Computer Passwords
By Lady_E
Passwords and Pin Numbers.
My head is spinning. Is there any wonder why? Its because I have to remember the following:
- Different pin numbers for different cards (credit card, debit card, savings card).
- Password for shopping for groceries on-line.
- Password for ordering books on-line.
- Email Passwords for home and work. (which change every 3 months)
- Password for other computer applications at work.
- Codes to use the photocopier at work.
- Combination code for opening my suitcase while on holiday.
- Pin number for ordering movies through Satellite TV.
- Password for on-line banking or Telephone banking.
- Password for accessing Writing Sites.
- Pin number for amending facilities on mobile phone.
- Security alarm code to get into my Apartment, which if not activated on time will alert the whole neighbourhood.
The list goes on……..
Does this sound familiar? Surely there must be an average of at least 15 Passwords and 5 pin numbers that people have to remember. I wonder if I have a small brain because I tend to forget my passwords or mix them up.
My Solution
Well, I have found a way to make it easier for me to remember my Passwords. I choose a very distinctive word that no one can guess. E.g Cerise and 1 Character (Examples of characters @#$%^&*). So, my Password would start with Cerise#. Adding just one capital letter and one character would reduce the processing time of Hacking.
Now lets assume I want to register on the following sites:
- Topshop
- Ebay
- Blockbusters
My passwords would be:
- Cerise#topshop
- Cerise#ebay
- Cerise#bb (bcos blockbusters is long)
I find this very useful because I register with different sites at least once a month. So, if I haven’t shopped in Harrods for maybe six months, I know my password would be Cerise#harrods. If you ever forget your passwords, websites would send you a reminder or a new one but sometimes it takes 5- 10 minutes.
Alternatively, you could just have 3 passwords. One for low level security (e.g Grocery stores), One for medium Security (e.g Email accounts) and one for advanced security (e.g Banking/Finances)
Pin Numbers are easy to remember if you have just a few Bank cards.
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Other ways to remember your Password
- How to Remember Your Password - wikiHow
wikiHow article about How to Remember Your Password.
Using Strong Passwords
Comments
Any pattern can be fgiured out but I think it worth the risk. Maybe I would have special passwords for the more important stuff.
a distinctive word and a character combination could be a viable solution.But the that distinctive word needs to be very very unique.thaks,otherwise always there would be a security risk.
Thanks for the advice. I have a method that doesn't work very well, so I'll consider yours. I'm usually not afraid of security risks because my pws are pretty long and contain weird combinations of numbers and letters. I mistype them in most cases. :)
I forgot my email password, and it really sucked.... :)
Aaaaah. Its really annoying. I have an account that I don't use often and wanted to check something. I said to the customer Advisor that I had given them my date of birth, my address and the card details, why can't they believe its me? She said she would send me out some papers to set up a new password. Some people are nice though and will give you the first letter of your password to get your brain going.... lol
Ah...that's a great way to make my passwords easier to remember. Thanks for the tip! By the way is there a secure software application out there that helps keep track of passwords?
Christdean, there is a software application whereby your passwords can be stored. Its sort of like a vault but I'd have to come back to you with more info. or you could search the net.
I tend to use this username on public sites only, so I won't forget it that easily!...but then again..hmmm.
I admit, it isn't easy! I try to have a word and then split it into two or three pieces, put something between, one or two numbers or signs. That helps me find a sense in the code.
passwords are the bane of my life. Doing almost anything on the internet requires a password. I tend to think of something off the top of my head, write it on a scrap of paper then promptly lose it. Good job there is the "forgot password" button on most sites otherwise i would be completely flumoxed.
Wow love it I forget them everyday sigh, I lock myself out of more web sites than I do locking myself out the house grrrr. xo
Great tips! I have been using the same password on too many sites which is why I think it's good to use a tactic like this to stay more secure.
Great idea. I will have to start doing this but I write all my passwords down and the site they belong to, takes me forever to find one. LOL. Thanks for the interesting hub.
I live in computer world, my background is in computer consulting. I find that something similar to that works great. Your ideas are very good, and I may integrate those into what I am currently doing. There are a lot of passwords in my little black book (instead of names and phone numbers) but that is totally not secure.
Good tips!
** Hi Fishtiger, glad you found it useful. Regards.
** Hello Kate - I'm glad you found it useful. I still use that system as there are more passwords every month.
Nice to read from you again. :)
Lady E, Thank you for the helpful tips! What a great idea for passwords. I see you think like a programmer? I have a family of computer heads... LOL I think you would fit right in! Thank you for sharing, Much love & Blessings!
Nice to read from you Deborrah. You certainly have an intelligent family if they are computer heads. They could teach me quite a lot.
Best Wishes.
Very helpful and ingenious...I have a pet name Winkie so Winkie$ will work just fine. Thanks!
Great idea Phillyfreeze,
Lovely to read from you again. Thanks. :)
Great tip on slowing the hackers down. I'll have to check out that link site. Voted-up/rated.
Thanks for your information it's good tip but i too feel that it would be some what risky anyway i have and idea that you can make a note of all your passwords and keep it aside of your PC or laptop so it will be somewhat better.
Thanks Support Med.
Thanks ndbatt.com
I appreciate your comments.
Great Tips! A distinctive word and a character combination could be a viable solution. I have learned a lot from your hub.
Thanks a lot for visiting, Katrinasui. :)
Hi. I am a security expert and don't agree with your method. It's called a prefix system and unfortunately the 'rules' built in to password guessing programs try a lot of these methods. It helps a bit, but unfortunately, now that you revealed this to the public, you should certainly not use it. If someone gets into one system through someone else's poor password, they might find yours, notice the structure, then try it for other sites like your banking site. 10/10 for trying though. It's more than 99% of people do.
Your best bet is to grab a copy of a free program called keypass. It will generate secure passwords for you and remember them in a highly secure form. You can keep it on a USB, and backup copies in essentially insecure places because of the strong encryption. Then you only need to recall one password - that of your keepass file. You can use (and should) the keepass database with both a password and a key file. This means you also need to own
the keyfile to open it. A good way to make up a password is to use a nonsense phrase that it really easy to recall. e.g. (and now never use this...) For Paypal, think of your pet fish as a pal and go from there with the
phrase.
My pet fish called elephant nose cost $450...!
Your password is then
Mpfcenc$450...!
That password will not appear in a password database. ('cept it might now cause I published it - so dont use this one)
Also its search space is really big - 15 characters out of [a-z][A-Z][0-9][!@#$%^&*()-_=+/?.>,
Manna in the Wild - Thanks so much for sharing this insightful info. I'm glad you stopped by to share it.
Regards.
A wonderful well intended hub with a great suggestion. God Bless You Precious heart.
Thanks so much Stars439. :)
Using password management solution is better idea where passwords need to be secret and memorizing not possible. I use one for myself and satisfied with it.
Thanks, Lady_E for your stimulating hub.
Hi taheruddin
That's a great idea. I like it.
Thanks for stopping.
Good ideas here! Time to make some changes!
@iamaudraleigh
Thanks for stopping. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
jdove-miller 2 years ago
Lady_E, I definitely have too many passwords and pin numbers. But I probably wouldn't remember even using your simpler method: Old brain. : )
Thanks for the tip though.