Examples of Security Questions
Here's some examples of what I consider good, fair, and poor security questions that I've seen or read about on the Internet. See the comparison of questions for a more objective way to assess security questions. If you have comments or suggestions for other questions, please enter them in the Talk Back blog.
Good
What was your childhood nickname?
In what city did you meet your spouse/significant other?
What is the name of your favorite childhood friend?
What street did you live on in third grade?
What is your oldest sibling’s birthday month and year?
(e.g., January 1900)
What is the middle name of your youngest child?
What is your oldest sibling's middle name?
What school did you attend for sixth grade?
What was your childhood phone number including area code? (e.g.,
000-000-0000)
What was the name of your first stuffed animal?
What was the color of your first car?
In what city or town did your mother and father meet?
What is the first name of the boy or girl that you first kissed?
What was the last name of your third grade teacher?
What is the street number of the house you grew up in?
What are the last 5 digits of your driver's license number?
Where does your nearest sibling live?
What is your youngest brother’s birthday?
What was the name of your elementary / primary school?
What is your maternal grandmother's maiden name?
In what town was your first job?
Fair
What was your favorite place to visit as a child?
What is your spouse's mother's maiden name?
What is the country of your ultimate dream vacation?
What is the name of your favorite childhood teacher?
What is the country of your ultimate dream vacation?
In what county
where you born?
What time of the day were you born?
What was your dream job as a child?
What is the license plate (registration) of your dad's first
car?
Who was your childhood hero?
What was the first concert you attended?
What are the last 5 digits of your credit card?
What are the last 5 of your Social Security number?
What is your current car registration number?
What month and day is your anniversary? (e.g., January 2)
In what year was your father born?
In what year was your mother born?
What is your mother’s (father's) first name?
What is your mother's maiden name?
What is your father's middle name?
What is your grandmother's first name?
What is your mother's middle name?
What is the last name of your favorite high school teacher?
What was the make and model of your first car?
On which wrist do you wear your watch?
What is the color of your eyes?
Where did you vacation last year?
What is the name of your grandmother's dog?
What is the name, breed, and color of current pet?
What is your pet's name?
What is your preferred musical genre?
In what city and country do you want to retire?
What is the name of the first undergraduate college you attended?
What was you favorite activity in high school?
What is the name of the High School you graduated from?
What was your high school mascot?
What year did you graduate from High School?
What is the name of the first school you attended?
POor
What is the first and last name of your favorite college professor?
What is the title and artist of your favorite song?
What is the title and author of your favorite book?
What is the name, breed, and color of your favorite pet?
What is your favorite animal?
What was the last name of your favorite teacher?
What is your favorite team?
What is your favorite movie?
What is your favorite teacher's nickname?
What is your favorite TV program?
What is your least favorite nickname?
What is your favorite sport?
What is the name of your hometown?
What is the color of your father’s eyes?
What is the color of your mother’s eyes?
What was the name of your first pet?
What sports team do you love to see lose?
In what city were you born?
What is the city, state/province, and year of your birth?
What is the name of your hometown newspaper?
What is your favorite color?
What was your hair color as a child?
What is your work address?
What is the street name your work or office is located on?
What is your address, phone number?
Last updated: 10/20/08
