Archive for December 3rd, 2005

Dec

3

2005

Need a Secure Password that’s Easy to Remember?

Author: Jeffrey

Keys If you are anything like me (and God help you if you are) you have trouble [tag]remember[/tag]ing all the different [tag]passwords[/tag] you use from one site to another. Or worse, you just use the same [tag]password[/tag] on every site and it’s probably something like your pets name or your birth date. Not very [tag]secure[/tag]. The most common password is “password”.

Most folks in the know say that a secure password is more than 5 characters in length, has a combination of upper and lower case letters, and includes numbers. Sounds simple, but unless you use the same password on every site you are never going to remember them all.

Recently I read an article on another blog about this topic and I learned a new system for creating secure and unique passwords that are easy to remember. I’m sorry I can’t remember who’s blog it was. If you have seen this article please let me know so I can link back to it. You are going to want to write this down, it’s a great idea.

Here’s how it works:

  • First you choose a simple, easy to remember [tag]keyword[/tag]. Maybe even the same old password you have been using all along. Let’s use “purple” for this example. This will be the key to all your passwords and is the only thing you have to commit to [tag]memory[/tag].
  • Next, look at the first letter in the domain name of the site you are on. We’ll use this one for the example, whydoibother.com. The first letter is “W”. Capitalize this letter and put it at the beginning of your password. So in this example what we have so far is “Wpurple”
  • Now count the number of letters in the domain name. There are 12 letters in “whydoibother”. Put this number right in the middle of your keyword. If your keyword has an odd number of letters you will have do decide whether to split it before or after the middle letter. It doesn’t matter which, just remember what you decide. OK, that gives us “Wpur12ple” which is a pretty secure password.

    • The hardest part is remembering your keyword and the formula. If you like, print this article and keep it near your computer for reference. Do you have a system that works better? Leave a comment and share it with the rest of us.

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    Posted in Computers and The Internet | | 4 Comments »

    Dec

    3

    2005

    Christmas Spirit

    Author: Jeffrey

    I don’t know what has happened to me in the last few years. For a long time I have really not been that excited about Christmas. When I was a kid it was fun, but it was all about the gifts. More and more each year I find myself looking forward to the holiday for different reasons.

    Maybe it’s because I’m a home owner now and the lights are fun to put up around the yard. Maybe it’s because my family has grown so much since I got married a few years ago. Maybe I’m just getting old. I don’t know. All I know is that I’m listening to Christmas music right now as I write this and it feels good.

    I’m still a humbug most of the rest of the year, so I guess it’s OK to lighten up for a few weeks. Merry Christmas you guys.

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    Posted in Christmas, Family, Holidays | | 3 Comments »