Today’s question is from Debbie:
As hard as I have tried to keep my password the same for most freebie links and websites, there is often a slightly different format required. It may be a minimum of six or eight characters, at least one capitalization, at least one number, etc. Inevitably, I waste time by requesting to reset my password which usually ends up to be another slight variation of the same password.
Other than documenting each website and password, I’m at a loss. Any advice as to how to keep track of my passwords would greatly help! -Debbie
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I keep them in alphebetical order in a mini telephone book right by my computer.That way whenever I need one it’s right where I need it. My husband don’t even know where the power button is to turn on the thing so he’d never get into it! It’s allright.
I use a address book so its easy to find the website or account by alphabetical order and write the username and password in there.
Since I have a horrible memory and cannot stand constantly resetting passwords I have found the best method for me. Whatever site I’m logging onto, that’s my password! For Ebates, my password is Ebates, for Starbucks, it’s Starbucks. I often log on via my phone so I don’t capitalize unless I must. If I need to include a number it’s always a 1. This way if I have to try my password 3 different times before it locks me out, I can! Not the safest method to be sure but it works for me!
For me since I do most of my stuff on my own laptop, I created a word document, I called it “codes” to be discreet just in case someone where o use my coputer. I list the name of the use ie…. sams, kraft, best buy rewards, etc. in alpha order – then the user name and password. This way it is always on my computer to reference when needed- does not cost me anything and is quick and simple, no downloads and no fuss. It works. We also have a password book in our office as backup. It looks just like a small pocket phone book.
I keep a rolodex with all my passwords. It’s easier than a list and if you don’t want to keep it out, it filts neatly in a small safe
I keep a word pad file of the site name, username and password. It’s not pretty and sometimes I have to search a bit but it works for me.
I created an Excel spreadsheet to track everything (passwords, account numbers, credit/debit card numbers). It has a main password to open it (to keep the contents secure), but if you forget that password, you’re out of luck, so make sure you put a “password to open” the file that you will remember.
On the spreadsheet I have numerous columns: creditor name/site name/store name, website, account number, card number, phone number, in wallet? etc. In Excel there is a wonderful feature that if you enter a website, it becomes a link automatically; this makes it nice so that you can simply click on the link to visit the site. I also have the column “in wallet?” with either a Y or N. Excel has a feature called AutoFilter that allows you to click on a column header and sort by specifics. In the event I ever lose my wallet, I simply click on the “in wallet?” column, select Y and then I can call everybody effected, store reward cards, credit cards, bank accounts, etc.
I use an app on my iPod touch (would work with other apple products, too) called Wallet for all my important and different passwords. However, I have one password I use for most freebie sign ups that I do not write down and then if I have to use a variation I write it in Wallet. There are several other apps like this available and many will sync with your computer or a secure server, too.
I came up with this idea this past fall when I took over my family’s finances. I purchased a small index card box with cards and alphabetical dividers for a minimal cost. I print the name of each site I visit, the password, appropriate information, etc. I date my entries below it when I visit sites or make changes so as to keep up appropriately. It also helps to have those notes when you need to speak with representatives.
I e-mail myself both username and password (with the site as the subject) to myself, and keep it in a folder called “mother’s little helper”
It’s with me anywhere and with all the different requirements I can use a variety of passwords and look them up in seconds.
Gmail has a security feature where each time you sign in to a new computer it requires you to enter a code sent to your cellphone.
For banks/credit cards I just keep those memorized, just in case. 🙂
Here is your best bet! Use keypass. Sync it with dropbox. Then its always available any computer any device. Here is how:
http://lifehacker.com/5063176/how-to-use-dropbox-as-the-ultimate-password-syncer
i always get frustrated by how impossible it is for me to remember all of my passwords. there are some really great ideas on here, and i’m going to check out some of those password-saving websites.
i just thought of something that might help someone who doesn’t already have a lot of passwords stored, or just what to do going forward.
choose a password that is 8-10 characters with one or more uppercase letter and one or more numbers. this would seem to fit the mold for all the password requirements i have seen.
then if you only have to memorize this one password, even if it is more complicated than necessary for some websites, you wouldn’t have to wonder what your password is.
