Passwords

carladea

CGF, Certified Grumble Framer
Joined
Sep 25, 2000
Posts
119
Loc
Weaverville, NC USA
This would hardly qualify as "techie", but could anyone tell me how to keep up with all those user names and passwords without using post-its? I know that is not the preferred method, but I haven't a clue what else to do. Help!

Carla
xxxxxx
 
I have a pocket size notebook. Every password, network settings and phone numbers I need are in there.

I guard it like it's solid gold. My life could be over if it ever got into the wrong hands.

framer
 
I used to keep all of mine in a notebook, but about a year ago, I decided it was just too much! I finally figured out that if I use the SAME password for everything (except important things, like banking) it was much easier for me.
 
There are several utilities out there that help you keep track of passwords. Usually the way they work is that you need a single master password to get into the program and then everything is available. As long as your machine is secure they make pretty good sense.

I personally keep a password protected WordPerfect document on my local computer, along with a hard copy in a safe deposit box, of all our mission critical passwords and settings.

-dnw-

David N Waldmann
Vice President
Vermont Hardwoods
 
"Gator" is one of the more popular password programs available for free download from their website. Be forewarned that many of these "free" downloads carry "Smart Tags" imbedded in their framework.

Do not be surprised if you start getting oodles of e-mail from senders that you never heard of before. This is how these "free" programs make their money. They sell e-mail addresses to those companies wanting to tout their wares in the form of bulk e-mailings. So, if you are checking out vacation spots for example, you may get e-mail from all points in the universe trying to get you to visit their little piece of Paradise.

I stopped using Gator and my junk e-mail dropped drastically within 1 month.

The program did a heck of a good job keeping track of all logins and passwords. It just had more to it than I wanted to deal with.

FGII
 
Against the advice of nearly every expert ever to express an opinion (except Amanda in Greater St. Louis) I use basically two passwords. One for high security items like my on-line banking and the other for everything else.

Since my primary computer is protected (more-or-less) by the high-security password, I have a text document on it with a list of user names, passwords, activation key #s that I might need to reinstall some software - stuff like that. Periodically, I print out an updated copy and lock it up off-site.

I've heard about the password management utilities, but I have a problem with a program that requires you to remember still another password and, if you forget it, will essentially lock you out from all your other passwords!

And Carla, that's an excellent techie question. Thank you for using this forum.
 
I have a generic password for non-critical items, and a few specials for items I consider high security.

I guess I take the attitude that if someone gets their hands on for instance my mobile/cell phone the amount of out of pocket I would have before cancelling my service would be small in comparison to the hassle and mind warping effort of trying to keep separate passwords for all applications.

For example if someone got my password for The Grumble you guys would cop on very quick, nobody could post so much brainless stuff as I do.

:rolleyes:
 
Originally posted by Dermot Cox-Kearns:
I have a generic password for non-critical items, and a few specials for items I consider high security.

I guess I take the attitude that if someone gets their hands on for instance my mobile/cell phone the amount of out of pocket I would have before cancelling my service would be small in comparison to the hassle and mind warping effort of trying to keep separate passwords for all applications.

For example if someone got my password for The Grumble you guys would cop on very quick, <font color=indianred>nobody could post so much brainless stuff as I do.</font>

:rolleyes:
Hey Dermot,

I take exception to that statement! I pride myself on shameless trite and left field humor.

And, for that matter, look at some of the good stuff that Ron and Charles have posted. I consider them to be mentors. And you are far from a slouch at putting together neat well versed useless stuff.

Oh, I think I am in a warm place now. I have to go.


Goober
 
STAY AWAY FROM GATOR!!!!! Once that hting gets into your computer, you will have a devil of a time getting rid of it, unsubscribe or no!!! They are also highly suspect organization, in that they launch their ads unbidden over host websites and the spam city!

I try to use the same password and user name for nearly everything, but some places insist on giving you their passwords and guess what, these are places I tend not to visit twice. Other than that, post-its all over the computer, what's wrong with that???

BTW, I thought I got rid of Gator several months ago, and I still get little windows popping up asking me if I want them. They are like a virus! BEWARE!!!
 
Passwords protect you, if you use the same password for everything and some unscrupulous person gets it....Watch out. Now that said what password do you use? No, I don't mean list them here! How many of you use something that is easy to remember like your pets name or your favorite animal? Your password should consist of 4 to 8 letters and numbers randomly picked.
Once youve done that Windows will remember your passwords for most sites on the internet but I don't use that for "mission critical" passwords. By creating a Word processing document and encrypting it you can keep your passwords safe, until your computer crashes. I don't mean to be a devils advocate here but passwords are not the best form of protection but they are the best affordable solution we have.

That said, I use more than one password, I keep track of them in my head and I have a master list at an undisclosed location. Lose the list and/or get Oldtimers desease and I'm screwed.

I try and limit the number of things I need passwords to, as I am getting to be Ron's age!
 
Framar is correct. Gator leaves its footprints all over your registry. I went in and manually cleaned out my registry and eventually got all traces of it out. If you don't know what you are doing, DON'T PLAY AROUND WITH YOUR REGISTRY!! You could very easily completely lock up your computer and have to reformat the entire hard drive. That means losing all information stored on that hard drive.

On the postive side, if you do need to clean Gator or some other obnoxious program off your hard drive, get a program like RegCleaner and use it. It will make a backup of your current registry and go in and pull the obvious stuff about a program out of your registry, sufficient for most cases. I have been tweaking and messing around/up computers since 1982 so I talk like this is simple thing to do. It isn't as simple as turning on the power and having Windows boot up on your screen! But, if you follow directions and don't play around with the program, there should be no problem.

Regarding passwords, who are we protecting ourselves <u>FROM</u> with passwords?

I can tell you that those unscrupulous hackers who COULD do harm with your passwords can get them in a New York minute! No matter where or how you store them. The only defense I have found against jerks like these is a firewall system set up on your computer. Not fullproof but it will stop many of the lesser experienced hackers and will slow the others down to the point where they will probably go somewhere else where the pickin's are easier. I use ZoneAlarm Pro on both my computers and don't have any concern about hackers getting around it without alot of effort and trouble.

FGII
 
I don't get overly concerned about someone hacking my Grumble password and posting under my name. What could they possibly do wrong that I haven't done myself? Make friends with Framerguy? Insult Frame Harbor? Overload Framer's server? Become a moderator? Hey, it would serve 'em right! Let THEM spend 6 hours-a-day on The Grumble and see how much work THEY get done!

Ron
 
FGII,
You have a DSL or cable connection don't you?
You can have a lot more problems without a firewall than a dialup account. Once I get my DSL I'll have to get a firewall since that connection is open all the time. They actually did a test where they set up a cable connection ISP and were Probed 10 times in 24 hours. Three of those times could actually have been considered serious attempts to hack the server.
I'm for thumb print recognition systems.
 
Jerry,

I live so far out of normal civilization that our internet is hooked up by smoke signal!
icon10.gif
(woof)

No, I have a 56k v.90 hookup and the firewall doesn't seem to give me any problems as far as speed? goes (what speed??) or error problems. I have had numerous occasions when somebody from outside my computer tries to access the computer and I get a question immediately something to the effect, "Would you like to allow 'so and so' to access your computer?"

It also controls which programs on my computer has access to the internet. For example, I don't allow MSN Messenger to access the internet without my permission. Some programs have no reason to ever access the net and I have them set on "never" access.

FGII
 
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