Columns

You don't need your password to read this

It took me three user names and three passwords to write this column on my laptop.

By Susan Thurston, Times Staff Writer
Published October 14, 2007

It took me three user names and three passwords to write this column on my laptop.

I needed a seven-digit number to check my voice mail and an ID and password to access my paycheck.

Factor in another two codes for my e-mail and another two for my Yahoo account, and you can see where I'm headed.

Passwords have taken control of my life.

In the early days of high-tech security, I had the same user name and password to open sesame. Now passwords are picky.

Some require letters and numbers, some are case sensitive and others need a minimum length. To further annoy, some expire after a few months.

It's gotten so bad I had to write all my passwords on a big sheet of paper that I leave on my desk. So much for security.

My personal life isn't much better. I have passwords for sending digital photos through Walgreens and passwords for finding a babysitter. Checking my 401k plan? Please log in.

Honestly, I think twice before proceeding with anything that asks for a new password. Even the prompt questions pose problems. What's the name of your favorite pet?

Hmm. Did I put the name of my first cat, who died, or my current cat?

Arrgh. I can't remember.

Alas, the Internet is full of sites that offer password tips, including these from Microsoft:

- Don't use only letters or only numbers.

- Don't use names of spouses, children or pets.

- Don't use phone numbers, Social Security numbers or birth dates.

- And my favorite: Don't use any word in the dictionary - even foreign words.

Geez. I violate all of them and then some, like using password as a password. It's quick. It's easy. Hackers love it.

I'm so ashamed.

With that in mind, Microsoft offers these tidbits for creating passwords that are tough to crack but relatively easy to remember:

- Substitute letters in a word with numbers and characters, such as 2 and @

- Make it at least eight characters; the longer, the better.

- Use the entire keyboard to find symbols, not just the top row.

- Use the first letters of the words in a favorite line, then add some complexity. For example, "Two, four, six, eight. Passwords are what I hate." Make it 2468pawih.

Finally, a password I can remember.

[Last modified October 12, 2007, 19:36:00]