Concurrent Sessions and User Feedback

From: Susan Olson <olson.susan(at)excite.com>
Date: Sat Apr 05 2003 - 14:11:32 EST

I’m looking for words of wisdom/advice/ideas on how to handle this from a security/“best practices” perspective.

Basically, I am evaluating a web application that disallows concurrent sessions; it only allows for one unique logon session to occur at the same time using just one username/password combination.

My question…what is the best way to handle “feedback” for users attempting to access an account that is already logged-on? Currently, users get a message stating that the account that they are attempting to use is already logged-on. I am not comfortable with this because it lends to the possible harvesting of valid UserIDs & Passwords by an “evil doer.” Also, I have a similar issue with the “feedback” given to users when an account is locked out…”Your account is currently locked out, please contact an administrator” in that I only get this message when I have entered a valid User ID & Password for an account that is locked out – seems to facilitate harvesting as well.

If anyone could provide me with some ideas/strategies, etc. on how to implement this securely I would greatly appreciate it!

• Sue

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