Well at 84 years I keep all my passwords on my mobile, besides a small hanbook which I lock in a drawer. Pitanjara
I have a Mac and use Firefox. Firefox allows you to save your passwords at the click of a button. Retrieval is easy. Go to preferences, saved passwords, show passwords, and you're in. There's a search box to search for the one you want. If you're on a private computer, you can click "remember me on this computer", and most sites fill in your password after you put in your email.
On a Mac, you can also use the Keychain application, but it's less convenient.
Surprisingly efficient and configurable, for Norton, AntiVirus, AntiSpam, AntiPhishing, Firewall, Backup, Registry Cleaning, and, tada, Password Control/Identity Theft Protection. I've been using it for several years now and am still more satisfied with N360 than anything else I have read about or tested every time I renew.
My Husband and I are in exactly the same position(failing memories!) so we have set up an excel spreadsheet where we can put every password and other pin numbers, alarm codes etc as they are created. Then using the security option on the spreadsheet have a single password that we both know. It is a word we do not forget but no one else would know - it is in a foreign language. Each time one of us gets a new password or changes one we update it. Works very well and costs nothing! We also keep the spreadsheet on an external backup drive in case our computer crashes.
I do exactly the same.
I'm very comfortable using Excel, it's local (not on any robothingy on a web site), backed-up and you can even add things like cards held in wallet for Insurance purposes. It's also great to list your change of address prompts web sites, phone No's, mailing addresses etc).
It ends-up being quite comprehensive and you need to remember to keep it up to date but it's definitely worth it AND your friends are always envious!
I can't recommend it more highly.
I would not rely on Excel security as your password protection. It's not a very high level of security at all; easily broken. Just Google "forgot Excel password" and you'll be surprised how easily you can break Excel's password protection.
If someone gets a hold of that file of yours, you're toast.
I'd really consider adding some other encryption to that file. Perhaps using file encryption software like TrueCrypt would help you immensely.
Adding TrueCrypt is not a very cumbersome step; the password is simply entered before you open the Excel file, but it completely encrypts the file and renders it completely useless without the password.
This is why none of us have really recommended using Excel; the encryption is far from being the strongest around, and storing passwords in it is like leaving your house keys in a cardboard box on the front stoop.
Roboform has a free version for a small amount of passwords. It asks if you want it to remember your passwords and it will also ask if you want to fill in passwords (and other information if you want. Roboform is a form filler that resides on your computer and does not communicate outside of it. You can set it to have to use a password to access it. There is also a pay version where, for a small fee, you have unlimited numbers of passwords remembered. This is a one time fee. You receive e-mails when upgrades are available and it is up to you to access them.
I suggest purchasing a USB drive, and installing a password manager (I use KeePass). If you just use the USB drive for keeping track of your passwords, you can find some for less than $10. Now, it might not be a bad idea to but a drive that already has encryption built in (just in case you happen to lose it / or it gets stolen ).
BD
I have managed to create a few (3 or 4) passwords that meet everyone's requirements. You can use a combination of a good friend's or relative's initials and his/her address numbers or phone numbers and then your key, perhaps written down, will be that person's name.
For example for Mary Ellen Jones at 1234 56th St. password is ME1234J
Some combination of this should work - it works for me.
WaltJ
I am a devout Firefox user and as such stumbled across an add on that helped me manage my bookmarks called Foxmarks. They have recently updated it to work with Internet Explorer and Safari as well. This simple to use add on lets you sync your bookmarks with any computer that you install Foxmarks on AND allows you to log on to your Foxmarks account from ANY computer to access your bookmarks as well! So this means that you can have access to the same bookmarks on all of your home computers and even your work computer if you want. Foxmarks has recently become an indispensable tool with the addition of the ability to store and sync passwords as well. I don't know what I did without it!
http://www.foxmarks.com/
Hope this helps!
-Angi
For years now I also struggled with the password issue. I managed four business, 10 web sites, multiple bank accounts, vendor web sites, dozens of online stores, etc. I always said that if I ever develop Alzheimer's, I am out of business :o)
I recently discovered RoboForm.com and am very impressed. It has a free downloadable version to try before you buy. It installed flawlessly on my Vista operating system using Internet Explorer 7.
RoboForm was named PC Magazine Editor's Choice, and CNET Download.com's Software of the Year.
While not perfect, the problems are usually associated with web sites that require more log-in info than just username and password.
I quickly upgraded to the Pro version to get all of the features and benefits.
I would suggest anyone looking to simplify their passwords, this software should be seriously considered.
Tom Franks
Clayton Communications, Inc.
If only one could use it on a Mac....my life would be "complete"!!
D.
Just use Address Book. It will sync with your Macbook, your iMac and iPhone if you are using sync or "me".
Anyway, say for example your cNet user name was horse and your password was donkey, enter a new contact called cNet and in the notes type h***e/d****y
As long as you can remember cNet, you find this. Sounds silly, but the more you have, the more it makes sense.
I have a list in Google Docs of usernames and passwords. This way I just need to remember one username and password (for Google Documents) and then I can have a list anywhere I have Internet connection.
https://www.google.com/accounts/ServiceLogin?service=writely&passive=true&nui=1&continue=http%3A%2F%2Fdocs.google.com%2F&followup=http%3A%2F%2Fdocs.google.com%2F<mpl=homepage&rm=false
Create one PW using the following rules.
at least 8 chara
at least one number
at least one upper case chara
use it for everything
for a little extra security end the PW with three alpha chara, and change them for the sight, ie
Mywayin2cnn
Mywayin2nyt
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