I keep a list as one of my lists in RememberTheMilk. The majority of them are not written out completely, but are typed in my “personal secret code” so that I can easily tell what they are. I figure if I am needing an online password, I am likely online.
Lastpass.com works great for me!
I use a excel spreadsheet to keep all of my passwords in then I can just copy and paste them when I sign in somewhere. Then I discovered a great program called Roboform that keeps the passwords for me. It works good for me because I have multiple computers and Roboform syncs them together so I don’t have to transfer passwords from one to another.
I also use a spreadsheet since I only use one computer to log into sites. This works well for me since I can also list the answers to any security questions. The file is NOT named “passwords.” 🙂 I have a couple throwaway passwords for things that do not contain personal info. For sites that need security, I have a handful of passwords with numbers and caps to rotate through.
Remember to be especially careful with sites that save any payment information. My Amazon account was hacked a couple years ago (my fault, the password was not strong). We have recently learned that iTunes has occasional security issues, so do not allow it to use your paypal account automatically.
One thing that is on my to do list is to make a concise list of financial information so someone else could take care of the bills if I was unable to since many of our bills are now paperless.
For freebie sites I use the same login and email and make the password the name of the site with a 1 at the end – “swagbucks1”. Since I started doing this I rarely have to reset passwords.
We use a small address book to keep track of all our passwords.
I have a Pink Address book, it’s small and is sectioned by the alphabet. Passwords and Usernames are all in here for the whole family by Web page Name. It’s wonderful!
I use a base password system that incorporates letters from each website to keep it unique. You can find more about it on Lifehacker: http://lifehacker.com/184773/geek-to-live–choose-and-remember-great-passwords
All good suggestions-I may try Lastpass. Thanks good information!!
I use ROBOFORM. It’s awesome and will remember the passwords for you.
I use gratitude words – Things I am grateful for. Happy4NextMeal.
Something like that. I keep track of them in an address book. I have a list of happy words that I can use as potential future passwords.
KeePass
You set a ‘master’ password to open it and it stores all of your usernames and passwords.
My in-laws have used a rol-a-dex for years…they write the website, username and password on the card and file it alphabetically for each website.
I came across this password tip that I have been using for a few years now (someone commented on a similar style above): Take the first 2 letters of the website name capitalized, a word that you will remember (password type word) and 2-4 numbers you ca remember. For example, my Target.com account could be “TApassword1234”. I use the same username for every website I visit, but the password is changed for each site. 🙂
Create an Excel spreadsheet with all the site, username and passwords. Protect this spreadsheet with a password (for opening). This way you only ever have to remember one password! Also, don’t name your spreadsheet “password.xls” so it will be difficult for a hacker, if ever just finding the file also.
Another technique is to also use a password pattern. Say you have an account with google, yahoo and amazon. Have 1 main password and a suffix you can do like:
– password_google
– password_yahoo
– password_amazon
No need to remember and write down passwords! 🙂
I haven’t done this myself, but using a formula such as the one found at http://www.securitycatalyst.com/2009/09/magic-formula-for-passwords seems like a good idea.
Create an Excel spreadsheet with all the site, username and passwords. Protect this spreadsheet with a password (for opening). This way you only ever have to remember one password! Also, don’t name your spreadsheet “password.xls” so it will be difficult for a hacker, if ever just finding the file also.
Another technique is to also use a password pattern. Say you have an account with google, yahoo and amazon. Have 1 main password and a suffix you can do like:
password_google
password_yahoo
password_amazon
No need to remember and write down passwords 🙂
I keep a Microsoft Word document open at all times and just cut and paste after I create accounts. Its about 3 pages long currently!
Luckily I also use the Chrome Browser which will store your passwords if you want them too.
I e-mail myself the password and log-on, whatever the info is I need to get onto the site and in the e-mail subject line I put the name of the site.
I set up a separate folder and put the e-mail in my passwords folder.
That’s about the best I’ve found so far.
I have a password protected Excel file for all mine. One column for category (insurance, finance, work, etc.), one for the site name, one for the site address, one for the username, one for the password, and one for the security questions or notes. I have this stored in my dropbox folder so I can access it from anywhere.
Everyone should keep a current list of their passwords and what sites they are for in a lock box with their important papers. In the event of a death this could be needed.
