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Computer security question - Printable Version

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Computer security question - samintx - 04-17-2009

Passwords, cc numbers, addresses can be tucked away in computer files when you shop or use a bank website. I was wondering why your "security questions"...the answers are not recorded some place for a cyber thief to steal.

...or are YOUR ANSWERS to the questions only recorded on the server of the bank etc? (Like a radio can only receive and and not send) Nothing can catch the security answers flying over the airwaves on the way to a server?

Don't know if I'm explaining very well but what keeps Security answers sacrosanct? a software program, encryption?


Re: Computer security question - Doc - 04-17-2009

Online banking is not totally secure, but so long as your own computer hasn't been compromised and you're definitely on the bank's website and you see https at the beginning of the URL and your web browser reports that the connection is encrypted, all information that you send should be reasonably secure.

Of course, the information that you keep around and the info that they keep in their databases is up for grabs.

http://www.verisign.com/ssl/ssl-information-center/how-ssl-security-works/

http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2006/09/71769?currentPage=all

http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2009/02/heartland-breac.html

http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/06/citibank-atm-se.html

http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2009/04/pins.html


Re: Computer security question - Seacrest - 04-17-2009

The easiest way to rob a bank is to pwn one.