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David Axt, AIA, CCS, CSI
Senior Member
Username: david_axt

Post Number: 1049
Registered: 03-2002


Posted on Thursday, June 04, 2009 - 12:47 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

How do you guys manage your passwords? It seems like nowadays I have about 50 passwords for things like stores, banks, forums, etc. I can't remember my own cell phone number let alone 50 passwords. Help!
Lynn Javoroski CSI CCS LEEDŽ AP SCIP Affiliate
Senior Member
Username: lynn_javoroski

Post Number: 887
Registered: 07-2002
Posted on Thursday, June 04, 2009 - 12:54 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

I've chosen a theme/sequence of letters that is meaningful to me (the alpha portion) and vary the numerical portion according to tne month and year. Then all I have to remember is when I signed up! And if it's less important (no security/identification theft involved), I use something silly like "password"...
Christopher E. Grimm, CSI, CCS, LEEDŽ-AP, MAI, RLA
Senior Member
Username: tsugaguy

Post Number: 209
Registered: 06-2005


Posted on Thursday, June 04, 2009 - 01:03 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

I do very similar to Lynn, only I would forget the month & year so it is more alpha-based relative to the website, with some #'s mixed in. No matter how consistent you try to be though there are always some websites that have exacting rules that require at least one symbol, or not to exceed a rediculously short length, or something. So a password vault type of system might be good to use to record them somewhere. I found one for Windows Mobile that works well, that is a plain text data system for any secure info.
(Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
Posted on Thursday, June 04, 2009 - 12:51 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Check out RoboForm for most browsers: http://www.roboform.com/

I use Firefox, though, and the 'Secure Login' plug-in makes it a breeze.
David Axt, AIA, CCS, CSI
Senior Member
Username: david_axt

Post Number: 1050
Registered: 03-2002


Posted on Thursday, June 04, 2009 - 01:20 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Lynn,

I agree with you. Passwords for things like my timesheet I use "Password" or the name of the company. Who is going to hack into my timesheet? But for things like on-line banking, Ebay, Amazon, etc. I need to find a secure password that I can remember. I am trying to invent some sort of code that I can figure out the password if I don't remember.
Ralph Liebing, RA, CSI
Senior Member
Username: rliebing

Post Number: 994
Registered: 02-2003
Posted on Thursday, June 04, 2009 - 01:41 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Try your registration number followed by "ra" [as in registered architect] to add some alphas-- that pretty unique to you.
Lynn Javoroski CSI CCS LEEDŽ AP SCIP Affiliate
Senior Member
Username: lynn_javoroski

Post Number: 888
Registered: 07-2002
Posted on Thursday, June 04, 2009 - 02:04 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Good idea, Ralph. Especially if your number isn't readily available to non-members. If it's only available to members, at least you can narrow down the thief's identity.

I also substitute numbers for look-alike letters (4 for A, 0 for o, 5 for s and so on); that makes the variations more interesting.

But in order to be inconsistent and unpredictable, the only thing is to keep a record someplace. Someplace secure. Like on a thumb drive that you (1) won't ever loose and (2) is accessible only by ....a password!
John Bunzick, CCS, CCCA, LEED AP
Senior Member
Username: bunzick

Post Number: 1051
Registered: 03-2002
Posted on Thursday, June 04, 2009 - 02:58 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

I use the RFID chip embedded under the skin in my right hand that I can just pass over the scanner in my keyboard, combined with a retinal scan from my webcam. I don't have to remember anything!


(if only)
Lynn Javoroski CSI CCS LEEDŽ AP SCIP Affiliate
Senior Member
Username: lynn_javoroski

Post Number: 889
Registered: 07-2002
Posted on Thursday, June 04, 2009 - 02:59 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

"I don't have to remember anything"...Now if only that would work for the rest of life...
Ralph Liebing, RA, CSI
Senior Member
Username: rliebing

Post Number: 995
Registered: 02-2003
Posted on Thursday, June 04, 2009 - 03:16 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

With John's hidden chip, if he is ever lost, a vet can scan the chip to find his "owner"!
Tim Werbstein, AIA, CSI, CCS
Senior Member
Username: tim_werbstein

Post Number: 8
Registered: 09-2006
Posted on Friday, June 05, 2009 - 07:41 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

I have a notebook on my desk clearly labeled "TIM'S SECRET PASSWORDS."
Richard A. Rosen, CSI, CCS, AIA
Senior Member
Username: rarosen

Post Number: 44
Registered: 08-2006
Posted on Monday, June 08, 2009 - 01:21 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

I use a little program called AnyPassword available for free at anypass.com. All I did was download and install on my flash drive and it goes anywhere with me. One nice feature is that it will generate a hardened password if you want.
Vivian Volz, RA, CSI, CCS
Senior Member
Username: vivianvolz

Post Number: 120
Registered: 06-2004
Posted on Friday, June 26, 2009 - 02:05 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

I try to use something that isn't part of the public record, and I try to use variations on just a couple of passwords. So anything financial has one password, anything social has another, and so on. I have a goofy but fairly secure password I call my "joiner" password that I use for all those things that require a password for no good reason, like WR Grace's web site (Why??). And I have a standard plan for misspelling words.

Still, sounds like Richard Rosen's plan is both more secure and easier.

By the way, your registration number fails the "not in the public record" rule. In California anyone can find my license number if they know my name. I went and got it on my iPhone one day while filling out a job application!
John Bunzick, CCS, CCCA, LEED AP
Senior Member
Username: bunzick

Post Number: 1062
Registered: 03-2002
Posted on Monday, June 29, 2009 - 05:14 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

WR Grace was in our office last week for a lunch and learn. They told us they recently got rid of their sign-in requirement.
Lisa Goodwin Robbins, RA, CCS, LEED ap
Senior Member
Username: lgoodrob

Post Number: 32
Registered: 08-2004
Posted on Friday, July 31, 2009 - 02:46 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

I just came across an informative Microsoft page about creating passwords that I thought I'd "pass" along: http://www.microsoft.com/protect/yourself/password/create.mspx
(Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
Posted on Saturday, August 01, 2009 - 11:02 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Can anyone give me a reason for having 50 separate passwords? I am concerned and take great precautions for banks and financial institutions, or but why should I be "that" concerned about who gains access to non financial sites?
Richard A. Rosen, CSI, CCS, AIA
Senior Member
Username: rarosen

Post Number: 49
Registered: 08-2006
Posted on Monday, August 03, 2009 - 07:58 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Unregistered is correct. One of the problems I have experienced is that the username I select is already taken and the site won't accept it, then I have to select another one. My email address would be unique but I don't want to use it unless absoloutly necessary. For non-critical sites I use the same password but often have a different username.
Anne Whitacre, FCSI CCS
Senior Member
Username: awhitacre

Post Number: 888
Registered: 07-2002


Posted on Monday, August 03, 2009 - 01:06 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

I've used my childhood address and phone numbers for passwords -- unless someone finds my elementary school records, these letter/number combinations aren't part of my current life, or readily available to anyone. And, since they were the first phone number and address I ever memorized, both of them are pretty easy for me to remember.

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