PC utilities: Help! I'm at my wits end trying to manage my passwords
- 2/27/09 4:58 PM
Remembering Passwords
by PatrickRsGhost - 2/28/09 5:26 AM In reply to: Help! I'm at my wits end trying to manage my passwords by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
The latest versions of Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox both offer to remember your passwords for at least 95% of all sites you sign into. This includes shopping sites, message boards/forums, e-mail accounts, and several other sites.
The only caution to this is if you're on a shared computer, then others will be able to access those same sites, sign in using your information, and that can create a lot of havoc, especially on the shopping sites. Some shopping sites, and especially banking sites, try to be more secure by having you set up security questions and answers. If you do this, make sure you choose answers you will be able to remember. Sometimes I have a hard time doing so on my bank's website, when they ask me a security question.
The only way to deflect your roommates from signing into those sites is to create user accounts on your computer, so that the passwords are only saved in Internet Explorer or Firefox on your user account, but not theirs. Each user will have to sign in with a password. Otherwise, if you're the only one who uses it, then as a precaution, set it up so that when you turn it on, you have to log in with a password (I know, yet another password to remember).
The other thing I would recommend is to try to create a universal password that would meet the requirements of most sites. Most sites recommend between 6 and 10 characters, and some may require at least one number. An easy one that would meet most requirements is to use your three initials and then a 4-digit year that has some significance to you, like when you graduated, when you first started working at your present job, the year your parents got married, or some other year that's important to you (e.g. abc2003, with 2003 being the year you might have graduated from high school or college). I would recommend not using a year most people would figure out quickly, like your birth year. If you don't have three initials (no middle name), then use just the two initials, or create a middle initial that would be easy to remember.
Invest in a fingerprint reader
by fiveliter8 - 2/28/09 5:29 AM In reply to: Help! I'm at my wits end trying to manage my passwords by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
A fingerprint reader can store all of your passwords, encrypted, of course, in either hardware or software. It is usually USB interface and sometimes is even built-in as it is in my M1530 Dell. A lot of times, your employer may provide it if requested. You can also register other people's fingerprints who need access to the same sites.
Fingerprint reader
by snigit - 2/28/09 6:29 AM In reply to: Invest in a fingerprint reader by fiveliter8I don't know about other peoples' experience with fingerprint reader but I work in healthcare & we have them everywhere. It was supposed to make life easier but it does NOT. About half the tim you have to go through and answer your security questions to get logged on anyway
Trying to remember all of your passwords
by heltonfive - 2/28/09 5:29 AM In reply to: Help! I'm at my wits end trying to manage my passwords by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Hi There-
Try using Firefox as your internet browser. I have Firefox and Firefox will remember your passwords for you. When you're on a page and after you put in your user name and password, at the top of your screen, Firefox will ask you if you want it to remember your password. You click "yes". The next time you go to that page to login somewhere, it will fill in your username and password for you. It's helped me out. I'm 36 and I can't remember anything anymore. Passwords are the last thing I want to remember with my busy life! Hope this helps!
Julia
Password management
by snigit - 2/28/09 5:30 AM In reply to: Help! I'm at my wits end trying to manage my passwords by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Easiest ways I have found are:
1. As contacts your phonebook on your cellphone
2. If you have a smart phone you can get an app of some sort to keep track of them. Of fours THAT app will require a password! This one is the best for anything you would want to be confidential, such as banking passwords.
3. Simpliest is to get an old fashion address book & write them in there as contacts. I do a combo of the 3.
Of course each has it's advantages & shortcomings. I'm not sure there is an easy answer. Storing them electronically there's always a chance of a crash & on paper isn't vet secure unless you lock it up
I do one of 2 things to manage my passwords
by Kanija - 2/28/09 5:33 AM In reply to: Help! I'm at my wits end trying to manage my passwords by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
First, I have an Excel spreadsheet that lists all of the sites and the passwords. This works for passwords that change on a periodic basis. I keep this file locked.
The second thing I do is to limit the passwords I use. I make sure that they are the same animal, and I use the same one. This mainly works for passwords that don't change. So for instance, I will use a password of Abc123*, if the requirements call for 6 alphanumeric characters with a special character and different cases, or any of the above.
passwords
by sunon - 2/28/09 5:34 AM In reply to: Help! I'm at my wits end trying to manage my passwords by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
William G,
first, a bit of encouragement. not as many lose memory as is thought. with each added year we cram more & more stuff into the brain's memory file and, as with all such overloaded files, it takes a tad longer to access.
that being said, a small trick is to go through a handful of your accounts (a few different each day) and put your memory to a test. i get hung up on some passwords occasionally and must really test my memory. and then again, there are those times i have to go to my secret stash where the account info is kept. upon my demise they will no doubt find this and be privy to all my electronic goings on. always good to end on a cheerful note, no?
