r/mildlyinfuriating Mar 08 '16

Overdone Fuck it, hackers win.

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14.6k Upvotes

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u/littlecat84 Mar 08 '16

My bank makes you use your account number as your login name. I have to have a written copy of the number every time I want to access my online account. So secure!

20

u/diamond Mar 08 '16

Well, it's not like your account number is some huge secret. You give it out any time you write a check.

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u/zanotam Mar 08 '16

All of Europe and a decent amount of the younger adults in North America don't exactly write checks often.....

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u/diamond Mar 08 '16

But they can. And if they do, their account number is written on the check. Therefore, an account number should never be treated as confidential or secret information.

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u/zanotam Mar 08 '16

Doesn't make it fun to remember though which I believe is the problem with using it as a username :p

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u/TokyoJokeyo Mar 08 '16

Substitute "make an electronic funds transfer" for "write a check" if you like, but it's still true.

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u/arbivark Mar 09 '16

I have a checking account, but no checks. I found checks were too easily stolen and forged. They were pieces of paper stored in a drawer. These password systems make it far more likely people will write it on a piece of paper and store it in a drawer where a thief will look for it.

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u/Cobra_McJingleballs Mar 08 '16

I'm not even that old and remember memorizing friends' phone numbers in case you were calling away from home (where your phone book was).

Seems like memorizing something as important as a bank account # wouldn't be too demanding. And if you're worried about having to have a written version of it every time you login, it's already on every personal check in your checkbook.

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u/[deleted] Mar 08 '16

You should easily to be able to remember your bank account number if you log in with any kind of regularity. I know my bank account number, the login number, and credit card number.

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u/Fillyfiddler69 Mar 08 '16

Yeah but that's just the login name. That's not what needs to be secure. Your PIN/password needs to be secure and not written down anywhere. (And weird regulations make people write down passwords.)

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u/seal_eggs Mar 09 '16

Memorize your SSN, bank account number, and similar. It's not even very difficult and saves loads of time. Imagine if you had to look up your phone number every time you wanted to give it to someone.

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u/dontknowmeatall OBAMA DID NOTHING WRONG Mar 09 '16

Mine uses that but as password you need both your PIN number (shout-out to all haters of the term "PIN number") and a randomised code that they send to your phone every time you log in.