Question about an internet meme and computer security

[Airbornelawyer]

This may be a really stupid question, but maybe not.

There has been a meme around for years - I'm sure some of you have heard it - where you are asked to come up with your porn name. You are supposed to use your first pet's name and the street you grew up on. I don't know the origin of the meme - maybe it predates the internet for all I know.

But here's the question, or rather series of them:

Aren't these two bits of information among the most common security questions web sites like your bank use to confirm your identity? And, especially with pet's names, among the most common passwords? Does it strike anyone as odd that a fun little internet meme/parlor game also just happens to be a way of getting potentially sensitive information in an apparently innocent manner? Is it possible this whole thing started as a hacker trick?

[PedOncoDoc]

This may be a really stupid question, but maybe not.

There has been a meme around for years - I'm sure some of you have heard it - where you are asked to come up with your porn name. You are supposed to use your first pet's name and the street you grew up on. I don't know the origin of the meme - maybe it predates the internet for all I know.

But here's the question, or rather series of them:

Aren't these two bits of information among the most common security questions web sites like your bank use to confirm your identity? And, especially with pet's names, among the most common passwords? Does it strike anyone as odd that a fun little internet meme/parlor game also just happens to be a way of getting potentially sensitive information in an apparently innocent manner? Is it possible this whole thing started as a hacker trick?

No way in hell.
Signed,
Bruiser Rosebush

In all seriousness - interesting thought. I've never shared my real "porn name" (which is not listed above) out of similar concerns, but I never thought of it as a subversive plot for the collection of sensitive information.

[Sdiver]

Don't really know, but it could be possible. Hackers come up with all kinds if ingenious ideas to get peoples info.

I'd be cerious too, to know if this a scam/way to get peoples info. :munchin


BTW, to answer the question about porn name, mine would be .... Mrs. O'reilly 2nd Ave. :D

[BOfH]

AL,
As far as security goes, yes it is something you would probably not want to give out, in fact, the hashtag #PornNameGame was used in a Twitter scam back in 2009[1]. As far as the meme, I believe it does pre-date the internet, before knowledge-based security systems became popular.


[1] http://www.pcworld.com/article/164719/Security_Alert_Twitter_Porn_Names_Scam.html

[Badger52]

This may be a really stupid question, but maybe not.

There has been a meme around for years - I'm sure some of you have heard it - where you are asked to come up with your porn name. Wow, barristers certainly move in different circles. :eek:

Short answer to your other question is, yes, those are very common items in "secret" questions found in drop-downs (no pun) in software used by many things (including alot of .gov/.mil sites).

Now, what you should really use is something like, "Joe BiteMe" -
oh, wait, that's taken.

:p

[x0msg]

In case anyone is interested, LastPass is a great password management utility which I personally use and recommend to clients if they don't have something more robust already in place. I've got a 20 character master password which logs me into LastPass then all my passwords are randomly generated so no matter who knows what my pet's or street's name is, I'm covered. I also use a small USB device (YubiKey) for two-factor authentication with LastPass which adds another layer of security; if that device is not plugged in to systems I have not already deemed trustworthy, LastPass cannot be logged into.

The problem is that as humans, our capacity to remember multiple passwords is limited, so we create easy passwords and use them all over the place. LastPass helps to remove this limitation.

www.lastpass.com

[ZonieDiver]

I never gave that a moment's consideration. Duh!

Since those are two of the questions I'm asked, I'll divulge my porn name, which would require some 'work' for me: Honey Olive.

[Dusty]

This may be a really stupid question, but maybe not.

There has been a meme around for years - I'm sure some of you have heard it - where you are asked to come up with your porn name. You are supposed to use your first pet's name and the street you grew up on. I don't know the origin of the meme - maybe it predates the internet for all I know.

But here's the question, or rather series of them:

Aren't these two bits of information among the most common security questions web sites like your bank use to confirm your identity? And, especially with pet's names, among the most common passwords? Does it strike anyone as odd that a fun little internet meme/parlor game also just happens to be a way of getting potentially sensitive information in an apparently innocent manner? Is it possible this whole thing started as a hacker trick?

You could be right, Tarzan Elm. :D

[Remington Raidr]

Buck Naked

[PSM]

Tipton "Tippy" Laredo. :D Not bad, really.

ETA: My wife's is Tommy Cranks. :eek:

Pat

[Richard]

Jake Gerber

There's a ton of these name generator games out there.

http://www.blogthings.com/topics/name

I never do one that has a down-load or any sort of registration involved.

Richard :munchin

[PSM]

Jake Gerber :munchin

Geez, Richard, your real name has more "porn" possibilities. :D

Tippy

[ddoering]

Romper Daily

[Gypsy]

This may be a really stupid question, but maybe not.

There has been a meme around for years - I'm sure some of you have heard it - where you are asked to come up with your porn name. You are supposed to use your first pet's name and the street you grew up on. I don't know the origin of the meme - maybe it predates the internet for all I know.



The meme has been around well before the internet, however I'm sure that information could be used now...

[Dozer523]

Romper Daily girl on girl if I ever heard one,
The meme has been around well before the internet, however I'm sure that information could be used now... But you're not falling for it, anyway DAMN.
/s/ Rags Longstreet

[Dusty]

The meme has been around well before the internet, however I'm sure that information could be used now...

Thanks, Barkie von Schnauzer Sepulveda. :D

[SF18C]

Rebel Westover???:lifter

[PSM]

Thanks, Barkie von Schnauzer Sepulveda. :D

She's a Valley Girl?

Tippy

[MR2]

Talk about bassackwards...

Jerk Circle???

[ES 96]

I prefer 13 character minimum pass phrase with intentionally misspelled words, possibly in different languages, with numerals for numbers, and lots of punctuation (for the symbol req). Actually very easy to remember once in use. Purely random is much tougher once that string really gets out there.

As an aside, if anyone here has a wireless network, please use WPA2 encryption with a 13 min character/symbol/numeral PW. The last thing you want is a no-knock warrant being served at 3a because a few days/weeks earlier some pedo was cruising the neighborhood and regularly hopped on your open or easy to access network.

[PSM]

I prefer 13 character minimum pass phrase with intentionally misspelled words, possibly in different languages, with numerals for numbers, and lots of punctuation (for the symbol req). Actually very easy to remember once in use. Purely random is much tougher once that string really gets out there.

As an aside, if anyone here has a wireless network, please use WPA2 encryption with a 13 min character/symbol/numeral PW. The last thing you want is a no-knock warrant being served at 3a because a few days/weeks earlier some pedo was cruising the neighborhood and regularly hopped on your open or easy to access network.

OK, fine. Now what's your porn name? Sheesh! :rolleyes:

Tippy

[ES 96]

OK, fine. Now what's your porn name? Sheesh! :rolleyes:

Tippy

Snoopy Country Club Court :D

[mark46th]

Tommy Ponderosa- I bring the big wood...