Crime

Your Facebook Profile Could Be Giving Away Answers to Your Online Security Questions

What is your dog’s name? What is the name of the street your grew up on? What was your childhood nickname? What is the middle name of your youngest child?

Take a moment and think about these popular security questions. They sound like the kind you would answer if you’ve forgotten your password.

Now think about the information you have on Facebook or any other social media site where you have a profile with information about yourself. Would people be able to find a picture of you and your dog, which you have tagged as Smuckers in your caption. Could they find a post on your wall from long-time friend reminiscing about the good old days on Evergreen Road and calling you Little Sue? Or do you have the photo of your child when they were just born, full name, birthdate and weight included.

Facebook Profile Information Could Have Give Hackers the Answers They Need for Security Questions

Would your Facebook profile information provide the answer this question?

You may have thought of all they ways Facebook could be used against you before, but perhaps this wasn’t one of them. It wasn’t for Glenda Kremer who said in a report by local Las Vegas ABC affiliate KTNV that she felt “invaded.”

As the KTNV report goes, Kremer attempted to log into her bank account, only to find her password had be changed on her. Calling the bank revealed someone in New York, where she was not, was trying to get her account information and they had answered two out of the three security questions for a forgotten password. The bank representative then asked her to think about her security questions in relation to her Facebook page.

Watch the report for more about Kremer’s story:

Kind of makes you wonder, doesn’t it?

Comments (20)

  • Mohammed Is A Lie
    Posted on November 8, 2011 at 4:22pm

    Things like these have to be used with a balance, or not at all!

    Report Post » Mohammed Is A Lie  
  • RedManBlueState
    Posted on November 8, 2011 at 11:44am

    I always put random crap on those security questions. For “important” websites (like my bank) where I might actually care about recovering a lost password, I write down my phony answers on paper old-school like and file it (for real.) I don’t leave it on the computer.

    I never give Social Media my real name, real personal email address, real birthday, or anything.
    If I forget my bogus security security questions, I just make up another nom de plume with a new anonymous hotmail account.

    Report Post » RedManBlueState  
  • HAPPYRWE
    Posted on November 8, 2011 at 10:53am

    The internet is an open book to the government. Bank info, personal blogs, etc. I think we are really naive if we think we are safe from being hacked by anyone with power and tech skills. I think this is why Beck advertises Life Lock.

    Report Post » HAPPYRWE  
  • cobra two
    Posted on November 8, 2011 at 9:17am

    Attention all Foolbook users. I can only come up with one word for you all. STUPID.

    Report Post »  
    • SC 11 BRAVO
      Posted on November 9, 2011 at 1:26am

      Really Cobra , wow you seem to be WAY OFF THE GRID,, what do you connect to the internet with? Your Micro-wave oven? Do you use a cell phone or smoke signals? Ever use plastic instead of cash? Have you got a modern car, with micro-processors that monitor every parameter of the vehicle ( and can be downloaded at the dealership, or after a collision), or are ya still riding in that Conestoga wagon? How about that cable or satellite TV?, or are ya still on “rabbit ears”? IT IS THE INFORMATION AGE, you don’t have to be on “FOOLBOOK” to be monitored and tracked. Just because nobody wanted to “FRIEND” you on Facebook is no reason to criticize others, we are all being tracked.

      Report Post » SC 11 BRAVO  
  • tbb
    Posted on November 8, 2011 at 5:48am

    I never answer the security questions truthfully. I always make up silly stupid answers and I never answer the same question the same way. I don‘t use FB it is too scary and I have blocked the site so my kids can’t use it either.

    Report Post »  
  • Ducky 1
    Posted on November 7, 2011 at 10:40pm

    I only post things I am willing to share with ANYONE. I do not do the silly quizzes because many can see them and I usually throw a little misinformation out there. FB is a scary place to be. Be careful!!

    Report Post » Ducky 1  
  • GodsDotr
    Posted on November 7, 2011 at 9:52pm

    Facebook. How do you turn over all your personal information to a company that is so tight with the government?

    Report Post »  
  • ktmrider1
    Posted on November 7, 2011 at 9:04pm

    if you are stupid enough to put your personal info on facebook you deserve what you get

    Report Post » ktmrider1  
  • I am 'We the People
    Posted on November 7, 2011 at 6:34pm

    Oh I am on facebook, but the information there is twisted at best. :P

    Report Post » I am 'We the People  
  • T-rav
    Posted on November 7, 2011 at 4:47pm

    She obviously did not have her security settings very tight on he FB page, I have a FB page and guess what only my friends and family can see my info. I’m so sick of FB gettin blamed for this crap when 9 times out of 10 its YOU telling your life story on the internet. Here is a though STOP tellin the world your life!

    Report Post » T-rav  
    • loriann12
      Posted on November 7, 2011 at 7:32pm

      Yep. The only friends on my facebook page are people I have met and know personally, either from church, family or old highschool/navy friends I’ve kept in contact with. And my security is set for only my friends, not friends of friends even. and I don’t keep all that information, nor do I post many pictures.

      Report Post »  
    • SC 11 BRAVO
      Posted on November 9, 2011 at 1:29am

      AGREED, FACEBOOK is fine,, Idiots are IDIOTS , whether online or not

      Report Post » SC 11 BRAVO  
  • politicaljules
    Posted on November 7, 2011 at 4:47pm

    This is also information that is gathered with the “cut and paste this with your answers as the status” on those cute things your friends always forward to you. It is data mining and very insidious. I never pass those things on because they get lots of personal information about you.

    Report Post »  
  • PingPongPing
    Posted on November 7, 2011 at 4:22pm

    Who ever said you have to give accurate information about yourself on the Internet?

    Report Post » PingPongPing  
  • biohazard23
    Posted on November 7, 2011 at 4:19pm

    Another reason I‘m glad I’m not on FB.

    Report Post » biohazard23  
  • d35player
    Posted on November 7, 2011 at 3:38pm

    Duh!!!

    Report Post »  
  • GardenoftheGods
    Posted on November 7, 2011 at 3:29pm

    That’s why I stay away from Facebook, Google & other companies like them. The less information you give; the better off YOU are.

    Report Post » GardenoftheGods  
    • deeberj
      Posted on November 7, 2011 at 3:35pm

      Facebook is a waste of my time. If I want to talk to anyone I’ll call them or visit them. If they live far away we can write letters. Now for a self employed person, Facebook and other social networking sites can be used for business and to make contacts. It’s useful for that.

      Report Post » deeberj  
    • Brooke Lorren
      Posted on November 7, 2011 at 7:27pm

      I am on Facebook, but that doesn’t mean I have to put everything about myself up there. The same is true for my writing. Sure, I might write about topics and include information in there, but I try to keep the things that I publish things that are innocuous anyway. There‘s just some things that you don’t publish, like where you live, where your family lives, or other items that might show up on these security questions.

      Report Post »  

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