatory".

Well, poo.

3 questions huh?

berkeley off

berkeley this

berkeley you

In that order. Alphabetical order will help remember should you ever need to answer them.

What if your childhood crush, childhood hero, worst movie you have ever seen, AND historical figure you'd most like to meet, are all the same answer?

I encountered one a couple weeks ago where I had to provide a codeword when calling in for phone support. No prompts, no categories, I'm just supposed to remember one random word, or remember where I wrote it down/stored it. 

No Time said:

One way is to pick an answer that you use, regardless of the question. 

For example: Just pick any of the questions and put Miata as the answer, no matter what the question is. 
 

This, sort of.  I just use current answers.  For a question about least favorite candy, I read "favorite candy" and go with it.

Pop Culture references. Just has to be something you can commit to memory. Also, I find smart alek/cursing really helps with this stuff. I can say no more.

You guys need password vaults. They work for "secret questions" too.

In reply to Keith Tanner :

LastPass FTW

ProDarwin said:

 

I can't even answer most of these.  Those that I can answer, there is nearly no chance of me answering the same way a second time.

 

Anyone have a trick for dealing with these?

 

KeePass synced to Google Drive.

There's a note field for that info, but you never forget your password so W/E.

I know exactly 2 passwords. One for Google and one for the KeePass2 .kdbx file.

Keith Tanner said:

You guys need password vaults. They work for "secret questions" too.

This. 

Also, the best way to answer security questions like these is to make each one a password that's completely unrelated to the question. Somebody can probably stalk you on Facebook to answer your security questions, but they'll never guess that the answer to "What is your earliest memory?" Is "MiataE30P71"

Please show these possible security questions to my geriatric friends/relatives so they will stop taking Facebook quizzes which reveal the answers.  

Those questions are awful. 

OHSCrifle said:

Those questions are awful. 

See kazoospec's post.

Like antibiotics, all the easy ones are no longer useful because of dumb people.

I just fill in random non-answers and write them down and/or save to a file. And multiple levels of security verifications annoy me. 

kazoospec said:

Please show these possible security questions to my geriatric friends/relatives so they will stop taking Facebook quizzes which reveal the answers.  

I've often seen conversations on web boards about "what was your first car", "what was your first job", etc. and thought the same thing...people readily volunteer all that information that they probably use elsewhere for security.

Keith Tanner said:

You guys need password vaults. They work for "secret questions" too.

yea, they're great, until you have an unexpected hard drive crash and can't login to it anymore on your new build, because "new password can't match the old password" that they said was berkeleying wrong in the first place. 

Kansas.  Dust in the Wind.  

Pete. (l33t FS) said:

What if your childhood crush, childhood hero, worst movie you have ever seen, AND historical figure you'd most like to meet, are all the same answer?

Betsy Ross wasn't that hot...

Keith Tanner said:

You guys need password vaults. They work for "secret questions" too.

I really need to look into this, but I am using my work computer and I'm pretty sure policy doesn't allow them.  Especially for work related accounts.

I much prefer 2FA using my phone over this nonsense.