| Author |
Message |
    
Cynicalgirl
Citizen
Username: Cynicalgirl
Post Number: 2955
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Monday, July 17, 2006 - 6:20 am: | 
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I counted this weekend, and realized that I have over 20 of these matches made in hell. At work I have:
1. E-mail,
2. Remote acess to my computer
3. eRooms
4. MSPS
5. PVC Tracker
6. Employee file
At home:
7. Bank
8. Car payment
9. Insurance co
10. AmX
11. MasterCard
12. Aetna
13. Mealpay.com
14. MOL
15. Amazon
16. MEDCO
17. Netflix
18. LandsEnd
19. 6 different medical condition related BBS
Is this insane, or what? And, while I do my best to keep track of the pairs offline (typically on an array of tired Post Its) necessarily they all seem to have slightly different rules and expirations. Will this never end? I love doing things online for the convenience, but I sweartagod the business of different expirations etc. just makes this crap proliferate! ARGH!! |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 15082
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Monday, July 17, 2006 - 6:41 am: |
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I'm a technologist with an amazing memory for things like passwords, but I agree, and I'm overloaded, too. I guess relief may not come until we use biometric devices, i.e. things that read our fingerprints or retinas when we authorize our access, rather than typing passwords.
I suggest storing passwords in something more permanent like a notebook. Postits lose their stickum pretty quickly.
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greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 8376
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, July 17, 2006 - 6:43 am: |
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I feel ya. Add to this the on-line accounts that set up for my mom, of which I also have to keep track.
And my biggest pet peeve is our remote login security at work. Our computers "remember" incorrect logins. After 4, you get logged out. But, to log back in, you must send a request, you get one part of a key code, your supervisor gets the other part of the key code and must print it out and give it to you (can't forward via e-mail). Then you can log back in. This is really easy when you and/or your boss travel a lot.
Never mind the fact that we can only log in from our Company laptops; no remote e-mail from home computer. You'd think a Fortune 100 company could invest in a little security software. |
Glock 17
Citizen
Username: Glock17
Post Number: 1450
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Monday, July 17, 2006 - 8:11 am: |
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YEap gamer here, lots of forums, memorized around 17. |
Cynicalgirl
Citizen
Username: Cynicalgirl
Post Number: 2956
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Monday, July 17, 2006 - 8:59 am: |
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I am definitely ready for some kinda retinal scanner or whatever! Also, my PIN for voicemail at work and a coupla other things is still the last 2 digits of my birth year and that of my ex-husband. Too annoying to change!!
I used to use my dad's middle name and increment each go-round to login to the budget system where I used to work. Eventually that god too stupid (12 years later!). Really, I love doing things online but the password stuff is out of control. Glad you feel/share my pain! |
Dave
Supporter
Username: Dave
Post Number: 10143
Registered: 4-1997
| | Posted on Monday, July 17, 2006 - 9:45 am: |
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I let my browser save them all (not the browser on my laptop, though) |
Ligeti Man Meat
Citizen
Username: Ligeti
Post Number: 736
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Monday, July 17, 2006 - 11:05 am: |
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Low-tech solutions are always your best bet. Like Tom, I use a small spiraled notebook for this kind of information, which I agree is a more permanent medium than the computers. I bought it at Drugfair. It has never disappointed me, unlike the computers. |
Cynicalgirl
Citizen
Username: Cynicalgirl
Post Number: 2957
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Monday, July 17, 2006 - 11:12 am: |
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Doesn't save the passwords (so far as I know), Dave. And I find that with things like Netflix or even the bank, it does save the username equiv. It's the passwords that kill me (and the need to update them, etc.).
My default -- when I remember it -- is to save this stuff in my Blackberry, which I'm least likely to mislay. Sometimes a slip of paper in my wallet has done it for me. Still, it's all a bit of overload to me... |
Dave
Supporter
Username: Dave
Post Number: 10146
Registered: 4-1997
| | Posted on Monday, July 17, 2006 - 11:17 am: |
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I should have remembered that different systems work differently. Macs come with Keychain, a system to securely store passwords for everything under a master password. |
Cynicalgirl
Citizen
Username: Cynicalgirl
Post Number: 2958
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Monday, July 17, 2006 - 11:33 am: |
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Well there's an argument for converting...Can't at work, tho' |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 7788
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, July 17, 2006 - 12:37 pm: |
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You can always save your passwords as notes in Outlook or in a word processor file but I find a small notebook to be the much simpler solution. |
Oldstone
Citizen
Username: Rogers4317
Post Number: 809
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Monday, July 17, 2006 - 12:43 pm: |
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what is wrong with the same user name and password any time you need one? |
mjc
Citizen
Username: Mjc
Post Number: 1237
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Monday, July 17, 2006 - 12:51 pm: |
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No personal experience with it, but my husband uses something called (I think) e-wallet to store password info on the computer (PC). I believe it works more or less like the Keychain Dave described above.
