Passwords don’t work — until they do

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ON SECURITY By Susan Bradley Let’s get real. We all would love it if every website requiring credentials would just launch to our desired page without
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Susan Bradley Patch Lady

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DLivesInTexas, AlphaCharlie, Norio, lmacri, Alex5723

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I have my own solution to the LOGIN/ PASSWORD ISSUE.
I have a hand held barcode reader. I created a binder with all of my logins and passwords printed out on sheets of paper in BARCODES, several on a page but not too dense and in alphabetic order, by URL.

When I want to login i just scan the codes.

When I need to change any entry I just print a new one, glue stick it over the old one and copy the page. Punch holes and replace it in the binder.

Barcode printer Sw is free on many sites.

If the Barcode scanner quit I could just type it in by hand until i can get a new scanner.
It is somewhat labor intensive each time I need to edit a PW or login but that is rare.

 

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In my view changing passwords from time to time ignores the fact that when a site is compromised, one’s current password is the one that is compromised.  The fact that it’s new has no bearing on the fact that it is now compromised.

I don’t change passwords without some notification that a site has been compromised.  I use strong passwords and on critical sites two-factor authentication.  I don’t use a password manager, I use a password protected Excel spreadsheet to store my passwords.

There are a couple of websites at which I stay logged in.

Create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates, in case you need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do. We don't all have to do the same things.

Computer Specs

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bbearren wrote:

I use a password protected Excel spreadsheet to store my passwords

A password manager by another name?
Some managers automatically store / enter your credentials, some let you copy and paste. Yours is the latter.

cheers, Paul

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Paul T wrote:

Some managers automatically store / enter your credentials, some let you copy and paste. Yours is the latter.

Not copy and paste, that’s not how I use it.  It’s only for storage.

bbearren wrote:

I don’t use a password manager, I use a password protected Excel spreadsheet to store my passwords.

I use a pseudo anagram together with an algorithm to generate passwords for non-critical sites.  I can remember those fairly easily, they’re not subject to a dictionary attack, and I don’t re-use them for other sites.

There are some sites I visit that have a login page which will not allow pasting into the password field.  Also, I allow Firefox to store my login credentials to several non-critical sites like AskWoody, so Firefox is a “password manager” of sorts, but no copy and paste on my part there, either.

I also have a number of throwaway gmail addresses under fictitious names for sites that require an email address as a login ID.  I don’t use any of those for actual email, nor do I use them for more than one site.

Create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates, in case you need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do. We don't all have to do the same things.

Computer Specs

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