I have a yahoo account. so when i create a new password for something i “create a new email” but save it to drafts. That way I have all of my passwords in there and the only password i need to remember is my email password.
After reading all the comments and thinking about the security risks, I really think that a notebook or handwritten list is the way to go.
I’m not worried about a thief breaking into my home and stealing a Star Wars notebook. I am, however, very concerned about a website (such as Google Docs) being hacked or getting spyware/keyloggers on my computer.
My husband would “freak out” if he found out I kept a list of passwords. He is in IT and is very “strict” about computer security. So that being said I have 3 “usual” passwords that I use. Most sight have a minimum requirement about what has to be in your password, so all three of mine go above and beyond the standard do that they work every time. I would only have two passwords but recently I had to change a password due to a company “accidentally” giving out info so I created a ” new” one, but I don’t want to go through all sites and change to my new one.
I bought a Rolodex and record them all in pencil. They are filed in alphabetical order and the Rolodex takes up little space, so I can store in a drawer out of sight. Periodically, I update and change them then write the date/year so I’ll know when I last updated. Especially helpful like after the recent Zappos breach.
Check out https://lastpass.com/ I have been using this and it works wonders!
I thought I was pretty safe using a cheap address book–came up with the idea on my own several years back (and we don’t keep it with the computer unless we are using it). But reading the comments, a LOT of us are doing this. May need to revamp that idea. I like the idea of using a basic password with minor modifications depending on the site. Lots to think about.
I really like the address book tip! I did something similar, but I just used what I had…I have TONS of one subject notebooks in one of our closets. So, I took one of those and wrote one letter of the alphabet on every other page. Then, I write down the site according to what letter it starts with and a hint for my password. Maybe I’m paranoid, but I don’t write down my actual passwords…
We have a similar format as the last post (Charissa’s post). I pretty much use the same password for most with only a slight change depending on the password requirements (I learned this from my husband). Here is the idea; I may use 12345 for a few passwords (this is not my actual password) and then 12345ab for a few others. If a password requires some odd format, I usually have to write it down or I send myself an email with my password and website and move it to my drafts section so I won’t accidentally delete it. Another option is to write them down on a sheet of paper alongside the website and keep it in a safe place.
I make a spreadsheet listing all sites & passwords. I DO NOT save it on my computer – for security reasons. I also hide it somewhere convenient but not near my computer, also for security reasons.
Passpack-
My techie brother-in-law swears by it. It is super safe and pretty convenient. You can store all your secure information. I just started to use it and wish I knew about it ages ago.
http://www.passpack.com
I believe my system is pretty simple. I use Google Spreadsheets. I three columns. One for the website, one for my username, and one for my password.
I uses PassPack.com. It is great for keeping my passwords all organized. You can also easily share team passwords (if you are part of a team). I also like how it has an option to “Suggest a Password” where they create a randomized password….that no one will be able to reproduce.
I second passpack.com.
My friend used to use a yellow highlighter and write them on the plastic on the side of her screen (it was white) you couldn’t really see it until she shined a blue or black light on it.
Roboform has a program that automaticaly fills in forms for you, and remembers passwords for different sites. They have a free version and a deluxe paid version. I love my free roboform toolbar and it’s very safe.
My husband (a tech genius) has a system. Create your base password using letters and numbers. Example: password123
Then for each site, add the beginning four letters to the base password. So for your bank password, it would be: bankpassword123 and for amazon: amazpassword123. You never have to remember your password again!
I have a password protected Word document on my desktop that I can go to anytime. Just click on it, open it up and there they are in alphabetical order. Works great.
However, I like Charissa’s suggestion and think I’m going to go through mine and make some changes.
I use Keepass – http://keepass.info/. It’s a free little database that lets you save any number of passwords and login info. You can search for sites you’ve forgotten where you put them, edit, create groups and subgroups, etc.
There is a Portable version which works off of a jump drive. I use that and take it with me everywhere. Just remember to back up your jump drive periodically so if it’s lost you’re not screwed. Create a very strong, but memorable for you password to the Keepass and even if you lose, nobody will get in.
I love it. Use it every day.
