topic Re: Remembering passwords in Community Chat

Remembering passwords

Shorty2U — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 17:05:16 GMT

Does anyone else have trouble remembering passwords? I must be getting old. lol. I am having trouble remembering them. And of course there are so many to remember.

Soooo, I started to write them down, but then I had papers of passwords and couldn't remember which ones were new and which ones were old. lol.

I actually got locked out of my main email for too many password attempts. (Boy was I mad, I was yelling you locked me out, like they can hear me? lol).

SO I made another email on the same email site and wrote to them and told them to send me a new password to the new email but for the OLD email so I can fix the old one because I use it for all my shopping, banking etc.

Also they ask you secret questions and I feel I had them correct but was still locked out.

I think I got it all straightened out now but its so annoying because there are so many sites I go on, so there are SO many passwords.

This is why this happened. Most sites as in email, facebook etc stay open all the time on my laptop (which stays in our home), and so I don't really have to type in passwords to access certain sites. Then all of a sudden they wanted me to type them and I didn't know them.

My granddaughter said just use the same ones for all the sites. I said no I wouldn't do that because a hacker could get in ALL my accounts IF they figured out one, they would have them all. So I keep them different.

Well now I threw OUT all the old passwords and made news ones with a list to be kept in a place that I told my husband where it is just in case.

I feel like such a klutz! I used to remember everything at the drop of a hat! But not anymore! lol.

Re: Remembering passwords

Preds — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 17:12:26 GMT

I have the same problem. Plus I have about ten for different programs at work. I'm always getting them mixed up. I need a book to carry with me for the different passwords, but I'd probably missplace it.

Re: Remembering passwords

Suziepeach — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 17:13:53 GMT

I have Norton Identity Safe & keep them written down.

Re: Remembering passwords

straykatz — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 17:15:35 GMT

My DH has a spreadsheet that he keeps in Excel with all our different passwords/secret question answers...he also prints a copy to keep in case his computer dies and he loses his file.

He created this just before he had major surgery just in case somehting happened.....that was when we both realized how important it is to keep records of everything.

Re: Remembering passwords

Peaches McPhee — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 17:15:52 GMT

At home, I keep all my passwords in an excel file on my laptop, password protected with one password I (hopefully) will never forget. I print out an updated copy occasionally and keep in a secret place in my home office.

At work, I keep all my passwords in a rolodex, along with the business cards, phone numbers, etc.

Re: Remembering passwords

straykatz — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 17:21:16 GMT

At work I use Notes in my Outlook.

Re: Remembering passwords

Abby1967 — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 17:27:16 GMT

I use an address book to keep all mine. It's quick and easy and all the info I need is right there in the book.

Re: Remembering passwords

CelticCrafter — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 17:35:20 GMT

I have a little on-line address book where they are all written down.

User names are also a p.i.t.a. to have to remember.

Re: Remembering passwords

bells4me — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 17:36:38 GMT

I have a list. It seems every website requires a different combination of letters, numbers, capitals etc.

Re: Remembering passwords

Financialgrl — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 17:37:30 GMT

Bought a 5x7 spiral notebook. Went thru and numbered individual pages with A, B, C, etc and put my passwords in there. They are listed based on the name of the company or product and it makes it so easy. I do it in pencil so if a p/w needs changed I can do so more easily. Book is hidden in my dining room.

Re: Remembering passwords

jubilant — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 17:48:54 GMT

I have mine filed in a kitchen recipe box. I was the same way and got tired of losing them so this is really working for me.

Re: Remembering passwords

Allegheny — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 17:50:37 GMT

I join the crowd. I've been locked out of my health insurance web site for about two weeks. They give you one chance to get it right then lock you out. And don't you like the sites that require you change your password every 90 days!

We had that at work. It was a part of my job to secure access for our new employees, assign menus, and train. I was constantly getting requests to reset passwords. I am sure since I retired they have automated the system.

Anyway back to the original. I too used to use the same password, but changed many of them over the years for security purposes. I got myself a small spiral ring notebook and list them and enter date established. I primarily use a system of dates of events in my life, using the name of the month then date and year. I don't use birthdays, rather date I started work, date I retired, date I got my new car, date we moved into our house. But then again in addition to passwords I have different user names, and I wholly admit it gets mind boggling.

If/when I change them I go to the notebook and update the information and enter a new date. My husband set up an excel document for himself where he keeps his information.

I recently learned that on my MAC that I can look up my saved user names and passwords. Its editable and comes in handy, it requires my administrator code so others cannot access.

Re: Remembering passwords

LilacTree — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 17:52:30 GMT

I have two usernames (not counting the one on this BB). I also have two passwords. I mix the usernames and passwords up, never putting the same two together on any site. I also throw in an extra letter or number on the usernames and passwords and I may do that in the middle, at the end, and sometimes at the beginning.

A good method to use is your last name (or another's that you won't forget) alternating someone else's (not yours) birthday numbers every other letter/number, and then typing it back to front (backwards). You can formulate this as a username or a password and switch them around also.

I have found the trick is to use a basic name/number that you won't forget for both username and password. Most of the time I can recall how I've altered them for each site quite easily. Also, I have a bare minimum of sites that I join.

Re: Remembering passwords

chickenbutt — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 17:55:07 GMT

I have so many passwords it's insane. Even if it were smart to use the same one everywhere, which of course it is NOT, you couldn't because different websites have different requirements.

So, I've used RoboForm for many years. It's the number one software for passwords. You pay very little for the software and get lifetime. If you have more than one computer it's even less expensive.

Re: Remembering passwords

Allegheny — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 17:59:32 GMT

Thats why I like coming here. The sharing of so many great ideas! I learn something new almost every day.

Re: Remembering passwords

MaggieToo — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 18:02:18 GMT

I have the ""Internet Buddy"" Web Journal.

Re: Remembering passwords

JustJazzmom — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 18:21:12 GMT

If you need a password manager, my son recommends Keepass: http://keepass.info He uses it for storing all his passwords.

In short, it can store your passwords in a password-encrypted file. Then, you really only need to remember two passwords: the one for the file and the one for the computer. On top of that, it's useful for rarely used sites. You can have it generate a long string of random letters, numbers, and symbols to make strong passwords for those sites. If you use recycled passwords, you run the risk of a security breach on one site resulting in other accounts being compromised because of the shared passwords and usernames.

Re: Remembering passwords

kittykatkay — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 18:22:15 GMT

On 3/19/2014 Suzie said:
I have Norton Identity Safe & keep them written down.

Re: Remembering passwords

gazelle77 — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 18:35:19 GMT

I have SO MANY passwords.... I have a good memory... but still tend to reuse many of them.

Re: Remembering passwords

Suziepeach — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 18:55:40 GMT

On 3/19/2014 kittykatkay said:
On 3/19/2014 Suzie said:
I have Norton Identity Safe & keep them written down.