Re: Absurd password (rant)

Ray wrote:

Robert Bannister <robban@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:


It's quite bad enough when you get to choose them yourself. I
don't have real problems with web sites, but at work we had to
change our log-on password every month. You weren't allowed
repeats within quite a long timeframe and the minimum of 6
character passwords had to contain at least one number and one
letter. After a year or so, I had to do the unthinkable and write
the *&^&^% thing down.


The local paper ran an article recently about how to choose passwords. Two of their suggestions:
- Use a mixture of upper- and lower-case letters, numbers, and symbols, with at least 8 characters (preferably more than 14).
- Create a password that can be typed quickly.

What's wrong with this picture?

I suppose it all depends on the security level. For most purposes that I have used computers for, that level is very low, and I want to be able to use my kind of password: I've made a list of "words" that alternate left and right hand for quick typing, and any numerals go at the very end; preferably no caps or not more than one, and 6-7 characters.

For banking and some types of business that is obviously a different story, but it is impossible to remember long, complicated passwords if they are constantly changing, and if people have to write them down, that totally defeats the object.

I must admit I use Netscape's Password Manager for most web sites that need a password. I've no idea how secure that is, if at all, but I wouldn't use it for anything important.


--
Rob Bannister
.

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