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I Really Need More Help---!!!

With all of this blogging/social networking/linked in/ Trulia Voices---I have so many profiles on the net.

I want to corral them and my passwords to keep them together.

Anyone have any ideas on organizing this stuff? Any technology out there to help with with this stuff????

POR FAVOR!

Posted by Kevin Tomlinson - Miami Beach Real Estate on 06/18/2008 04:23 PM

Post is included in group: Active Rain Newbies
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41 Comments on I Really Need More Help---!!!

JUN

2008

HI, I will keep an eye on your post. I would like to know the answer too. Thanks for the question

Gerard (G-Man)

Kevin, I think Joe wrote something about this on Sellsius recently....I will do some checking when I get the chance.

Kevin, I don't have a clue. I have tried to come up with formulas for a password for each site. However, it seems each site requires a different combination of numbers, caps, letters, and length of password. I have a list of passwords to look up. It sucks but I don't know what else to do.

I just use the same freakin' login and password for every social site. I figure as long as its not the same login and password that I use for my online bank accounts, who cares? :-)

The Norton (antivirus type product) has a password collection part of the suite. Anytime you enter in a password it remembers the website and login info. When you come back to the page it will auto fill it for you.

so long as I don't need a high level of security, I came up with a universal user name and password for social sites -- that way I don't have to worry -- it is impossible otherwise.

My computer remembers the login and password for my sites so I don't have to keep up with them. But most of the time they are usually the same!

I think Digsby does all this, Kevin.

I do an excell spreadsheet and keep it on my computer's desktop - passwords for social networks and the dozens of other sites with passwords that we have to use on a daily basis. (Our Intranet changes regularly and that throws me off and then the MLS does also).

I know it may not be as techy as you want, but it keeps it all together.

Kevin, I write all my logins and passwords and a sheet of paper and then paste it to my monitor. (LOL). I am starting to reduced the number of sites I log onto. To much effort/pain. AJ

I have a system, but I don't know if I recommend it. It DOES work. But nothing is ever foolproof. So here's my system. I have a document in Word Perfect, that is also password-protected. So basically, my passwords are stored on a password-protected document. But I only have my banking and important passwords in my brain.

As I got into more and more password, login and similar sites, my document kept getting bigger. So I then created categories in my document. Some of my categories are "Photo Sites", "Miscellaneous Play Sites", "Games"- yeah, I like to download hacks and mods to my PC games, "Real Estate/Business", "Software"-I keep the unlock codes here, "Music", "Video Sites", etc.

I don't know if that will help, but that's it in a nutshell. Each category contains the site, my user name, password, and the e-mail address I use on that site. BUT, like I said, I don't keep anything of real importance stored on my computer. We wouldn't want any hackers having access to anything important... if they managed to get past my firewalls.

JUN

2008

I hate all the passwords and usernames. Ugh.

I write down all my usernames and passwords in my planner (if I lost it or if it was stolen. I would be in serious trouble!!!) AHHHH

I'm with CJ. I try to keep the same username and password or just a slight modification of the main password.

Before that practice I tried sending myself an email with that info so I would have it in a "password" folder in my outlook, but I can't say that worked very well. If you do that, make sure you adequately address the content of the email in the subject line.

Kevin, haven't checked this out but always meant to...See this post from a couple of years agol

http://activerain.com/blogsview/Too-many-Passwords-?7574

I keep id's and password in a contact record called password in my contact management software. All passwords are in the same place.

Plus I save the email records in Outlook, for when I am too lazy to put the info in the password contact record.

Of course there is always the "Forgot Password" button fallback password storage system.

Jim Burr

JUN

2008

IHi Kevin,

I wish I had been around long enouhg to tell you all aout the various places to obtain information, but alas I too know too little. BUT - I will be returning to your blog/posts to find out what everyone else writes as their suggestions.

Here are a few tips:

Set up an Xcell spreadsheet, with the site, contact info, email address, log-in and passwords for all your regular sites or any you sign up for. Print out in hot pink or orange, so you can always find it. Keep a hard copy at your office and at your home office. If you have the ability to scan it to a file you can store on-line somewhere secure that will then help. So anytime you need a password or login, you can then access it there too.
On you favorites set up files by categories for all the sites you go to all the time like: RE Offices, RE Blogs, RE Free ads, etc... Any site you sign up for should be added to your favorite files. The drop all the sites into those files, and you will have the passwords in handy on your Xcell sheet.
Have a system for changing passwords, like using a series of prefix of a few numbers or letters which you can progress through. Like ABA, ABC, ABD, ABE, ABF etc... good luck.

Mary

This was one of the best responses----! Thanks!

Also, can some technology person work on some sorta solution???

Hi, I just posted this blog - Got Passwords? check it out for my favorite tool. God bless,

JUN

2008

There are a ton of online "pin vault" programs that will store your passwords, but I don't feel comfortable enough to use them because hackers get better all the time.

