Aric Bolf

Q: New iTunes security questions

Hello,

 

iTunes is now asking me to fill in 3 security questions: http://s19.postimage.org/5jz0q6pr7/apple_sec_ques.jpg

 

1. How can i still use iTunes store and NOT use these security questions?

 

Why would i not want to use them? Well, i prefer to use a password only i know, not use insecurity questions like "whats your first car?" It's not hard for a whole bunch of people to know that one. Setting these insecurity questions is just giving anyone that vaguely knows me free and easy assess to my account. I DO NOT WANT THAT!

 

2. How do i make iTunes stop asking my account password every time i want to play songs, download something, or do basically anything in iTunes? It's really irritating to have to put in my password 50 times a week (and nobody else uses this computer.)

Posted on Apr 18, 2012 6:10 AM

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Q: New iTunes security questions

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  • by Arbuthnott,

    Arbuthnott Arbuthnott Apr 29, 2012 4:20 PM in response to Aric Bolf
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 29, 2012 4:20 PM in response to Aric Bolf

    The issue is not whether or not improved security is good or not, but the manner in which Apple is attempting to impose a half-baked approach as some sort of knee-jerk reaction. These sort of human interface issues are remarkably things that Apple has never been desparately good at. I have so far written two notes to the Itunes Store support people in the hope of a message getting through the nerds to someone who actually understands how people think. I am not sure that this has succeeded. I attach below the text of both my emails, in reverse order:

     

    The most recent is as follows:

     

    The general approach is sensible. Dictating people's questions is the issue. I await the next iteration of Apple's approach with interest.

     

    If you have any means of passing messages to the people leading this particular initiative, I would recommend to their attention the review of the actions at Netscape which impacted on customer loyalty & resulted in a cascade of reaction that saw Microsoft's Internet Explorer become more popular as a consequence. Also the work of Dr. Peter Sandman on outrage. Your "technical" people will be following an imperative of "improved security is good & in everyone's obvious best interests and therefore must prevail". In the real world, the people who choose whether or not to be your customers, and the more or less supportive attitudes that they have, will be impacted by what they see as inappropriate forced compliance.

     

    In its present form this is a doomed and damaging approach. I suggest that Apple should review and change it very soon

     

     

    The first was as follows:

     

    I am being asked to select questions and supply answers in order to be allowed to make any further purchases. The questions provided are contrived and inapplicable. You have created a barrier to my use of iTunes that will now stop all further purchases from me & I will switch to the competition, who do not subject me to this.
    Please stop this objectionable initiative and let me continue to purchase as I had been doing previously.
    As a PR initiative, this one really *****. People will look back at this initiative as the turning point where Apple's ecosystem began to lose momentum - you cannot afford to turn people off in this manner.
    Please take heed and find a better way of improving security.
    PS I don't want to be told why this is good for me - I just want you to stop applying it to me.
  • by SpareM,

    SpareM SpareM Apr 29, 2012 11:07 PM in response to Aric Bolf
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 29, 2012 11:07 PM in response to Aric Bolf

    Not sure what changes Apple will make but be assured that I will not be getting anymore apps, free or otherwise because I don't feel like answering a bunch of security questions that I will not remember the answers to later. if I will not be able to answer these questions in the future and then lose the ability to login to make purchases, I might as well stop now. I realize this will be my loss but how do you think the app developers will feel when this results in a lost of sales for them? if we can't login, how do we get apps? This is the second night I have been unable to download any apps. Guess I better get used to it. Thanks a lot Apple.

  • by Bobaloo,

    Bobaloo Bobaloo Apr 30, 2012 12:12 AM in response to Aric Bolf
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Apr 30, 2012 12:12 AM in response to Aric Bolf

    Sometimes I think Apple misses the mark when they try to be casual and hip, as they certainly did this time with this security questions snafu.

     

    REMEMBER: APPLE DOES NOT READ THIS DISCUSSION BOARD

     

    If you really want to be heard by Apple leave your feedback here:

     

    http://www.apple.com/feedback/itunesapp.html

     

    The feedback sent via this link will be read by Apple, every one of them.

     

    To leave feedback on other topics just replace the "itunesapp" with iPhone or iPad or macosx

  • by delizaza23,

    delizaza23 delizaza23 Apr 30, 2012 12:43 AM in response to Aric Bolf
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 30, 2012 12:43 AM in response to Aric Bolf

    I have been thinking, where did I kiss first: I honestly dont know. Who was my favorite teacher? God I hated them all. I have never

    Owed an album not into music. My first job did not have a title and I was travelling. I have never owed a car.

    Hoo hoo. Maaaan this is good fun. No matter what the question is just make the answer same. You could answer: not applicable. Or no answer.

