Creating Strong Security Questions and Answers
Security questions are a vital layer of protection for your online accounts. However, if chosen poorly, they can become a vulnerability. This article provides practical advice on how to create strong and memorable security questions and answers to safeguard your digital life.
Choosing Questions That Are Difficult to Guess
The first step in creating strong security questions is selecting questions that are difficult for someone else to guess. Avoid questions that can be answered with information easily found online or through social media.
Avoid Obvious Choices
Steer clear of commonly used security questions, as hackers are familiar with them and often target them in their attacks. Examples of questions to avoid include:
What is your mother's maiden name?
What is your pet's name?
What is your favourite colour?
What is your date of birth?
What is your place of birth?
These questions are often predictable, and the answers can sometimes be discovered through social media profiles or public records.
Opt for Less Common Questions
Instead of obvious choices, select questions that are more personal and less likely to be known by others. Consider these alternatives:
What was the make and model of your first car?
What is the name of your favourite childhood book?
What is the first concert you ever attended?
What is the name of the street you lived on in primary school?
What is your favourite holiday destination?
These questions require more specific knowledge and are less likely to be guessed correctly.
Think Outside the Box
Don't be afraid to get creative with your questions. The more unique and personal the question, the more secure your account will be. For example:
What is the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to you?
What is your dream job?
- What is the name of your imaginary friend from childhood?
These types of questions are highly personal and virtually impossible for someone else to guess.
Avoiding Common or Publicly Available Information
One of the biggest mistakes people make with security questions is using answers that are easily accessible online or through public records. This section outlines how to avoid this pitfall.
Social Media Oversharing
Be mindful of the information you share on social media. Hackers can use this information to answer your security questions. For example, if you frequently post about your pets, a hacker might guess your pet's name. If you often share photos of your holidays, they might guess your favourite holiday destination. Limit the amount of personal information you share online and be aware of your privacy settings.
Public Records and Databases
Avoid using information that can be found in public records or databases, such as your date of birth, address, or phone number. These details are often easily accessible and can be used to compromise your account.
Family History and Genealogy
Be cautious about using information related to your family history or genealogy, as this information can sometimes be found in online family trees or historical records. Avoid questions about your ancestors, relatives, or family traditions.
Professional Information
Avoid using information related to your professional life, such as your job title, employer, or educational background. This information is often publicly available on LinkedIn or company websites.
Creating Unique and Memorable Answers
Even with strong questions, weak answers can compromise your security. The key is to create answers that are both unique and memorable.
Use Misspellings or Variations
Instead of providing the correct answer, consider using a misspelling or variation. For example, if the question is "What is your favourite colour?" you could answer "Bleu" instead of "Blue." This adds an extra layer of security without making the answer impossible to remember.
Create a Phrase or Sentence
Instead of a single word, create a phrase or sentence that is related to the question. For example, if the question is "What is the name of your favourite childhood book?" you could answer "The book with the talking animals." This makes the answer more difficult to guess and easier to remember.
Use a Combination of Letters, Numbers, and Symbols
To make your answers even stronger, incorporate a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols. For example, if the question is "What is the name of your first pet?" you could answer "F1d0_TheC@t." This creates a complex and unique answer that is difficult to crack.
Be Consistent
When answering security questions, be consistent with your answers. If you use a misspelling or variation, use the same misspelling or variation every time. This will prevent you from being locked out of your account due to inconsistent answers.
Lie (Strategically)
This might seem counterintuitive, but consider providing a deliberately false answer that you can easily remember. The key is to choose a lie that is plausible but not easily guessable. For example, if the question is "What is your mother's maiden name?" you could provide a fictional maiden name that sounds realistic.
Storing Your Answers Securely
Once you have created strong security questions and answers, it's crucial to store them securely. Avoid storing them in plain text on your computer or mobile device. Here are some secure storage options:
Password Manager
A password manager is a secure tool that can store your passwords, security questions, and other sensitive information. Password managers use encryption to protect your data and can generate strong, unique passwords for each of your accounts. Popular password managers include LastPass, 1Password, and Dashlane. Learn more about Account and how we can help you manage your online security.
Encrypted Note
If you don't want to use a password manager, you can store your security questions and answers in an encrypted note. Many note-taking apps offer encryption features that can protect your data. Examples include Evernote, OneNote, and Google Keep. Be sure to use a strong password to protect your encrypted note.
Offline Storage
For maximum security, consider storing your security questions and answers offline. You can write them down on a piece of paper and store it in a safe place, such as a locked drawer or safe. Just be sure to keep the paper in a secure location where it cannot be easily accessed by others.
Avoid Email or Cloud Storage
Never store your security questions and answers in an email or cloud storage service, such as Gmail, Dropbox, or Google Drive. These services are vulnerable to hacking and data breaches, which could compromise your account.
Regularly Updating Your Security Questions
Just like passwords, security questions should be updated regularly to maintain their effectiveness. This is especially important if you suspect that your account has been compromised or if you have shared personal information online.
Change Questions and Answers Periodically
Aim to change your security questions and answers every six months to a year. This will help to prevent hackers from guessing your answers based on old information.
Review Social Media and Online Presence
Before updating your security questions, review your social media profiles and online presence to identify any information that could be used to answer your questions. Remove or update any information that could be considered a security risk.
Be Aware of Data Breaches
Stay informed about data breaches and security incidents that could compromise your personal information. If a data breach affects a website or service that you use, consider changing your security questions and answers as a precaution. You can also review our services for more comprehensive security solutions.
Consider Using a Security Question Generator
If you are struggling to come up with strong security questions, consider using a security question generator. These tools can generate random, unique questions that are difficult to guess. However, be sure to review the generated questions and answers to ensure that they are memorable and relevant to you. You might also find answers to frequently asked questions helpful.
By following these tips, you can create strong and memorable security questions and answers that will protect your online accounts from unauthorised access. Remember to choose questions that are difficult to guess, avoid common or publicly available information, create unique and memorable answers, store your answers securely, and regularly update your security questions. These steps will significantly enhance your online security and protect your valuable data.