You know those security questions, right? “What’s your mother’s maiden name?” “What was the name of your first pet?” “What high school did you attend?” We’ve all grumbled while trying to remember if we used “Street” or “St.” for our childhood address. It’s tedious, and honestly, it’s not even that secure anymore!
Here’s the problem: a lot of those traditional security questions rely on information that’s surprisingly easy for someone to dig up about you. Think about it – your mother’s maiden name might be on her social media, your pet’s name could be in old Facebook posts, and your high school is public knowledge. Cybercriminals are incredibly good at “social engineering” – using publicly available information to guess your security answers and bypass your password. It’s like leaving your spare key under a doormat that everyone knows about!
The Problem with “Truthful” Security Questions:
- Publicly Available Information: So much of our lives is online now. A determined hacker can find your birth city, pet’s name, or even your favorite movie through a quick search of social media, old forum posts, or public records.
- Limited Options: The number of common “first pet names” or “favorite colors” is relatively small, making them easier to guess, especially with automated tools.
- Identity Theft Risk: If someone already has some of your personal information (from a data breach, for example), security questions can be the last hurdle they need to clear to take over your accounts.
- Guessing Games: Even if not publicly available, common personal facts can often be guessed by someone who knows you even casually.
The “Fib” Strategy: Make Up Your Answers!
Here’s a fantastic cybersecurity hack that seems counter-intuitive but actually makes you much more secure: lie when you answer security questions!
Yep, you heard that right. Instead of giving a factual answer, create a completely made-up one. This will make it virtually impossible for anyone to guess your response, even if they know you well or have access to your personal history.
Here’s how to “fib” effectively:
- Be Creative and Random:
- Question: “What was your first pet’s name?”
- Truthful but risky: “Fido”
- Fib: “BlueGiraffe87!” or “PizzaIsLife!”
- Mix It Up: For “What street did you grow up on?”, maybe your fib is “JupiterLane”.
- Use a Password Manager: This is crucial! If you’re going to make up answers, you must record them securely. Your password manager is the perfect place to store these made-up answers alongside your passwords. It’s like having a secret, encrypted diary just for your security fibs.
- Consistency is Key (for your memory): While the answers are made up, you need to remember them or have them securely stored. If you’re not using a password manager for this, try to use a consistent “fibbing” pattern (e.g., always combine your favorite color with a random number). But honestly, a password manager is the safest way to go.
By “fibbing” the answers to your security questions, you’re transforming what used to be a weak link into a strong, unguessable shield. You’re making it much harder for anyone to bypass your password using easily found or guessed personal details. It’s a simple, smart move that adds a huge layer of protection to your online accounts. Get fibbing and stay secure!
