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PASSWORD, PASSWORD, WHO REMEMBERS THE PASSWORD?

By
Real Estate Agent with Dunnigan, Realtors, Sacramento (916) 425-9715 CalBRE # 01188158

My husband and I couldn't be more opposite when it comes to passwords.  He changes his constantly and for no particular reason.  There is nothing to relate his passwords to as far as I can tell.  I add "as far as I can tell" because he won't tell me what they are either...and if there is a situation where he has to tell me, then he will immediately change it after I have used it.  For some reason, I think he believes I will pass his passwords on! Don't tell him I told you this... ;o)

Me?  Well, suffice it to say, if you look in the right place, all of my passwords on are post-it notes, overlapping each other in some cases, scribbled according to how quickly I had to write it.  I haven't changed my passwords in years.  My reason? I can't remember what I did 2 minutes ago, for gosh sakes! How in the world would I remember all those passwords otherwise? 

I share this because of a post I read yesterday about Roboforms. It will allow you to remember one master password, which, when entered, will tell your computer to let you into all of your other password protected programs without having to enter another password.  Now, this appeals to me, as you can well imagine.  My husband just cringed thinking about it!

So, without giving any clues, how do you handle your passwords?  I giggle a little, because there are those of you who just won't answer this for fear of someone finding out what yours are...come one...you know who you are!  But for those of us who are password challenged, how do you create/remember yours?

www.PaulaSwayne.com

Photo from Flickr by Mirko Macari

Comments(13)

Mary Douglas
United Country Ponderosa Realty, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado - Red Feather Lakes, CO
REALTOR, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado

Hi Paula, I'm with you on this one. It is almost impossible to remember all the passwords for every site. So... I write them down!

I used to work with a guy who changed all of his passwords at work to match the first word, on a certain page in his book! He always had the book, and thus could remember all the necessary passwords for work applications ... I have no idea what he did for the gazillion other passwords he needed in life. LOL!!

I think I would love a master password!  Oh cringe... that's scary too !! :-)

Apr 03, 2009 06:01 PM
Paula Swayne
Dunnigan, Realtors, Sacramento (916) 425-9715 - Sacramento, CA
Realtor-Land Park, East Sac & Curtis Park -Dunniga

Hi Mary!
The book...certain pages....first words...I am already lost!!!!  I have to write them down...so old-fashioned sometimes!

Apr 03, 2009 06:20 PM
Robert Havana
Park and Protect- Alberta Real Estate License Parking - Calgary, AB
Alberta Real Estate License Parking

I have a bad habit of changing my password ALOT.  Too often.   Lots of times I have to try 5 or 6 things and still have to request it get sent to me.  I really should come up with a formula or something.

Apr 03, 2009 06:31 PM
Paula Swayne
Dunnigan, Realtors, Sacramento (916) 425-9715 - Sacramento, CA
Realtor-Land Park, East Sac & Curtis Park -Dunniga

Hi Robert!
Maybe you can try that book, certain pages, first words thing...or not!  I have done the same thing when I have been forced to create a different password to fit the requirements of the site...drives me crazy!

Apr 03, 2009 06:41 PM
Mike Hendren
Mike Hendren Photography - Cloudcroft, NM

Hey Paula, I've used Roboform and it's great!  Another thing it will do is generate very strong passwords for you if you want.  I think (not sure about this one) that it also works with both Internet Explorer and Firefox.

For Mac users, I highly recommend 1Password.  It does all those same things:

  • remembers your passwords, credit card info, and secure notes
  • works with Firefox and Safari
  • With a little tweaking, can even sync passwords between computers
  • automaically fills in the needed info with just a couple of keystrokes
Apr 04, 2009 02:42 AM
Mike Hendren
Mike Hendren Photography - Cloudcroft, NM

Paula, how about turning on "Re-Blog" for this post - I sure would like to spread it around.

Apr 04, 2009 02:51 AM
Paula Swayne
Dunnigan, Realtors, Sacramento (916) 425-9715 - Sacramento, CA
Realtor-Land Park, East Sac & Curtis Park -Dunniga

Hi Mike!
I have to admit, I haven't tried Roboforms yet, but am seriously considering it.  I like the idea of it selecting a password for me...I'm not great at that since I have to create one I can remember...which means it does relate to something in my life.  Thanks for all of the good info and subscribing to me...I am honored!

Apr 04, 2009 02:51 AM
Tom Boos
Sine & Monaghan Realtors, Real Living - Grosse Pointe Farms, MI
Providing the very best of service to Sellers and

OMG.  I have my "password cheat-sheet" that I'm constantly updating to try to keep everything straight.  This may be the solution to my problem.  Thanks

Apr 04, 2009 02:55 AM
Russell Lewis
Realty Austin, Austin Texas Real Estate - Austin, TX
Broker,CLHMS,GRI

Hi Paula, Good to see you posting, and so prolifically. I have had no time to post and barely enough to comment. This one made me laugh at myself because I had so many passwords for awhile and then tried to consolidate all of them ...*GASP* Now I have 2. one for financial and one for all my online, mls and social networking. I change them every 6 months and it sort of works... I hope you are doing well and will drop by again when I get some time!

Apr 04, 2009 09:58 AM
Kat DeLong
Realty ONE Group Mountain Desert - Prescott, AZ
REALTOR

OMG...I wrote about this the day before you---great minds think alike. OR, are we slipping?

Apr 04, 2009 11:05 AM
Paula Swayne
Dunnigan, Realtors, Sacramento (916) 425-9715 - Sacramento, CA
Realtor-Land Park, East Sac & Curtis Park -Dunniga

Hi Mike!
The reblog is now on...sorry!

Hi Tom!
My problem is that I would loose my "cheat sheet" when I put it somewhere where I wouldn't forget where it is!

Hi Russell!
Well, the good news is that you are that busy!  Way to go!  I love your organization of passwords...makes a whole lot of sense to me!

Hi Kat!
I will have to read your blog...although I don't know how I missed it, since I read every one that comes up!

Apr 04, 2009 01:47 PM
Mike Hendren
Mike Hendren Photography - Cloudcroft, NM

Thanks Paula - It's Re-Blogged!  I also went ahead and wrote a post about 1Password for the Mac.  Thanks for the inspiration!

Mike

Apr 04, 2009 01:57 PM
Paula Swayne
Dunnigan, Realtors, Sacramento (916) 425-9715 - Sacramento, CA
Realtor-Land Park, East Sac & Curtis Park -Dunniga

Hi Mike!
I will be looking for it!

Apr 04, 2009 04:00 PM