topic Re: User names and password in Electronics

User names and password

glb613 — Mon, 15 Mar 2021 23:32:15 GMT

The past month I've been trying to help friends with their computer problems. The biggest obstacle? They don't know user names and passwords! Several had a bunch of pieces of paper with names and passwords written down but, no indication which site or what it was associated. If this is you, get organized. No one can really resolve a problem without starting over when we can't access either the computer or a problem site.

Re: User names and password

ruthbe — Mon, 15 Mar 2021 23:59:14 GMT

one thing that i did to help me get organized with allll of my passwords..... I got a small address book. A-Z. For example....QVC...my user name and password for q card would be under Q. I also work at home on a computer. I have several different passwords I have to keep track of for work And these keep changing. This little book helps me keep organized.

Re: User names and password

IdahoGram — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 00:09:40 GMT

Several years ago I ran across some little books made expressly for keeping track of passwords. I bought several, giving one to my husband, my brother and sister-in-law and keeping one for myself. I have found over the years, that I am the only one to have used it. My point being....you can't make some people get organized unless they want to be. Good luck!

Re: User names and password

glb613 — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 00:19:44 GMT

@IdahoGram wrote:
Several years ago I ran across some little books made expressly for keeping track of passwords. I bought several, giving one to my husband, my brother and sister-in-law and keeping one for myself. I have found over the years, that I am the only one to have used it. My point being....you can't make some people get organized unless they want to be. Good luck!

You're preaching to the choir. I've told people for years and it falls on deaf ears. Beware, when people can't access your "stuff", they either can't help or have to restore and everything is lost.

Re: User names and password

Peaches McPhee — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 00:58:02 GMT

This is one of my pet peeves. At work, I am sometimes the go-to computer person. Someone will specifically come to my office for assistance because their computer "doesn't work". I ask them to input their password, and they don't know it!! Well of course your computer doesn't work. My mind shut down, and I tell them I cannot help them. No excuse for a professional.

Re: User names and password

Mom2Dogs — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 01:27:09 GMT

@glb613 I have an address book with all passwords and usernames written down. I have a lot of different companies that I deal with for work and would never remember all the security information with out the info written down.

I may not have much knowledge on how a computer works and how to 'fix' an issue, I do know that keeping track of passwords is really important.

It's kind of you to help people with their computer issues..I rely on you and others on this board to help me and I really appreciate it!!

Re: User names and password

Lilysmom1 — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 09:26:24 GMT

@glb613 , I keep a password book also. I also bought a small version and copied it into the new book and keep it in the safe in case anything happens to me. Yesterday I was booking travel for DH and I was on a website of a major travel company. The password did not work. It took us two hours on the phone and on the computer to resolve it and get a new password. That is a whole other discussion...sites very difficult to navigate...and it was a major credit card company. At the end of 5he day, their tech support was useless. We fixed it ourselves, S

Re: User names and password

glb613 — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 10:27:32 GMT

@Lilysmom1 wrote:
@glb613 , I keep a password book also. I also bought a small version and copied it into the new book and keep it in the safe in case anything happens to me. Yesterday I was booking travel for DH and I was on a website of a major travel company. The password did not work. It took us two hours on the phone and on the computer to resolve it and get a new password. That is a whole other discussion...sites very difficult to navigate...and it was a major credit card company. At the end of 5he day, their tech support was useless. We fixed it ourselves, S

I created a document in Pages, I have a Mac, and I add, modify or delete user names and passwords as needed. Some sites force you to change your password every 6 months and I don't have the memory these days to not write it down. Yesterday I created a Zoom meetings log in numbers and passwords. As the Zoom meetings continue to grow, I found myself with multiple pieces of paper on my cork board and decided I needed to prectice what I preach.

I'm currently trying to help a friend set up her new iPad and she can't remember her Apple ID. The same thing happened last week with a different friend. Each had multiple pieces of paper with user names and passwords but, didn't identify which company or site. You can only sign in so many times incorrectly before you are locked out. I have a feeling we'll be calling Apple support today.

If you are one of those who is not organized, please do yourself and the people who help you and get organized. Make a list, keep it where you can find it and modify as needed.

Re: User names and password

Sunshine Kate — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 11:31:57 GMT

@glb613 wrote:
@Lilysmom1 wrote:
@glb613 , I keep a password book also. I also bought a small version and copied it into the new book and keep it in the safe in case anything happens to me. Yesterday I was booking travel for DH and I was on a website of a major travel company. The password did not work. It took us two hours on the phone and on the computer to resolve it and get a new password. That is a whole other discussion...sites very difficult to navigate...and it was a major credit card company. At the end of 5he day, their tech support was useless. We fixed it ourselves, S
I created a document in Pages, I have a Mac, and I add, modify or delete user names and passwords as needed. Some sites force you to change your password every 6 months and I don't have the memory these days to not write it down. Yesterday I created a Zoom meetings log in numbers and passwords. As the Zoom meetings continue to grow, I found myself with multiple pieces of paper on my cork board and decided I needed to prectice what I preach.

I'm currently trying to help a friend set up her new iPad and she can't remember her Apple ID. The same thing happened last week with a different friend. Each had multiple pieces of paper with user names and passwords but, didn't identify which company or site. You can only sign in so many times incorrectly before you are locked out. I have a feeling we'll be calling Apple support today.