There’s a portable version of KeePass that you can install and keep on your dropbox, then you can access it from any computer you have your dropbox installed on.
My husband and I have a system for our passwords so we rarely forget our own and are able to figure out each others. This really helped when he was in the hospital for brain surgery and I had to pay a bill that was in his name.
We each pick a word (or name), type it backwards, the intials of each site we’re logging into, and a number that has meaning to us. The same word and number for each password but with different letters in the middle. We change them a few times a year. Every security monitor I’ve ever seen rates our passwords as STRONG.
So if this site required a password it would be: drowMSM1234
great question…and a lot of great answers too!
I use an address book I keep beside my desk. I also have a pretty sophisticated but easy system. Financial and email passwords get my most secure level with unique, hard to remember passwords. Shopping below that and then the least secure is just a single six character name for reading accounts that hold no personal data.
For the shopping level I start with a prefix that is a combination of characters from the site with the middle one capitalized, the middle portion is a couple of special characters, the ending is a few letters from a name that has significance to only me and a few others and is not guessable from my personal info but I will never forget. Since only the the first part changes and is based on the site name I can easily recall most passwords, but my system is pretty secure. It’s the exceptions that get me and I grumble about the sites that don’t include their password requirements anywhere as a reminder to those of us with bad memories. I’ve got a few sites I’ve had to walk away from. If you want to get especially tricky you can swap your prefix and suffix based on where the name of the site falls in the alphabet.
I have 1 password I use that has letters and numbers and I know if it needs cpitalized it is always the first letter. I use this for any freebie sites or sites that don’t have personal information on them. If not than I have a spot where I write down every name and password combo I have.
We use password safe.
when I save a website to my favorites I change the name of the site to, the site name followed by the pass word. Not very secure but I only use this for casual sites. I don’ think anyone is going to break in and steal all my printables 🙂 for more sensative sites I use an address book.
I am so old-school that I just type the site, username and password into a Word document that I keep on my computer and print out from time to time so I have a hard copy in the event of a hard drive failure. I do a “find” in the document then just cut and paste the password it if is complicated. Best of all it’s FREE 😉
I keep a detailed Excel spreadsheet with the website, user name, and passwords for every site. I keep a print out of it just in case my computer ever dies.
I’ll second 1password. I’ve been using it for years. It is on my computer and it syncs all of my data between iPads and iPhones. I also store my software licenses and tons of other things. One of the best out there.
I put them in a little notebook that I keep in a secure place. I have passwords to pay my bills in this too so I keep it VERY secure!!
I use the same one for most websites, but like you, there are a few with variations. I have a file in my “coupon” email account where I store the emails that I’ve had the companies send me with my forgotton usernames and passwords. Whenever my typical one doesn’t work, I just go to my email file, and it’s probably in there!
I prefer an Excel spreadsheet for a couple reasons. One is that it’s easy to systematically make other changes, such as home address after moving. Two is, god forbid, something happens to me, my SO can figure out my affairs, which are almost exclusively online. It’s a bit of a risk to have it all in one place, so I added password protection to the document itself. Works for me.
I have a password I use solely for coupons/samples, which has the 1 number and 1 capital letter that are sometimes necessary.
I have also heard of just having a system, for instance, taking the first 5 letters of the website, and following it with a pre-specified number, like your birth year. So if the website was Betty Crocker, and you were born in 1982, you would use Betty1982. So you would have a different password for every site, but you would always be able to figure them out.
I do something similar for all the not important sites: I use two or three letters and the numbers of the house where I grew up. Example for Betty Crocker: bc1234
For all the important sites I use the same word in between the company name and put some numbers in place of the letters- example with “cats” and “bank”: bca4ntks
My husband uses the same pattern of key stokes – simple example – up, over, over, down. So if the site is “bank” start at B, the key above B is H, then over is J, then K, then M – so password is hjkm. This can be difficult if using a phone because the numbers and all random characters are not on the same screen. You often have to wrap around the keyboard – up from P is a number and then “over, over” might lead you to “1” on the other side of the keyboard (I’m on my phone so I don’t know what the full keyboard looks like)
roboform
Oh yes, this is the best. I have been using it for years. The latest is that they will keep your passwords online in an encrypted file. This is worth buying. If you knew me, you would know this is HIGH praise indeed.
