Pins and Needles

3 Dec 2007

Vonage recently sent me an email asking me to update my account and create a PIN. They explain the new requirement…

Your PIN is a four-digit number that’s unique to you and should be easy for you to remember. Providing your PIN is a quick and easy way for us to validate you as the account holder any time you contact us.

It would seem that all the other identifiers on my account like my password or my credit card number are no longer enough. I need to create a new secret code that only I will forget know.

I can imagine the execs over there at Vonage planning this new security feature. To enhance security they’ll add this new secret code that’s the only way you can possibly access your account. But what if someone forgets their PIN? Vonage has you covered.

When you choose your PIN, you will also be asked to set up an account security question. In the event you forget your PIN, the correct answer to this question will help us validate that you are the appropriate account holder.

So my PIN is the only way into my account. Unless I forget it. Then my security question will let me in. Why do I need the PIN then? How about just using the security question?

COD
December 3, 2007 3:30 PM

Well duh! Then you’d need the pin number as a failsafe for when you forget the answer to your secret question!

Joost Schuur
December 3, 2007 5:25 PM

It’s often easier to remember a few digits in a pin (most people probably pick a memorable number with sentimental attachment) than the exact spelling to a security answer.

Favorite movie… best buddy at High School, even the exact spelling of your place of birth can be non obvious (the place I was born has a hyphen in it, which my bank doesn’t support), or change over time.


Your comments:

Text only, no HTML. URLs will automatically be converted to links. Your email address is required, but it will not be displayed on the site.

Name:

Not your company or your SEO link. Comments without a real name will be deleted as spam.

Email: (not displayed)

If you don't feel comfortable giving me your real email address, don't expect me to feel comfortable publishing your comment.

Website (optional):

Follow me on Twitter

Lijit Search

Best Of

Recently Read

Get More

Subscribe | Archives

Recently

Ideas, Risk, and Investors (Jan 1)
Over at SacStarts, I have piece up discussing a common question I get from entrepreneurs....
VoiceXML for web developers (Dec 17)
Building voice applications isn't hard at all. Any web developer can do it.
De-skunking a dog (Oct 27)
How to clean up your pet after a skunk attack.
Pressure sales via Twitter (Oct 16)
Sticking an ad in my face when we first meet is a good way to lose my interest.
Loma Prieta, 20 years later (Oct 13)
Looking at the earthquake from October 17, 1989
Red light cameras don't work (Oct 13)
Cameras installed to catch people running red lights aren't about traffic safety at all.
Jack-o-lantern pumpkin carving patterns (Oct 12)
It's a tradition, what can I say?
SEO realities (Oct 12)
The real search engine optimization. Works every time.

Subscribe to this site's feed.

Elsewhere

IMified
Build instant messaging applications. (My company)
SacStarts
The Sacramento technology startup community.
Pinewood Freak
Pinewood Derby tips and tricks

Contact

Adam Kalsey

Mobile: 916.600.2497

Email: adam AT kalsey.com

AIM or Skype: akalsey

Resume

PGP Key

©1999-2010 Adam Kalsey.
Content management by Movable Type.