  • by Dale19,

    Dale19 Dale19 Apr 30, 2012 7:29 AM in response to Aric Bolf
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 30, 2012 7:29 AM in response to Aric Bolf

    In order to have your security questions reset, you need to contact customer assistance for iTunes or the App Store through email.  Don't call Apple support unless you have a covered product, or else they will try to charge you money to have your security questions reset.

  • by sarafigal,

    sarafigal sarafigal Apr 30, 2012 10:15 AM in response to heatherwillden
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 30, 2012 10:15 AM in response to heatherwillden

    same problem here, for days! can't connect on mac or ipads. I get the new security question screen, but when I hit "done" it says "can't connect to iTunes store." VERY annoying. now buying books from barnes & noble and music from amazon.

  • by Cr8zylegs,

    Cr8zylegs Cr8zylegs May 1, 2012 1:05 AM in response to Aric Bolf
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 1, 2012 1:05 AM in response to Aric Bolf

    I am very unhappy. These questions are ridiculous. What idiot thought these up? I am supposed to use security questions that I don't even know the answer to?????? How the **** am I supposed to recall the city where I was first kissed? I've had dozens of cars I don't recall the make or model. ***. Teachers from my childhood? I don't remember any of their names and barely recall their faces. First job? How am I supposed to figure out what that might be? Shoveling walks, mowing lawns, delivering papers? Which one do I think counts as an actual job?

  • by Dave The Wave 0,

    Dave The Wave 0 Dave The Wave 0 May 1, 2012 1:13 AM in response to Aric Bolf
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 1, 2012 1:13 AM in response to Aric Bolf

    The questions are designed to be strange and you are supposed to supply a fake answer.  Tight security.  Write down the Q and A somewhere.  Avoid being hacked.  Welcome to the new age ...

  • by ManuCH,

    ManuCH ManuCH May 1, 2012 2:26 AM in response to Dave The Wave 0
    Level 1 (100 points)
    May 1, 2012 2:26 AM in response to Dave The Wave 0

    Dave the Wave has the right answer: make up fake answers. Make them possibly complex (as if they were passwords), and write them down in a safe place (for example, on 1Password).

     

    It doesn't make sense to answer them truthfully (if at all possible), as you won't remember anyway, and/or someone else could know the answer, too.

  • by Dale19,

    Dale19 Dale19 May 1, 2012 4:25 AM in response to ManuCH
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 1, 2012 4:25 AM in response to ManuCH

    Designed to be strange questions and you're supposed to make up fake answers, eh Dave?

     

    There are always a lonely few out there hanging out on the internet forums.

     

    For the rest of you who are actually looking for some sort of assistance, contact the App store customer assistance via email if you need your security questions reset.  When this happens often enough, they'll figure out a better way to operate.

     

    My account is fixed, I'm done venting.  This system was poorly conceived, I hope they fix it soon.  Bye!

  • by Tom Wolsky,

    Tom Wolsky Tom Wolsky May 1, 2012 5:52 AM in response to Dave The Wave 0
    Level 10 (118,353 points)
    Apple TV
    May 1, 2012 5:52 AM in response to Dave The Wave 0

    "you are supposed to supply a fake answer."

     

    Curious where you got this from. Is it in some Apple documentation, or did you make it up?

  • by Diamondrinc,

    Diamondrinc Diamondrinc May 1, 2012 6:31 PM in response to Aric Bolf
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 1, 2012 6:31 PM in response to Aric Bolf

    Found this on the web

     

    http://www.pcworld.com/article/254803/users_unhappy_with_itunes_new_security_que stions.html

     

     

    Apple is not showing signs of doing anything about changing this so called security...

     

    I have found no work around to solve this problem...

     

    I suggest contacting a news organization like CNN, I have already)  and ask them to follow up on this ( the link above and this forum).  Ask CNN, or MSNBC or ABC or Fox or who ever to look into this.  They have link to contact them with story ideas.  Maybe through the press, Apple will address the issue of un-happy customers.  With 14,500 views in one forum and nearing 5,000 in another, would represent nearly 2,000,000 users.  (viewers x 100).  How many are as frustrated as we are?  Maybe they (the press) can get Apple to respond to the complaints. 

     

    As an alternative one can send an email to their congressional reps...

     

    I will not be downloading anything from iTunes until this issue is resolved to my satisfaction...

     

    A person can contact the App developers directly and let them know of the personal boycott of iTunes...  All of these ideas will get Apples attention, if done in mass.  The real question is what will they (Apple)do about it.

     

    As a last resort, some one could post a link for the 99%ers to protest Apple... But I doubt that will do much...

     

    The frustration is, Apple appears that it doesn’t care and will take, what I believe, is the least costly solution to the problem of so called enhanced security. 

