...

[toxico.livejournal.com]

Wow, people sure do get bitchy when you don't just arbitrarily give them a password simply because they asked.

"We're trying to install some security cameras, and the port over which the feed is broadcast is being blocked by this application. What's the password to unlock the interface so I can edit the policies?"
"How do you know it's that application doing it?"
"It's in the log file."
"Okay, fair enough. Can you send that to me?"
"What?! Can't you just give it to me?"
"Only after you show me the log file."
"This is ridiculous grumble bitch mumble inefficient blah."

~45 seconds of verbal diarrhea later~

"Yup, there it is! Here's the password."


See, was that so HARD?! Douche.

Comments

[tallanvor.livejournal.com]

Well, either they're the ones who are supposed to be editing the policies and therefore should have the password, or someone else should be making the changes... So, in this case, I can understand why they'd be a bit annoyed.

[toxico.livejournal.com]

Nope. They're in a remote location and shouldn't have any passwords of this nature. They aren't connected to our network and had thrown a fit about anyone here asking to do it for them.

If you're annoyed by copying and pasting the text already on the screen into an email and hitting Send, your priorities need adjusting.

Edited for spelling.

[tallanvor.livejournal.com]

Then it sounds like management is doing something wrong...

Either they're not supposed to have the passwords and someone at your location is supposed to make the changes no matter how much the people at that location complain about it, or they're allowed to manage things themselves, in which case they should have the access they need.

I like the policy I work under. When customers call in with a problem, we can answer questions, and get log files/configuration information so that we can replicate the problem and come up with a solution, but we're never supposed to go in and make changes on their systems ourselves. That way we can never get blamed for breaking anything.

[toxico.livejournal.com]

Well then, I apologize that we're less hands-off than your organization. I will inform management of your disapproval immediately.

[tallanvor.livejournal.com]

Now come on, there's no reason to be an ass just because we disagree. --Save that for the idiots who post here asking for help without reading the community info!

And I never said there was something wrong with a hands-on approach, especially if that's what you're paid to do. --Just that the particular policy you described doesn't make sense to me.

[amynnah.livejournal.com]

I understand that...

We get people calling on behalf of other people, and they throw OMG hissy-fits when we can't change the password on their say-so for this other person. Reason being? HIPAA (Health Information Privacy Act). This policy has been in place a couple years, and people still try to push it. If we cannot speak to (and verify) that the person indeed needs their password reset, we can get in metric fucktons of trouble.

That sounds rough... :( And some people don't seem to understand policies which are in place for a valid reason.

[ace-brickman.livejournal.com]

secretaries have the hardest time with that

"B-B-B-But he's in a meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeting!"

that's why we're a 24-hour support line, bia.. now get him on the phone or STFU

[jecook]

We are slightly more lax then that around my place- if a supervisor calls in for an subordinate's password reset (which happens more frequently then I'm willing to admit) we can (and usually do) tell them the temporary or default password, which is a "you've logged in, please change your password NOW" affair.

But one supervisor asking for, say their bosses password? there are exactly two people that can get away with that at my place- the admin assistants to the executive team, and the execs generally call it in themselves anyhow.

[grayhawkfh.livejournal.com]

Heh. Federal Gov't Agency: We may NOT change passwords until you prove you are who you say you are.

Read: We need photo ID. Preferably the one the agency issued you.

Don't like it? Tough.

[sdaemon.livejournal.com]

Why, how dare you take reasonable steps to avoid being caught in a social engineering scam!

[toxico.livejournal.com]

I'm a firm believer in antisocial engineering.

[pixilated-serra.livejournal.com]

baaaaha