Remembering login names and passwords; is it dementia?

[Mich the Tester]

I have to remember an ever increasing number of login names, passwords, pin codes, etc etc forall the apps and networks at clientco, my bank cards, and 2 months ago my bank replaced my dial-in account with internet banking, and even though I've used the thing several times I can't remember the bloody login details; it's as if the part of my brain that stores login details has simply filled up and cannot store anything more. I've got paper lying around with all sorts of codes but can't find the one with the bloody details for the internet banking. Last week I stood in a shop trying to remember the pin code for a bank card I use every bloody day, and just couldn't remember it, so I used Lady Tester's card instead; then I got home and she told me my pin.

Now the bloody Dutch government are changing the login details for all the government business departments, so even more bloody codes are coming my way.

It's all too much. Am I alone in this?

[TimberWolf]

I've got a draw full of login user-ids and passwords, and also a handy bit of paper that summarises them all. But I do apply a little basic encryption on them. I also have in my rucksack a slip of paper which has on it my passport and credit card numbers and some of the above logins, which are also semi-encrypted.

[FiveTimes]

I can't remember my verified by visa/mastercard password and have to reset it every time. However it won't let you change it to a memorable one that you have used in the past - hence why I keep forgetting it !

[scooterscot]

I write them all on a piece of paper. The whole lot.

[Platypus]

I write them all on a piece of paper. The whole lot.

Yep. Same here.

On ClientCo's laptop, which is forever forcing me to change passwords for intranet, email, etc, I have a file called Passwords.txt where I keep 'em all. And a Post-It stuck to the laptop with the Windows password on.

If they make it too hard to remember and make you change it so often, what do they expect?

[EternalOptimist]

I have a word document on my desktop, with every single code on it, bank cards, game codes etc

I have encrypted it by calling it shoppinglist.doc

[MaryPoppins]

I have to remember an ever increasing number of login names, passwords, pin codes, etc etc forall the apps and networks at clientco, my bank cards, and 2 months ago my bank replaced my dial-in account with internet banking, and even though I've used the thing several times I can't remember the bloody login details; it's as if the part of my brain that stores login details has simply filled up and cannot store anything more. I've got paper lying around with all sorts of codes but can't find the one with the bloody details for the internet banking. Last week I stood in a shop trying to remember the pin code for a bank card I use every bloody day, and just couldn't remember it, so I used Lady Tester's card instead; then I got home and she told me my pin.

Now the bloody Dutch government are changing the login details for all the government business departments, so even more bloody codes are coming my way.

It's all too much. Am I alone in this?

You're not alone. The bit of my brain dedicated to login stuff has long since split it's sides, pushing other knowledge out of the way.

[KentPhilip]

What I've done is to write down the passwords into a single file using an alias in the form PA-xxx like:

www.hsbc .co.uk
phil1234
PA-sba

www.ebay .co.uk
philip1234
PA-sbb

Server: Finance1
(192.168.3.56 windows logon)
admin
PA-sbc

Server: Finance5
(192.168.3.56 ftp access)
ftuser
PA-sbd


Then use Password Manager XP to encrypt and store these aliases and their corresponding passwords. $30 shareware.

And I've added other data in the same way, with the data being the password, such as:

Company number
VAT number
Lost credit card phone number
Long credit card number
wireless LAN security codes
Mobile phone unlock code
porn site accounts
National Insurance number
Passport number
Driving licence number

Allows you to keep both work and personal passwords in one place.
Have got 192 items in total, so it does add up...


www.contractoruk .com
(sockpuppet 1)
sasguru
PA-sjd

www.contractoruk .com
(sockpuppet 2)
dodgyagent
PA-sje

www.contractoruk .com
(sockpuppet 3)
zeitghost
PA-sjf

...

www.contractoruk .com
(sockpuppet 100)
kentphilip
PA-slz

[configman]

Remembering login names and passwords; is it dementia?

Well if you think it is dementia enter it and see if it gets you in

[SupremeSpod]

What I've done is to write down the passwords into a single file using an alias in the form PA-xxx like:

www.hsbc .co.uk
phil1234
PA-sba

www.ebay .co.uk
philip1234
PA-sbb

Server: Finance1
(192.168.3.56 windows logon)
admin
PA-sbc

Server: Finance5
(192.168.3.56 ftp access)
ftuser
PA-sbd


Then use Password Manager XP to encrypt and store these aliases and their corresponding passwords. $30 shareware.

And I've added other data in the same way, with the data being the password, such as:

Company number
VAT number
Lost credit card phone number
Long credit card number
wireless LAN security codes
Mobile phone unlock code
porn site accounts
National Insurance number
Passport number
Driving licence number

Allows you to keep both work and personal passwords in one place.
Have got 192 items in total, so it does add up...


www.contractoruk .com
(sockpuppet 1)
sasguru
PA-sjd

www.contractoruk .com
(sockpuppet 2)
dodgyagent
PA-sje

www.contractoruk .com
(sockpuppet 3)
zeitghost
PA-sjf

...

www.contractoruk .com
(sockpuppet 100)
kentphilip
PA-slz

You expect people who can't remember passwords and userids to use software like that?