United Airlines updated its security system for customers’ United MilePlus account, and people are not happy.
In an email to customers, United Airlines said it will adopt two-factor authentication going forward. Two-factor authentication is used to make accounts more secure. It typically involves entering a username and password, followed by an extra step like entering a pin or scanning your fingerprint.
But customers are rightly pointing out that United Airlines new system really doesn’t count as two-factor authentication.
United Airlines wrote in its email to customers: “If you contact United by phone, you’ll be asked for your password when using the automated system or for your security answers when you speak to a United representative. Your security questions will also be used as part of upcoming two-factor authentication to further protect your account — you’ll be asked to answer your security questions the first time you sign in from a device that we don’t recognise.”
But customers are pointing out that not only does United’s new system not qualify as two-factor authentication, but it’s unsafe to provide a password over the phone.
Dear @united,
This is not two factor authentication. This is idiocy. Please stop.
Sincerely,
All of your customers pic.twitter.com/ckct3R14BH
— Ari (@arirubinstein) August 10, 2016
Fixed security quest is good two factor auth @united ? Unsafe and complex to me #password #nonsense #mfa pic.twitter.com/wumXj3ODmB
— Anders B (@abjoerne) August 3, 2016
.@united while I obviously appreciate the security upgrades – https://t.co/gMketWeSf1 nothing here is actually two-factor authentication
— Bobak (@bobakm) August 3, 2016
United did not immediately respond to Business Insider’s request for comment.
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