I have created an Excel file on my computer for passwords with a little twist. First, my computer is password protected. Second, it's a Mac, which isn't likely to be hacked as much as a PC. Third, it's on a Firewall. Fourth, I use Norton.

Then, the file on my computer is not named "passwords." I've called it something else that I can remember but which is not obvious. The spreadsheet has a column for "web sites," "user name" "email" "password." Only the web sites are entered with the actual name. The user name is in code, that only I can figure out. The email is abbreviated. The passwords are in code as well, you know, hints.

This system works very well for me and alleviates the frustration you feel after entering five different combinations and the web site locks you out. :)

Kevin, looks like you've received some great tips. I don't see anything wrong with using the same password. After all you're already posting your profile and some personal information anyway.

I use "Roboform" to store and fill in usernames and passwords. It works reasonably enough.

- Andrew Kyle

I keep all my passwords and usernames in outlook under notes. You make one for each thing you join. Then when you sync it with your cell phone it comes into that so you always have them with you.

JUN

2008

Kevin, I just use a simple technique. Try to use the same one for all and always keep a folder in my Outlook for each one with the return information that typically reminds me of my user and passwords. With 2 screen, keeping my Outlook open all the time, I am able to access it readily.

Hope that helps.

JUL

2008

Kevin: I got a system. . it has helped me to have over hundred passwords and I never forget them. .I don't have a program and I don't have a list to look at:

My system is simple. . (if you use it, please send something as valuable to me by email. .ok?, you are going to love this!)

Pick a word for a password and a number

example: Maradona10

Ok, you just landed in a new site called willow.com

you password for this site will be waradonw10

let's say you landed in Google.com

your password will be Garadong10

how about active rain

your password will be aaradona10

This system needs a number in your password because some sites require them

The point is you take the first letter of the site you want in. .and change that letter with the M of maradona and the last letter A of maradona with the letter the site begins with

You only have to remember one password and the number. .

to make it difficult, you can chnage the second letter and the last letter . ..

in that case for yahoo.com your password will be

myradony10

I use this system whan I don't care what a hacker can do. . but when it comes to my paypal or ebay account. ..I use lines from movies I like the best like. ..shtmlf10 ( meaning= "say hello to my little friend") Scarface of course!

How about tbontbtitq10. . ..easy " to be or not to be , that's is the question

and my latest favorite. . dtmbdtm10 "don't taze me Bro, don't taze me!

Hope this helps!

JUL

2008

I like Fernando's sytem!

The Firefox browser has password manager built in. Firefox has so many great features that make surfing the Internet easier and more secure.

Best wishes!

I like Fernandos system too. No way anyone would figure those out!

JUL

2008

Flock is a new browser specifically for social networking. Beth Butler is the one who introduced me to it. You can just launch Flock and it will launch all of your social networking sites.

Pretty cool.

JUL

2008

Fernando, great great post!!!

kevinb

Thanks for thinking of and asking that question, I enjoyed reading some of trhe responses here. Thanks again!

Great question....thanks for the question and to all of those who offered help.

JUL

2008

the miami contingent last night was like dessert for the whole event. was tremendously cool to meet you finally. that could have lasted for days... w/out ever getting boring.

thanks much, and next time, lets plan on seperating out more time...

cheers

AUG

2008

AUG

2008

Ok mine might be a bit old fashioned, but i try to keep the same password for most things, however.. I use my rolodex still for the many LOG IN ID's and passwords...

WHY would Fernando's system not work for me?

Because many of our "lenders" like Chase require you to change your password regularly... who the heck can remember this all the time when it's changing right?

The regular password changers, get a rolodex card with a piece of tape on it. Everytime they require a password change, we pencil in the new one and carry on. Other wise that darn card would have a HOLE in it by now! LOL

Great post Kevin.

AUG

2008

use a fingerprint reader to remebr all your passwords foir your PC and all the sites you visit ... http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0001V2N62/ref=nosim/?tag=ciao0b-electronics-20&creative=380333&creativeASIN=B0001V2N62&linkCode=asn

good luck

Try using a spreadsheet on a thumb drive, preferable A cruzer from my experience! It already has built-in encryption and you can also store other files on it!

AUG

2008

Just keep a copy in My Documents and one hard copy in a file. I do not think that there is an easy way. Later Kevin.

I'm with Rick, Mary and Elizabeth. Simplist and easiest is just an excel spreadsheet. I have an open excel To Do list and work in all day and I just added a "page" for passwords. They're all sorted alphabetically and ready on a seconds notice. If I need them I can click, cut and paste and presto.

So simple, so easy.

I thought I was low tech, but the number of comments about using excel means I am in line with everyone. I would also add that there are secure sites that you could find that would "host" your info, how about your hosting company?

Home Realty....Excel deserves more credit than it gets. I managed $25 million worth of apartments for an institutional investor and used excel for very large and complicated comprehensive annual budgets and among 250 management companies was rated in the top 10 and I could produce budgets faster than any other company. I use excel for the password data, To Do List, all my website listing entries, etc. Powerful program.

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