Passwords

[TEEB]

I just read the PCMech newsletter on "use longer passwords".I'm one the people that use the same password for everything. Same old reason, I can't remember the multitude of passwords that are required theses days. Everything has a password. My phone company supplies the user name and password. I have never been able to remember it and therefore don't use this service.

What do you folks use to keep a record of all your passwords.
Is there some free software that i can store my passwords and then back up the data. What do you do??

[bigandy]

I don't know about software, but what I do for passwords is to have a little variation. Maybe an extra number or letter added in somewhere.

[TEEB]

but how do you remember what number or letter goes with what user name? Especially when it's a password you only use once or twice a year??

[MulderMan]

pen and paper works for me. cos if you store them with pass recordin software, any puter program can be broken in some way. i can quote old bill gates on that, in a book i got it sed he always writes things on paper not on windows:)

[Panama Red]

I have all my passwords in a MS Works document that I keep on both comp's I use for online stuff. I back it up to a floppy every time I make a change. I started this system about a year ago when I had to reformat and lost them all. You can use Notepad, too. I just chose Works cuz that's what I had at the time and I set it up as a chart/spreadsheet format.

[doctorgonzo]

Panama Red is on the right track, but you can do even better. I use a program called Password Safe. It is an open source project started by renowned security expert Bruce Schneier. All the passwords are stored encrypted, so you don't have to worry if it falls into the wrong hands. It is easy to use and can generate random passwords for you.

Check it out here: http://www.schneier.com/passsafe.html

[bigandy]

Originally posted by MulderMan
pen and paper works for me. cos if you store them with pass recordin software, any puter program can be broken in some way. i can quote old bill gates on that, in a book i got it sed he always writes things on paper not on windows:)

That's how I do it if the password is something I only use every so often. But since I use most things with my password so often, I don't usually forget.

[TEEB]

DoctorGonzo: does it support windows XP? This sounds like exactly what I need!!

[doctorgonzo]

Yep, it works with every version of Windows as far as I can tell. I use it on both Windows XP and 2000.

I don't think writing passwords down is a good idea. It's in the clear, it can easily be lost, and it can easily be stolen. An encrypted password database may be stolen, but unless they guess the master password all they have is random data.

I wouldn't trust what Bill Gates says he does for security; just look at how secure Windows is. ;)

[TEEB]

Got it but I can't get it to start. getting a "not valid win32" error.

[doctorgonzo]

Are you sure you downloaded the correct version?

[TEEB]

LOL No!! this one, 1.9.2c.2??

[TEEB]

Got it now!! You were right I downloaded the wrong version. thanx for the help!!