What's My Password?

Now a days, everything requires setting up a user account that includes a user name and password. If you are like me, keeping track of all my different account information can be taxing on my aging brain. Some people will read this tip and say to themselves, "I don't have that problem, as I use the same password for everything". Well, that might work for a while, but more and more steps are being taken to make user accounts unique and less "hacker accessible". For example, many online tools have very specific password criteria that must be met in order for your password to be accepted. They even provide a "password strength" mechanism that turns green when your password has met the needed criteria.

Below are a few different methods to keep track of all user names and passwords that are much more secure that using post-it notes tacked to a bulletin board :)

• Create a notebook page in your email that contains all your user names and passwords. Most email programs have a notebook feature that allows users to create notebook pages that contain whatever information you want. Create a notebook page but don't give the page a title (only you will know that the untitled notebook page contains top secret information). Because email is web based, you can access this information from anywhere!! Please keep in mind that your email password should not be something obvious or easy to figure out!!

• Type all your user names and passwords into a Word document and email yourself the document as an attachment. Send it to both your work and personal email accounts. Once you receive the email, move it to an email folder. Remember to give the folder a title that is only meaningful to you. Should you reset or change a password, just open the attachment, make the change, and save the document.
  

A few wise words to live by...