How you do manage all the user names, PIN numbers, passwords, answers to "security questions" and other stuff demanded of almost every sodding website today? Isn't writing all these down a retrograde step, leaving each person vulnerable?
by 
American-In-Training
ANSWERS: 8
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I use a program called Roboform that securely stores all that information in a single computer file. You can get a free trial download of it, so you can try before you buy.
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Bruce Schneier, a prominent cryptologist and security expert, recently wrote: "Q: How do you remember all of your passwords? A: I can’t. No one can; there are simply too many. But I have a few strategies. One, I choose the same password for all low-security applications. There are several Web sites where I pay for access, and I have the same password for all of them. Two, I write my passwords down. There’s this rampant myth that you shouldn’t write your passwords down. My advice is exactly the opposite. We already know how to secure small bits of paper. Write your passwords down on a small bit of paper, and put it with all of your other valuable small bits of paper: in your wallet." http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/04/bruce-schneier-blazes-through-your-questions/
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Usernames, I don't have choices in most cases. It's usually required to be an email address or employee ID. Passwords are easy. I always use a different theme for work vs. personal vs. finance. Security words are usually limited as well. The key is in the password. When someone thinks that mixing uppercase, lowercase numbers, and symbols is more secure, they are wrong. Most computers can only accept 255 (often less) characters (it's called ACSII) and random character generators can burn through all possible combinations in minutes or seconds. The key is length of password, timeouts and lockouts after X number of tries.
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Sure, but do you have a better alternative? If you do, we will elect you to some high post and pay you lots of money!
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I use the same password for everything that doesn't warrant absolute security and I have all my passwords and PINs written on an Excel spreadsheet, which has the rows containing the data hidden and then protected with a password so that they can't be unhidden.
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I use a rotating password, with a capital & some numbers, then starts again. Best to use a word you will remember eg Abcd12abcd12a When I save a site I rename the page to hint the number of characters. Works for any size password & for net banking I upgrade the number to more digits.
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Personally, I have a pretty good memory. My sixth-grade teacher may have exaggerated a bit when he "accused" me of having an actually photographic memory, but I can remember all of mine. AS isn't all bad ;)
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I used Fire Fox which inserted them with a click. However my computer suddenly stopped working and I am unable to access anything. Wished I had written them down. However if I give a few of them some serious thought, there's a good chance I'll remember them.
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