I have a small address book that I keep my user names and passwords in. I just write the name of the website on the “Name” line, user name on the “Address” line and password on the “Phone” line. Everything is in alphabetical order and easy to find.
I use a password printable from the blog Desiring Virtue.com Click on the “Printables” tab and look under Home Management. (If I try to paste the link here, I get marked as spam).
It’s a perfect fit to my home management notebook – and I always know where it is!
Make a sub file on favorits…In the link tital add the login and pasword to the title…When you go to the sites just look under your favorits for the info you need.
This is what I do! I just write in the variation to my usual password and not the entire password. This way these favorites (bookmarks) are also transferred to my iphone or ipad when I sync them and I always have them with me.
I use this printable from a friend’s blog. It’s simple and fits perfectly in my home management notebook!
http://desiringvirtue.com/2011/07/free-websites-and-passwords-printable/
My brother just gave me a link to this site after I complained about the very same thing. He has been using it for some time now and said it is very user friendly and safe. I’m going to try it out.
I’m really surprised no one has mentioned LastPass. It saves all passwords for you, generates new unique passwords for you on sites you are signing up for, fills forms for you (name, address, etc), and is very secure. Lifehacker says its one of the best programs for any computer. Check it out.
My standard password contains both capital letters and numbers. That satisfies 95% of password requirements. On the rare occasions when it doesn’t, I email myself the password with a hint (i.e. standard password with an exclamation point added as 2nd letter or whatever). Since I have gmail, I can easily search my email to find those emails when I need them.
Unfortunately, this is a MAJOR security issue. The chance of someone randomly hacking your password is low, especially if you have one that’s hard to guess. How many places have you used the same password and username combination, though?
MUCH more likely is that some company will have their database hacked (it’s happen to Sony, Google, etc.) and then the hackers will have a long list of username/password combinations. Since people tend to re-use both, the hackers just have to try those combinations at other sites and tada! If you used the same combination for your online banking, they now have access to your account. If you used it at Amazon.com, they can now order things on your dime and can get part of your credit card information. If you used it at Paypal, they can drain your bank account without ever even getting to your banking website.
A much safer way to do it is to have a new variation for each website. Say your standard password is StandardPassword (just for an example) – add on a few letters from the website name so the password will be different for each site. So for MoneySavingMom it could be MoStandardPassword, and for Amazon it could be AmStandardPassword. It’s different enough to fool a brute-force matching attempt, but easy enough you can remember it anywhere you go!
I take a scripture verse (or half of a scripture verse, depending on how long it is) and just use the first letter of each word and then the put a number at the end of where it is found. That way I have a number in it. Of course, a sentence starts with a capital letter, so that’s where my capital letter. I have two or three passwords I use consistantly and because of how I do it, it fits the format of the website requirements. For example, of course not one I’m using 🙂 Tlims231 would be The lord is my shephard (Psalms -I don’t put the book in) 23:11 Plus, this makes me say a scripture verse every time I need a password.
That is a really good idea!
That is what we use too!
Lastpass works with most browsers. You can choose to only use an online password keeper for things that are not identity important, such as couponing.
We also keep a notecard file for those which are important for both my husband and I to know, such as online household accounts like the electric bill!
You can choose which passwords you want stored online and those that are identity important I keep somewhere more secure… Banking and accounts such as this I store in a secure location, this could be a word document with a passcode, or a safe in the house, etc. This way I only have to remember the passcodes for sensitive sites.
I use http://lastpass.com/ and am very happy with it.
i use an old address book. Organize by website names, then put my user name abbreviated (I only use 2 or 3, so I know which one it is), then password abbreviated so if my password is 10House I put 10H. If it needs 8 I will use 10Houses instead and put 10Hs for the abbreviation. I have a few passwords I rotate and I haven’t had any problems with this method yet. I haven’t gotten to the point that I trust the Password apps or websites yet…
My husband works in IT security and has recommended that I use 1Password (https://agilebits.com/onepassword). I create a unique secure password for every site I go to, including the freebie sites. Then, I rely on 1Password to fill & submit my user names and passwords when I visit a page. To keep 1Password secure, you create a pass phrase. I have found that over the last year, I am able to access all of my sites and I don’t have the fear of having my accounts “hacked” or broken into that most people have since the passwords aren’t easy to figure out. A lot less stress, and a lot more freedom to move about the web.
