# Do you find security questions ambiguous?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-find-security-questions-ambiguous/810606>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [March 15, 2018, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-find-security-questions-ambiguous/810606 "2018-03-15T15:16:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 4

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**Author:** ![LurkerInNJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ed655f/32.png) [@LurkerInNJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkerInNJ)\
**Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-find-security-questions-ambiguous/810606/61 "2018-03-21T15:41:22Z")

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> [@UDS](#):
>
> Guys, guys! The answers don’t have to be true, or even meaningful. They just have to be memorable (to you).
> 
> Pick a boldly meaningless word that you won’t forget - “rectitude”, say - and nominate it as your answer to any security question. It’s probably at least as secure as the truthful answer, since there are probably a good number of people in the world who know, or can find out, your mother’s actual maiden name.

Seriously. This. I didn’t know people sat around giving real answers to these questions or that you can’t just pick a random favorite pizza topping and keep a password sheet in your desk.

Pick words for questions 1, 2 and 3 and always use the same words.

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**Author:** ![Weedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/weedy/32/301_2.png) [@Weedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weedy)\
**Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-find-security-questions-ambiguous/810606/62 "2018-03-21T20:48:31Z")

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Isn’t keeping a password sheet on your desk a major security no-no? And what if you aren’t at your desk?

I have to assume the people being so glib about this have never been locked out of their account because they can’t remember how they formatted their childhood best friend’s name when they wrote it one time 6 months ago. It is rage-inducing, let me tell you.

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**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\
**Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-find-security-questions-ambiguous/810606/63 "2018-03-21T20:53:33Z")

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> [@Weedy](#):
>
> I have to assume the people being so glib about this have never been locked out of their account because they can’t remember how they formatted their childhood best friend’s name when they wrote it one time 6 months ago. It is rage-inducing, let me tell you.

It was. 10 years ago. And after the first time, I decided that my childhood friend’s name was ‘gilbert von snotbreath’, no ifs ands or buts.

If after the first time you get locked out because you can’t remember how you formatted the answer and you didn’t immediately decide on a format going forward and stick with it, that’s a choice you made.

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