New iTunes security questions

I just ran into the new questions this morning. Infuriating and ridiculous. I don't have answers to ANY of them...favorite teacher? first car? best friend? Are you kidding me, these sound like they were written by an 8-yr-old. I will buy music elsewhere and have enough apps anyway.

IRRELEVANT questions, makes it too hard to use, especially for families using one itunes account. Make it too hard and we will go elsewhere. Apple need to REMOVE these STUPID questions.

yes we get it...everyone knows it's stupid...but stop with the silly threats...you trained lemming are not going to leave apple!

Name calling and criticizing other users and their questions on the discussion board is not necessary nor welcomed.

People come here in a total frustration looking for help and you cannot blame them for venting a bit. When one cannot purchase anything, (by no fualt of their own)(music, apps, movies, tv) from Apple, using an Apple product, it becomes excruciatingly frustrating and even though the discussions board is not a complaint forum it is natural for one to blame Apple for the problem that Apple has created.

I don't understand why you are even reading this discussion if all you want to do is critizise and call others names. Did you have the "cannot connect to itunes" problem? If so, is it still not working for you? If it is now, what did you do that was different to make it work?

btw.........me too!

These questions are rediculous, and impossible for me to answer. I haven't had a job, a car, or my first kiss yet, making it impossible for me to answer three of the five questions. Now I can't download anything from iTunes.

We have 4 users in the family on the same iTunes account........so, we all have to know the answers to these stupid security questions in order to download apps whenever iTunes decides they need additional authentication?

BTW, Each answer needs to be at least 8 characters, with at least 1 number and one special character.

so if you're from Vladiv0st0k?, drive a Lada?Niva1978, and kissed your favorite teacher MissHotlLips<0>, then you're in luck, but even better luck remembering the answers, especially after 6 months.

My suggestion is to have a generic answer for all the questions which each family member will easily remember, ie XXX, or Pop. Which goes without saying that the initial reason to have these questions goes out the window, ie added security.

when app store profits go down because of peoples inability to access their accounts, Apple might do something a bit more practical.

This is in response to the original poster's first question:

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

If you don't want to use the security questions (I too find it to be an invasion of privacy and I simply don't have answers for the questions they ask), there seems to be a way around it. Ignore the request on your ipad/ipod, and simply use itunes on your computer. I've downloaded several apps/updates for my ipad via ITunes on my laptop, and it has yet to ask me to create security questions/answers. If you enable automatic downloads on your ipad/ipod for apps, the device will then download them automatically as soon as you've downloaded it on your computer, without the need for syncing. This isn't, of course, an ideal solution, but if you don't want to deal with these stupid security questions, it seems to work.

That does not seem to work for me. I get asked the security questions no matter what device or computer I try and purchase apps or music on.

<sigh> that's disappointing to hear. i was hoping it was only an ipad/ipod thing. it's weird that i'm only getting asked to create them on my ipad. guess i better go download stuff while i still can . . . .

Let me start by saying I've been so impressed by Apple in the past few years. I own a few iDevices and am really impressed with the hardware and the software.

I have no problem answering security questions. I've done it in many places.

The problem is I have to choose the questions predefined by Apple.

I can't believe how amateurish that is. This is the dumbest UX thing I've seen in ages. Whoever came up with this needs to be fired asap.

Here's a hint apple: fix this screw up fast by allowing customers to define their own questions.

Rediculous system, I will look for alternatives. My current apple products will most likely be my last, loyal for 15 years, but you've ruined .mac, dumned down the OS, want to monitor and control all I do...not good....you've lost the sale of 18 mac's over the next year - I'll go elsewhere and change to more useable products....you're not unique so I'll move elsewhere.

My gripes aren't the need to provide them but the lack of choice and no notification.

I tried to download an app that a random in a bar recommended. After entering my password it asked for it again but did not come with the your password is incorrect screen. Thinking I may be too drunk to type I left it until today. Then I get asked to answer the questions and my first thought was scam!

There should be notification within ITunes proper and not at the install stage. This should include advice that question selection is not available through the phone. The questions I could answer/remember could easily be guessed by people who know/have known me.

As for leaving over it? Get a grip or email the CEO highlighting your frustration, the failings and what you thinks works better. I have done before with I'll thought out processes and it get results.

To post on Apple going downhill in 2 months...there were a fair mistakes under Jobs watch.

What for all this rumor. Just choose question, answer for it and enjoy your iTunes as usual ( dont listening all this idiots who write that you need use one letter or one number).

You should say to apple thank you for make hacker life much more complicate. Maybe all this angry people around this topic, have now more difficult way of life as is not so simple anymore to login in some one account??

Apple selling now more products, so more bugs like people, hackers and other stinky people start makes viruses and malware products. That's why more security is require.

Use your brain sometimes not only apple product.

Apple you MUST be kidding me! Is this the best you can do? Now I have to write down 3 ridiculous questions and the answers aI gave nd make sure I write them down on my iPad notebook so I can have them With me when I am using mu iPad AND set up a second email address since it does not take the ONE email address I have. I have security questions and passwords out the wazoo. I would expect Apple to figure out a better way to do this. Making it harder for me to purchase apps doesn't help me or them.