I bought a cheap little address book to keep user names/passwords in. Websites are in alphabetical order which makes it super easy to locate all of the information I need. It stays by my computer most of the time, but is small enough to take with me if I know I will need the info when traveling. And then, I guard it with my life!
I keep an Excel spreadsheet with the name of the company, a link to their website, my user name and my password. I password protected this sheet so if someone hacked my computer they wouldn’t automatically be able to get my password file. Or you could keep it on a jump drive that’s hidden somewhere in your house that only you know about.
I keep it on my computer desktop, labled ‘passwords’ of course!
I keep track of everything there because I would be afraid of losing a piece of paper on my desk. Some people are probably more organized than I am and could keep a sheet of paper, so whatever works best for you. If you have excel and know the basics on how to use it, it might be easier to save it that way because you can always do a search in excel (control f function for ‘find’) to see if you have an account already set up and if so, what the user id and password are.
Hopefully you will find something that will work for you!
I also use excel. I can open up the file to find my username and password in less than a minute. This saves so much time and frustration!
I use an unused checkbook register – works very well.
OnePass! Words on iPhone and computer. Sounds similar to other programs; you remember one password to “unlock your vault”, then select the website you’re on and it enters your password for you. Will also create highly secure passwords that you don’t have to remember.
I’ve heard using an address book is good for it- I haven’t gotten around to starting it but makes sense that it would work. Good luck!
I use a program called KeyPassX on my computer. It is password protected to even open the program (so you’ll have to remember *that* one!) but it has categories and even tells you the security strength of your password. I really LOVE this program because I have a ton of passwords and usernames too! 🙂
We use 1Password – https://agilebits.com/onepassword
It is a lifesaver. It keeps passwords in a protected area on your computer and with the click of the 1P on your menu bar, it will autofill for any site you visit and have a password for. Meaning, if I’m on amazon and want to place an order, I click my 1P, find AMAZON where I have my info saved and it will autofill for that specific site. It’s brilliant and extremely user friendly.
I highly recommend it.
We use 1Password too! We LOVE it. My husband and I can store all our passwords here – still allows access for me to his accounts and vice versa. Plus, it can generate new passwords for you and store them. Highly recommend it. And it has an iPhone app.
LOVE 1Password! You can get it for Windows and Mac. We keep our password file on Dropbox and that allows us to share it no matter where we are in the world.
1Password is great! Love it!
I use different versions of the same password. For instance, I have several versions of one I use for school (work) and a different password “theme” for school (master’s classes). Anything having to do with home or me personally has a different one. I can usually guess a password within a few tries (I don’t know if this is making any sense or not).
At school (work) I have a ton of passwords that were assigned to me and, therefore have no significance to me whatsoever. I have no hope of remembering these as there are soooo very many of them. I created a simple table in my “whole life binder” (where I keep my plans, grade book, standards, curriculum maps, etc.) and wrote down my usernames and passwords for each website. That might sound dangerous, but I’ve got to have some way to keep track of these! A villan would really have to look to find them and I can’t imagine that anyone would go to that much trouble!
Honestly, I just rely on my computer to do it for me. Every time it asks me if it wants to save the password, I click yes. Plus if for whatever reason the computer doesn’t automatically enter my username/password, I can just go to the Tools tab of my browser and under Options I can view my saved usernames and passwords any time.
When you have to get a new computer (they do die eventually) or your computer gets a virus and has to be reghosted, they will no longer be remembered.
I use Google Documents that is a shared file with my husband. Anytime either one of us sets up an account, we both have access to the spreadsheet to add the username/password. We also have only 3 passwords we use and 2 usernames. One for things like Netflix that our kids can know, one for our personal accounts which is a very secure and another for those “special” passwords that must have a capital letter. The best thing about Google Documents is I will never lose it with a computer crash and it’s password protected!
… And Google will gladly own your data just like FB and any other service offering your what you consider freebies.
