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PC utilities: Poll: How do you keep track of all your passwords?
- 3/13/09 2:14 PM
Passwords
by Spinnekopwebb - 3/14/09 12:35 AM In reply to: Poll: How do you keep track of all your passwords? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Two passwords - one for sensitive info which I change periodically and one for everything else...
Not terribly secure but better than one password for everything.
Using a bit of imagination
by lewist - 3/14/09 1:09 AM In reply to: Poll: How do you keep track of all your passwords? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I view my passwords as falling into two groups. The first I regard as low level and I tend to use the same user name and password for all of these. These are sites such as discussion fora where I have little in the way of personal information beyond my posts. The second group is of sites that require tight security such as my bank and credit card accounts or shopping sites that may have personal information. These sites have built in security and it is getting better all the time. I use passwords that are in a language other than English and numerical sequences, both built round things that are significant to me but not to others so there is a certain mnemonic element in each. Thus I hope to keep this information away from anyone other than myself.
Interestingly, Paypal have just introduced an extra level of security where a code is texted to you when you log in. This code expires after one minute so it is useless outwith that short time. I registered for this service yesterday but haven't managed to activate it yet. Activation needs a text message which hasn't so far arrived. Hopefully they'll get it sorted because it sounds to be a good system for anyone with a mobile phone.
I generaly use the same passwords
by andy419 - 3/14/09 1:48 AM In reply to: Poll: How do you keep track of all your passwords? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I have about 3 or 4 general passwords which I use for most things (which I have memorized), plus a few sticky notes floating around for other stuff where I thought it was neccasarry to make up new passwords or for shared accounts on things etc.
Other - I use the lyrics of a tune I like ...
by Gerdd - 3/14/09 4:50 AM In reply to: Poll: How do you keep track of all your passwords? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I work for a large corporate and there is a requirement to change your laptop password, your intranet password (fortunately they consolidated from dozens into just one) and your mainframe password every 90 days and there are controls in place to ensure you don't just flip-flop between two.
One day I started building a password from the first line of a song I like, three months later I built the next one from line two, and so on - I am now on my second iteration, same song, but slightly different passwords this time around. It isn't a song a lot of people know, and my "spelling" is somewhat creative, so I feel reasonably safe.
If you prefer, you can take lines out of your favorite Shakespeare play or Mozart opera instead, as long as it is something you can easily remember.
Of course there are so many passwords nowadays for discussion forums where nothing really is at stake; those I keep in a file or let the browser manage them, no sweat.
Passwords
by Panama Canuck - 3/14/09 6:01 AM In reply to: Poll: How do you keep track of all your passwords? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I use Norton's latest version of Internet Security, which has a utility for managing passwords.
Keeping track of passwords
by jbpiper2 - 3/14/09 6:28 AM In reply to: Poll: How do you keep track of all your passwords? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I save my user names and passwords on a word document on my computer. Then I upload this document to an offsite storage at 'keepyousafe.com' where you can have free storage for small documents.
Passwords
by WAArnold - 3/14/09 8:57 AM In reply to: Poll: How do you keep track of all your passwords? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I created a spreadsheet with all necessary information. I enter the internet address, the User Name, the password for each location I frequent, and, any other information I would like for that matter.
As for keeping that document on my computer, you ask what happens if that computer is stolen or hacked, or my Children, Grand-Children, Great-Grand-Children is able to sign onto the computer?
I keep the information encrypted with 256bit encryption. Should be safe enough don't you think? Just don't forget your password to get to your passwords!!
keeping my passwords
by barmea - 3/14/09 9:07 AM In reply to: Poll: How do you keep track of all your passwords? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I use a regular address book with the name of site and password. That
is how I keep up with my passwords. I am not high tech so I doubt any one would want anything. I don't do banking on line- so none of that is in my computer. Thanks Barbara Meadows
I TryTo Be Devious and Efficient
by Greg Morgan - 3/14/09 10:51 AM In reply to: Poll: How do you keep track of all your passwords? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I write them on a password list and stuff the paper in my daily file, close at hand. I use a couple of generic passwords (for illustration only, "password") for sites that are not sensitive (the local newspaper site, organizations that have no material value in my life; if someone guesses the password they get access to...nothing of value). For other things, things that might have minimal impact on my life if security is breached, or sites that require certain formats for passwords, I write them on the password list. For sites that, if breached might cause me considerable loss or difficulty, I write them down in a separate document without association to the site--relying on memory to associate the particular arcane password with the account, and leaving no hint for an outside party as to how to apply the passwords, if found. I wish, and fervently hope, that some day I could simply say: I don't use a password--I have a fully encrypted ID card that works with my finger print and iris scan readers to guarantee me totally secure communications.
passwords
by glyntu - 3/14/09 10:55 AM In reply to: Poll: How do you keep track of all your passwords? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I have a series of passwords based on villages in the UK with which I have a connection and I add the day of my birth (not the month or year). I then keep a written note referring to them as p1, p2, etc.
I use brainpower and logic
by jae52 - 3/14/09 11:21 AM In reply to: Poll: How do you keep track of all your passwords? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Passwords are tricky and I am a little anal about using good ones. My method is to adopt the number, lower, Upper, symbol mix on all sites that allow it ( why all do not I don't know, on these site I use the numers and don't shift). Next I pick a phone number from some point in my life that was never in my name but will never forget. Older phone numbers had 2 letters in the last seven digits use them. An example would be: for (555)AK5-4231 the pass word would be: g555AK%$@#! Now if this was grandma's number (note the leading 'g') when you were a kid it may be one you'll always remember. I also have a similar method for 13 and 15 digit passwords that I do not forget. Try using the method shown above and see how it works for you. You can list them by whose number goes with which account without writting the password that is commited to memory.
remembering passwords
by rgoldsborough - 3/14/09 11:53 AM In reply to: Poll: How do you keep track of all your passwords? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Keeping track of passwords is simple enough if you use a consistant system. I use eight digits which
are comprised of four letters from the site name and
four numbers which are always the same and in the same
sequence. i.e. wachovia.com = a6i6v4o9, the last four letters from right to left interspaced with four numbers. This gives a unique password for every account and having used my brain once I can forget trying to find and remember a multitude of unique
passwords.
Password 'Membering
by maldelus - 3/14/09 12:05 PM In reply to: Poll: How do you keep track of all your passwords? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I use a combination of Roboform, Excel and brain power to help me remember and create passwords.
I use a shorthand method of recording them
by kimbelandcc - 3/14/09 1:09 PM In reply to: Poll: How do you keep track of all your passwords? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
My husband & I basically use 3 different words as passwords and 2 numbers behind. So I write down the first letter of each word & the number "w------01" or "n------10" & put into files by name to share with him for our bank accounts, broker accounts & shared files. This pretty well works for us even when we have to change passwords often. There are some things that this format doesn't work for, & we use a corrupted version of our SS #'s & initials that he understands as well.
I Thought It Was Only Me!
by rlydell - 3/14/09 1:49 PM In reply to: Poll: How do you keep track of all your passwords? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I'm getting up there in years and this Password thing has been driving me crazy lately and I didn't want to admit it. Saw someone post that some sites are now asking you to include things like @,!, etc. to passwords - ARE they crazy? I have been mainly using the same one all the time like the Desdemona suggestion and just adding numbers, etc. I also have some saved in a document. But as I said - things are getting worse as time goes on and I am afraid that I will not remember the important ones. At times I really don't have the enerty to retry looking into remembering my password and say "I forgot" and set up a new password. I am going to look into Roboform and see what that is about. I love this site - there is always someone who has an answer that will fit my lifestyle. Thanks CNET.
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