The Case Study By MJ
#1
The Forgotten Password
(Based on a true story)
Fri, 8th August, 2025
It was morning. I just woke up. I had to check my grade results any hour from now, because it would definitely be about damn time soon enough.
I just realized that my little brother had been using my phone's hotspot while I slept. He's sneaky, he's very sneaky. I've changed that lock-in PIN a hell lot of times, and he still figured it out, so I had to go back in and change it another time.
While I changed my lock-screen PIN, I had realized a forgotten privacy password I used to use for my apps but changed my mind about later on. I input some numbers: ****** — WRONG. Huh? I had forgotten…
There were two options now:
Option A: input that 6-digit privacy password.
Option B: input the security question.
Aha! Option B! It says, “What’s the name of one of your teachers?” But I’ve had like a thousand different teachers. How am I supposed to know? Hmm, I do have teachers I remember though—my English teacher, “Ms. Pearl.” WRONG. My math teacher, “Mr. Francis.” WRONG. Maybe I should add his last name: “Berkeley Francis.” WRONG. “Mr. Wilson.” WRONG…alright, it’s back to Option A again: 654321. WRONG. Dang it.
856309. WRONG!
678953. WRONG!
634899. WRONG!!!
765441. WRONG!
Factory reset in 30m: 00s
29m: 59s
Wait, what? What type of security is this? No…okay, okay.
I’ve got some time to think about this. Now let’s see…hmm…My Duolingo Math is calling my name. I’ll think over some Duolingo math—if it isn’t my 300-day streak, finally here. I’ve been anticipating this milestone for a while now.
Hmm…math. I’ll check my yearbook photo to see if I can get any clues on past teachers’ names for the password.
Factory reset in 15m: 39s
But all this Duolingo is reminding me that I have to do a lesson on Brilliant Math as well. Bull’s-eye—a 96-day streak on Brilliant! I prefer to think over some math puzzles… I still have nothing so far. I wonder…what was I thinking that day?
Factory reset in 10m: 23s
Flipping through the yearbook has given me nothing so far. All I can think of is math—Duolingo Math, Brilliant Math. Wait. My math teacher. Okay, it’s Option B.
We have one option left.
Factory reset in 02m: 30s
Option B.
Wait, how do I get to the security question screen?
I have to forget the password first.
Wait, how do I?
Ohhh, I input a wrong password first, that way I can "forget password."
“200912,” WRONG.
Perfect.
“Forgot password.”
“Reset through security question.”
“What’s the name of one of your teachers?”
It’s my math teacher, “Mr. Francis!” WRONG.
What? It doesn’t make any sense… it’s all I could think about…
I am frustrated.
“Mr. Francis!” WRONG.
Factory reset in 01m: 10s
"Berkeley Francis!” WRONG.
Factory reset in 00:59s
“Francis.”
CORRECT.
Reset privacy password.
Oh…my…God. I knew it.
— MJ
---> Heart pounding, I tap the Grades app…and pause. My finger hovers over the screen...