Point in case >
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-mcgown/another-blow-to-privacyno_b_1231441.html
We use lastpass.com, it is free and can be used at any computer. You have a master login to get into lastpass.com from any PC, then once logged in, it can keep you username and/or passwords for any website you desire. It will prompt you the first time you enter your data, if you want to keep it. And if you have multiple logins under one website, it handles that as well. Love it! I really like that I can get to my passwords wherever I’m at.
I use LastPass too and love it. I especially like that it has web access so I can get at mt passwords while at home and at work. Have been using for about a year now and it’s great.
I also use Lastpass.com and love it as well.
I use LastPass also and love, love it! It is very secure, there is a FREE version and it is an autofiller also which is great since so many sites almost want your life history for one little coupon! If you have a standardized password you like to use on most sites, you can use your own or it will generate the password for you.
Yes! LastPass! My Dad is a paranoid software consultant, and he loves LastPass. My favorite part about it is that you can save data in it, not just passwords – bank accounts, credit cards, addresses, birthdays, etc… AND, the BEST PART is that it’s autofill function for forms works great! It’s SO HELPFUL when signing up on websites or for all the freebies that Crystal posts – it takes 5 seconds as opposed to typing everything in all the time.
I also use LastPass but what I run into sometimes if I’m on a guest computer…I don’t know my Master Password because I very seldom have to use it to log into LastPass…Maybe I should have it require me to login once in a while so I don’t forget it.
Several years ago, when I had to regularly change my password every month or two, I came up with a way to include all the information for most passwords. I was required to use at least one capitol letter and one number.
I began using my siblings names and year of birth. I usually capitolize the first or last letter of their name. Most people in my area or business don’t know my siblings names, much less their year of birth. As I’ve started couponing, I’ve stuck to just one name and year of birth. It is so easy to remember!
My dad – who’s an IT guy – uses my kids names and birthdates to solve the changing password thing. Whoever had their birthday most recently is first and spelled out, the others are initials with their age behind their name. Something like that. Since it’s a system to him, he can remember it easily. And he knows how old everybody is better than my mom!
I have two main passwords for my own stuff.
1 is for anything freebie or cheap or that I don’t trust to be hacked into. So couponing stuff fits into that. It’s something like sillypassword123. It is not a dictionary word and has enough characters and a number. It works for all cheap/freebie site things that I sign up for.
The other is what I use for most everything else that is important in my life. I just chose a password that fit the most restrictive rules – e.g. 8 characters, not a word in the dictionary, a capital, a number, a character. Just one password that FITS all the rules that are out there. And then I just use that one moving forward.
FOR CLIENT WORK, everyone has their own secure password.
For those, I use an app called Evernote and store them while working on my computer. It organizes it WAY better than trying to find an Excel spreadsheet of information since it’s an app and all I do is open the app and the ‘file’ is just right there. I do use “codes” for client names, though, in case anyone ever broke in. I know my client codes, so obviously that works for me.
That is what I do also for anything freebie or cheap. One password that I use for everything. Easy to remember.
However, for all other important stuff, I do create different passwords and just keep up with them in a Word Doc.
Security experts recommend using different passwords for different sites. I don’t worry about the accounts for freebies, but all of my financial accounts have very different passwords.
I use Evernote for everything!!! It even syncs with my phone, so I keep grocery lists, to do lists, recipes, etc. Anything I need to write down, I put it on Evernote.
I keep my “coupon” passwords on a note in Evernote.
I have a FREE printable Password Keeper here: http://thepeacefulmom.com/2011/05/03/the-peaceful-mom-password-keeper/
I keep one for each category (coupon sites, financial sites, etc.) in my household organization binder.
Hope this helps!
Kimberlee
I use an iPhone app called Keeper Password and Data Vault. I would be lost without it! I use the free version (only stores the info in my device, not backed up online like the paid version). I think there are other apps for keeping track of those pesky passwords, too.
Also, to save a little sanity, I use the same simple password any time I’m not very worried about security. For example, since I’m not too concerned that someone might hack into the account I set up to print a yogurt coupon, I used my basic (and easy to remember) password. Now, when I go to a coupon site (or another low-security account), I automatically know which password to try first.