Personally, I have 2 or 3 words that I use for most everything. For systems that require updating, I add digits at the end and change them based on the current month. Even so, it's a little crazy making. |
Cynicalgirl
Citizen
Username: Cynicalgirl
Post Number: 2959
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Monday, July 17, 2006 - 12:51 pm: |
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Joan, interesting that you say that. I do keep them in my rolodex in Outlook, and counterpart in Blackberry.
Oldstone, they change over time as the update cycle varies from one entity to the next. Keeping synched is difficult. Also, some require more elaborate schemes...Obviously, none of this is the biggest problem going, just struck me this weekend as I was billpaying, doing some work and so on just how many I have. |
Dave
Supporter
Username: Dave
Post Number: 10151
Registered: 4-1997
| | Posted on Monday, July 17, 2006 - 12:56 pm: |
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If you store passwords in a Word file or outlook, whomever steals your computer will have access to all your accounts. And if you use the same password everywhere, if one gets cracked the person who stole it will try it on other sites and gain access to your accounts.
Macs use Keychain to encrypt all password data and FileVault to encrypt files or directories with vital information. |
Chris Prenovost
Citizen
Username: Chris_prenovost
Post Number: 1004
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Monday, July 17, 2006 - 1:43 pm: |
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My personal solution? Use anagrams of the same word for your passwords. You would be surprised how many variations there are on the same word. |
TomD
Citizen
Username: Tomd
Post Number: 565
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Monday, July 17, 2006 - 4:54 pm: |
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KeepPass
http://keepass.sourceforge.net/download.php
Is a great, free and secure program for keeping all of those impossible to remember passwords. |
Monster©
Supporter
Username: Monster
Post Number: 4066
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Monday, July 17, 2006 - 5:03 pm: |
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My little Black Book used to hold phone numbers, now it holds passwords.
I also use a simple formula to derive passwords, it helps to make it easier to recall. |
Dave
Supporter
Username: Dave
Post Number: 10159
Registered: 4-1997
| | Posted on Monday, July 17, 2006 - 5:11 pm: |
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the formula:
M-O-N-S-T-E-R |
Monster©
Supporter
Username: Monster
Post Number: 4068
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Monday, July 17, 2006 - 5:33 pm: |
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that's me
 |
Michaela
Citizen
Username: Mayquene
Post Number: 209
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 - 9:46 pm: |
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I have a generic password I use for Web sites where my privacy isn't an issue (newspapers, etc.). That will keep you sane.
But for e-mail, banks, etc., it's not so easy. I come up with a more 'secure' password (10 characters, no words, includes numbers or characters, has upper and lower case letters). I then change the Web sites I use frequently from time to time to that password. I came up with this after my school-to-be made me come up with a very horrible password that it won't let you save in a browser.
I would love a better way to handle this, but no luck so far ... |
Rastro
Citizen
Username: Rastro
Post Number: 3578
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 - 11:48 pm: |
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I use Roboform. Works great, and it can even generate random passwords of varying lengths. Integrates with IE and mozilla-based browsers (including Firefox).
Keep the encrypted files on a USB key, backed up on a ubiquitous web-based file storage site. The app can always be downloaded again, and the encrypted files restored if the app or the USB key is lost.
I use a very secure password for Roboform, but then I only have to remember one. |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 15085
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 19, 2006 - 8:12 am: |
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Oldstone, if you use the same username/password combination everywhere, when someone cracks your u/p in one place, he can try it other places, such as Bank of America, paypal, etc. Ooh, how handy!
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Wendy
Supporter
Username: Wendy
Post Number: 2787
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 19, 2006 - 10:00 am: |
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Tom, Dave beat you to the above advice:
Quote:Posted on Monday, July 17, 2006 - 12:56 pm:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you store passwords in a Word file or outlook, whomever steals your computer will have access to all your accounts. And if you use the same password everywhere, if one gets cracked the person who stole it will try it on other sites and gain access to your accounts.
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Shevya Birdov
Citizen
Username: Howardt
Post Number: 2213
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 19, 2006 - 11:55 am: |
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CGirl, how many eRooms do you use? |
Cynicalgirl
Citizen
Username: Cynicalgirl
Post Number: 2968
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 19, 2006 - 12:37 pm: |
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1 username/password gets me into the 30 or so that my group shares with our technology partner. Any other entity that uses them with whom we do work gives us access for life of the project. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 7797
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 19, 2006 - 7:49 pm: |
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The kinds of website passwords I keep in outlook are more of the free patterns, New York Times and Snapfish kinds of things.
I would recommend using a notebook or the like for more secure passwords and keeping those entries in code. |
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