  • by Jonnysolar,

    Jonnysolar Jonnysolar May 2, 2012 6:37 AM in response to Diamondrinc
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 2, 2012 6:37 AM in response to Diamondrinc

    I've been dealing with customer service, and this is the pair of responses I received...

    Pfft, not impressed, and have advised they will receive no more trade from me until it is fixed and I feel more secure. Not only me that feel less seure with this "system" in place is it?

     

    > Hello ****,

    >

    > Brittany here from iTunes Customer Support. I understand that you are experiencing some frustration regarding the new challenge response questions Apple has implemented into our iTunes system. I appreciate your concerns with this and I am happy to assist you today.

    >

    > Apple and the iTunes Store takes the security of your account seriously. These changes are not meant as an inconvenience, but rather to further help safeguard your account details and activity. Just so you know, when a purchase is attempted from a new device or computer, the store selects, at random, two of the three challenge questions for your Apple ID to verify that you are the account owner. If the questions are answered incorrectly several times, your account becomes temporarily locked.

    >

    > When your account is locked, you cannot make purchases using any device that has not previously used the Apple ID.  It also prevents you from changing your challenge questions.

    >

    > You are still able to make purchases using a device that was previously associated with the account.

    >

    > Since you are not satisfied with the pre set questions that Apple has offered we are able to reset them for you. Once this is done, you will be able to sign in and add your own challenge questions. You will also have the option to enter a "rescue" email address. This option will allow you to send a message to the rescue email, should you forget the answers to the challenge/response questions in the future.

    >

    > In order to clear the questions for you, Apple requires that you provide at least one of the following for your security:

    >

    > - the order number of one of your purchases

    > - the last four digits of the credit card used for your iTunes Store account

    >

    > And two items from this list:

    >

    > - your birth date

    > - the billing address listed on the account

    > - the phone number on the account

    >

    > Upon receiving your response, I will verify your information and clear the pre-set challenge questions.

    >

    > I look forward to your reply, so that I can have the chance to help you further with this. Take care for now, and have yourself a great day ******.

    >

    > Sincerely,

     

    -------

    2nd response

     

     

    Hello *****,

     

    It's Brittany again with iTunes Customer Support. I'm sorry that you weren't satisfied with my last response. I'll be happy to give this another try.

     

    I know that you're very unhappy with the new security question policy that Apple has come up with. Please understand that this is to help safeguard accounts from unauthorized access. When purchases are made from a new device, the system selects 2 security questions randomly for you to answer, just to verify that it's truly your account. Many customers used to create questions that were far too easy to guess as you could imagine, and unauthorized access was, unfortunately, becoming more popular.

     

    So now Apple has made the questions so that the answers have to be harder to guess to a stranger. When the security questions can't be answered after a few attempts, the account is temporarily locked, to prevent from the unauthorized access. But since you aren't pleased with the casual questions, you can actually change them. As I mentioned, I can clear the questions on my end so that you can go in and create your own.

     

    If you want to do that, just let me know. In your reply though, I would need that security information. That would include an order number, or the last 4 digits of your credit card.  Also, I would need personal information too. A combination of two of the following is needed:

     

    Your birthday, your billing address, and/or your phone number that you have listed.

     

    Looking forward to your reply, to hopefully clear the questions so that you can create your own. Thank you and have a great day *****

  • by icerabbit,

    icerabbit icerabbit May 2, 2012 9:06 AM in response to Jonnysolar
    Level 3 (775 points)
    iPhone
    May 2, 2012 9:06 AM in response to Jonnysolar

    Jonnysolar wrote:

     

    > Since you are not satisfied with the pre set questions that Apple has offered we are able to reset them for you. Once this is done, you will be able to sign in and add your own challenge questions.

     

    -------

    2nd response

     

    ... Since you aren't pleased with the casual questions, you can actually change them. As I mentioned, I can clear the questions on my end so that you can go in and create your own.

     

     

    Wait a second ... so if / when you call Apple they will "reset" the security parameters for your iTunes account and you can then create your own security questions ?!

     

    How about just going that route for all of us? Instead of the stupid questions people can't answer themselves.

     

    ... sigh ...

     

    Maybe if enough people call in, Apple will come to its senses about the preformatted questions ...

  • by Alley_Cat,

    Alley_Cat Alley_Cat May 2, 2012 9:31 AM in response to Jonnysolar
    Level 6 (19,583 points)
    May 2, 2012 9:31 AM in response to Jonnysolar

    Jonnysolar wrote:

     

     

    If you want to do that, just let me know. In your reply though, I would need that security information. That would include an order number, or the last 4 digits of your credit card.  Also, I would need personal information too. A combination of two of the following is needed:

     

    Your birthday, your billing address, and/or your phone number that you have listed.

     

     

    ...and they still want this personal info to be sent via potentially unsecure e-mail that could easily be intercepted!!!!

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