I do this too. Pretty much any freebie site is the same easy to remember password (P & G, etc.) Honestly, I realize I’m opening my accounts up to being stolen, but usually I’m more annoyed that to print a coupon I need an account.
I made sure my generic password is 8 letters long, with 1 cap, and 1 number. I’ve yet to find a website that I can’t use it for.
Also, for regular passwords, I never write them down as I watched too much “To Catch A Thief”. I do have a simple process I follow for everything but my banking website. And I change it semi annually (When my church has their conference). For example, use a favorite animal, and insert an easy to remember number in the middle: ex: Ti1959ger. Then I’d change it to Ti1978ger. Then the next year I’d change the animal or whatever. My process means I’m usually only 2 tries away from guessing my password.
It annoys me too that I have to set up an account to get a coupon. And I sometimes forget that I’m already registered, so it tells me that address is already taken. Then I have to go to the trouble of trying to remember my password. I’m not sure how many accounts I have out there.
I have a FREE printable Password Keeper here: http://thepeacefulmom.com/2011/05/03/the-peaceful-mom-password-keeper/
I keep one for each category (example: coupon sites, financial sites, etc.) in my household organizing binder.
Hope this helps!
Kimberlee
Thanks Kimberlee, that is perfect for me!
You are very welcome Athena!
http://passwordsafe.sourceforge.net/
It will generate passwords as well as be a place to keep track of them.
yup, this is what we use too!
lastpass.com is similar and that’s what I use. My husband is a super paranoid computer security person and he feels comfortable with it.
I keep a cheat sheet. My kids are no old enough to have usernames and passwords, so we have a little notebook by the computer to help keep us all straight.
Oops “now old enough”. Sorry for the typo!
Firefox offers to remember your passwords for you. If it is a freebie, sample or other type of non-information sensitive type site, I let Firefox remember the password. It automatically fills in the information for you. I DO NOT let it remember bank or credit card passwords.
But will it be remembered when you get a new computer or if your computer crashes and has to be reghosted? I have had my laptop reghosted twice due to viruses and none of the stuff that Internet Explorer usually remembers was there. No bookmarks. No remember me passwords. Like having a brand new computer.
Christy, Firefox has been able to save your passwords for you since version 4. That way you won’t lose them when your computer breaks and you can access them from all your computers. You can check it out at http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/sync/
In Firefox, you can backup your profile which would include your passwords. You would need to save it to a USB drive or wherever you backup your files. Or you could make a screenprint when you view the passwords and save them in your safe deposit box.
In the back of my (book-style) desk calendar are several blank pages for taking notes. I write a letter of the alphabet at the top of each page. Whenever I need to make note of a new username/password combo, I go to the appropriate lettered page, and make a notation. This calendar is always on my desk, so it is right next to the computer for easy access. This system has been extrememly helpful over the years. I’ve been able to go back & find passwords for places I rarely visit. Super convenient! Hope this is helpful! ~Sally
I use an address book and enter user names and passwords under the appropriate letter that corresponds to the website. Convenient but not very secure. I have friends who keep a similar list in the computer in a word or notes document that is password protected – only one password to remember!
I use an address book as well- I think it works very well! But agreed, it is not secure if I lost it, etc.
I have 2 things – an address style book I leave out for stuff that doesn’t matter (really, if someone has my pilsbury or wink flash password the worst they can do is print off coupons or delete a few photos) and a few sheets of paper with sensitive passwords tucked into a cookbook. I am more likely to forget the unimportant passwords so they are easily accessable, and cookbook is handy enough and unlikely to be bothered.
I use a spiral-bound journal and added alphabetical tabs. I write down the URL, the login, and the password. I also use pencil to do this because you know how sometimes it’s good to change up your password for security reasons. Plus, my hubby knows where it is in case he needs to access something. And hopefully the flower on the front of the journal would throw off any would-be thieves from taking my passwords and ruining my life! 🙂
http://www.anypassword.com i use this all day long. I couldnt live without it after using it for so long! Another one is keepass.com i think you have to pay for anypassword now, it used to be free, but keepass is free.
I forget if it was a link Crystal posted or not but someone created a sheet to keep passwords on. This is the only way that has saved me. I just keep it on my desk and any time I’m setting up a new password I write it on this sheet.