If you are one of those who is not organized, please do yourself and the people who help you and get organized. Make a list, keep it where you can find it and modify as needed.

I do the same and have for years. This method works best for me also.

Re: User names and password

Catlady Nicole — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 13:10:10 GMT

What a timely post for me! I've been researching password manager programs. I currently use an Excel spreadsheet which contains a hyperlink to each website, and my user names and passwords. This just doesn't feel secure enough anymore. I don't store this document on any Cloud, but that means it not always accessible when I need it such when I'm at work or using my phone out and about. In this digital age I feel like I need to step up my efforts and security.

Does anyone have any experience with password manager programs? Recommendations?

Re: User names and password

Still Raining — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 14:33:45 GMT

Several years ago I took the time to set up a unique username and password for each account/site.

Still keep them on a locked spreadsheet - with a password 😎

Remember your executor needs this information.

Re: User names and password

software — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 15:27:30 GMT

I was forced to write down all the information when I worked.

We had so many log in layers, it was crazy.

There were also other apps specific to my job to log in

The good news is, most of them stay open all day until you log out but a few were on a timer, after a certain amount of time, you would get bounced off & have to log in again

I had to write it all down, then did the same with my personal accounts.

Re: User names and password

MKR14 — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 20:34:06 GMT

Several years ago I bought a Rolodex that spins around for all my Log Ins and Passwords. It is fast to find what I want by just turning to the letter of the alphabet I need.

I make a different Log In and Password for almost every site. That way it is easy to find them in my Rolodex but they only mean something to me in what I use.

I was told many years ago leave a letter out of a word. Such as Precious and do Preciou instead.

I tried a notebook and even in alphabetical order I find it easier with just spinning the Rolodex around and putting the most used Log In and Passwords in first behind of each section.

Re: User names and password

Lilysmom1 — Wed, 17 Mar 2021 10:50:01 GMT

@glb613 et al, for some reason I don't feel comfortable to out this information on a computer. Anyone else feel the same? S

Re: User names and password

glb613 — Wed, 17 Mar 2021 11:25:33 GMT

@Lilysmom1 wrote:
@glb613 et al, for some reason I don't feel comfortable to out this information on a computer. Anyone else feel the same? S

If you don't feel comfortable saving on your computer, don't. You can always create a document or spreadsheet and print it out without saving. You'll have to manually make changes on it. I do both.

My main point was not to promote where you save the information but, how important it is to have this information somewhere easily located and organized. I can't believe what I see when I help people with computer problems. Little bits and pieces of paper with user names and passwords written and some don't indicate which site it's for.

The most important user names and passwords you need to have saved and available in the case of a computer problem are:

1. Computer log on or sign in

2. Apple ID or Microsoft ID

3. Network name and password

4. Any online storage service or backup

5. Programs' serial number or authorization numbers

My friend I helped with her new iPad yesterday finally got the importance of having the information organized and easily accessible. This is especially true when it comes to your Apple ID and network name and password. We had created a backup stored in the cloud and wouldn't have been able to use it if she didn't have her information.

Re: User names and password

geezerette — Wed, 17 Mar 2021 17:08:04 GMT

@Lilysmom1 wrote:
@glb613 et al, for some reason I don't feel comfortable to out this information on a computer. Anyone else feel the same? S

@Lilysmom1

I just keep a small notebook with all the sites I have accounts with. Nothing gets entered into the computer that way. But I refer to it all the time and if something happens to me, it would be easy for someone else to be able to get to my accounts.

It's also easy to change manually when I change passwords or other information.

Re: User names and password

icezeus — Wed, 17 Mar 2021 17:31:10 GMT

Good Post!! I have a password book that I purchased from Amazon a few years back. I have all of my password written down in that book, and I have the book stored in a safe location in my home.

At work we have to change our passwords every three months, I pretty much use the same password and change a number at the end each time I need to renew.

I had a GF last year that lost her husband to COVID. Thank God for her daughter, who lives out of state. The husband paid all of the bills and she had no idea about any passwords. (Silent Scream) Her daughter had to reset every password for her, and get her situated. If it's a two person household, it's important that both parties have all of the pertinent information.

Re: User names and password

shoptilyadropagain — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 14:13:48 GMT

There are password manager sites that you can use for this. I also use an Excel spreadsheet but it has a password on it. You should NEVER keep these stored on pieces of paper, notepads or other unsecured methods!

Re: User names and password

gertrudecloset — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 20:49:45 GMT

@Lilysmom1 wrote:
@glb613 et al, for some reason I don't feel comfortable to out this information on a computer. Anyone else feel the same? S

I won't do this either. When your computer is no longer workable, the data is still there. It can be found if someone wants to find it. I try shopping places and going to sites more that don't require me to create an account (password and name). I sick of remembering passwords and I'm not about to compromise important information by password locking it on the computer to turn right around and forget that password too. LOL. I'm not writing it down in a book either. That to me, defeats the whole purpose.

Re: User names and password

patbz — Sat, 20 Mar 2021 04:36:46 GMT

@ruthbe : I do the same; I have used a small address book for 15 years (DH also has one). If a PA changes I use an address label over my entry. You should see my little book! Its a huge help ( recently I had to reinforce spine with duct tape). We use computers for most things but we still use those little books and a smallish paper calendar to keep track of appointments ( usually Drs and hotel reservations).