mac in manhattan
Passwords simplified
by tomblasco - 2/28/09 5:36 AM In reply to: Help! I'm at my wits end trying to manage my passwords by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I can relate to your problem. The way I solved it was to have only 3 or 4 passwords. One with a combination of letters and numbers for the sites that require that and about two others that are something that is simple for me to remember. If you do forget, you just enter in your three passwords and very quickly, you can figure out which one it is and enter the site.
managing passwords
by renacahill - 2/28/09 5:36 AM In reply to: Help! I'm at my wits end trying to manage my passwords by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Hi
I had the same difficulty with passwords, and as it is not safe to use one generic what I do is have a word processing document where all my passwords are listed. As it is on my computer at home there is very little risk of anyone using the passwords as only my husband and I have access. If you share with other people open another user on your computer with a strong password (its the only one you will need to remember) and lock it away from other people in the house. As far as I know it is not accessible on the net - please dont tell me it is!!. I also created a desktop item for the document for easy access.
PS A brilliant way to remember 4 digit pin numbers for credit cards etc. is to enter a telephone number on your mobile phone, but make the last 4 digits the pin no. Put in a name of someone you dont know, but sounds like the card provider, eg Virgin = virginia, and you will never forget your pins!!
Two Choices
by KVE,Inc - 2/28/09 5:37 AM In reply to: Help! I'm at my wits end trying to manage my passwords by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
First is http//www.Roboform.com Automatically recalls all sign on names and passwords. Free for up to 10 sites.
Second is https://lastpass.com/ freeware
Manage my passwords.
by computerlegalexperts.com - 2/28/09 5:37 AM In reply to: Help! I'm at my wits end trying to manage my passwords by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
1. Keep an unlabeled "little black book" in your safe, in the house.
2. Complain to the company that either they allow the user to change their password or else, "your temrinated."
3. Use a bill-payer service with a single-sign-on, like Check-Free. it is a small price to pay when you're paying and receivng bills. Note: not all parties submit their electronic information to Check-Free. I have a devil of a time with CitiCorp Card services having them send billings to check-free.
Simple
by Mredd2 - 2/28/09 5:43 AM In reply to: Help! I'm at my wits end trying to manage my passwords by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I made an Excel spred sheet and pasword protected it. if you are really good with Access and Excel you could make a nice GUI to enter all of your info to the spreadsheet and even be able to run queries from it.. I am not so data base savey so Excel it is.
There are other programs out, maybe even free. But that is what I use. We also have a book with the info in it, But I don't live with people I don't trust.
good luck
wits end trying to manage my passwords
by karolb43 - 2/28/09 5:46 AM In reply to: Help! I'm at my wits end trying to manage my passwords by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
My memory is not what it use to be either.
I keep mine in an address book, easy to find as they are in alphbetical order. If you don't want other people to have access easy to put in safe place until you need it.
Hope this helps
Carolyn
Not exactly help, but my version of dilemma-solutuion.
by ikoniclast - 2/28/09 5:49 AM In reply to: Help! I'm at my wits end trying to manage my passwords by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Like you, I am having the nightmare. The one aspect of it you didn't mention is that you have to change your password every so often on some sites, either because of time limits or because you confused your log-in to that site with some other, thereby "blocking" your access, and by then when you actually have the right password, you can't get in, and there is no alternative but reset your password and aren't allowed to use the same one or any derivative. EEEEeeeee!
Here's my pseudo solution. I've made a file reflecting the names or uses of my various passwords, and the correct password for that account, and given the file an improbable name (believed to be far from decipherable or guessable), and stored it among hundreds of other files in a general documents file. I then send the file as an attachment to an email I send myself at another email account, not generally in use, even by me, which is accessible on the net. When I blank out or screw up, I go to my "secret" file and look the password up. This actually works (or has for me several times) although it is a heck of a lot of trouble, especially when you have to change a password, therefore, change the file, send another email etc. Like everything, there's a catch---you CAN'T forget one password--- the one that gets you in to the special email account. I think it would be fairly safe to write this down in some obvious place, even taped to your computer, if nobody known that this is your system.
If there is someone else answers with a wonderful solution, I will be with you (and no doubt many others) lapping it up! Thanks.
ROBOFORM
by bobdgolfer - 2/28/09 5:50 AM In reply to: Help! I'm at my wits end trying to manage my passwords by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I recommend ROBOFORM for passsword management. I have been using it for years and it integrates into Internet Explorer and Firefox. It allows the user to password protect the contents. It also allows one to securely add information on credit cards and bank accounts for easy entry into forms that appear on a web page. For example, if you are purchasing something at Amazon.com and you arrive at a page that asks for address information, Roboform appears and allows you to enter all the information with one mouse click. The same is true for credit card infomation. You are required to enter the Roboform password prior to the entry of any data into the online form.
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