July monthly poll - How do you keep track of your passwords?

How do you keep track of your passwords?

For the month of July we thought it would be interesting to see how you remember your computer passwords. If you use a computer password manager feel free to mention which program you use and what you like/dislike about it.

All past monthly polls and results can also be found on the Computer Hope poll page.

I usually write them in 6" letters on the wall behind my computer.

I use my head and with my work laptop I have to change the password every 90 days so I tend to change them all at the same time.

[Moderator]

While I admit I frequently do use the same passwords, I also use the paid version of RoboForm on all systems. It's a great piece of software.

[Global Moderator]

Mac's Keychain has them all. Used to keep them in my head though.

[Web moderator]

Firefox + paper for more important ones.

There is no option for documenting passwords with a office document (MS word, OpenOffice). That is what I do.

I would add a line to my document like:
     Site                   User Name     Alt. email                     Birthday         Password
ComputerHope         Cityscape      example@example.ca   09/09/1932    iamcool

It keeps track of user name, password & other info for account recovery.

Firefox + paper for more important ones.

Just a Tip on Firefox, make sure to setup a master password for Firefox (Tools / Options / Security). If no Master password is setup someone can easily access the security section and view all your passwords.

There is no option for documenting passwords with a office document (MS word, OpenOffice). That is what I do.

That's true, sure you're not the only one doing that but in the hopes of keeping it simple, just vote "Other". Also just a tip if you're relying off a software notepad might as well use a password manager such as KeePass. It's 100% free and will encrypt your data. This is a much better solution since anyone who has access to your computer could access that file and have access to all your passwords.


You may not think the above suggestions are issues if you don't have anyone else using your computer but if it were to be stolen, they'd immediately have access to all your login information.

[Web moderator]

Just a Tip on Firefox, make sure to setup a master password for Firefox (Tools / Options / Security). If no Master password is setup someone can easily access the security section and view all your passwords.

Thanks I didn't use one but now do.

Thanks I didn't use one but now do.

Glad to hear, after typing this thought it'd also be a good tip for everyone so created new tip page for it.

Thanks I didn't use one but now do.

Same here. I wasn't aware of that but now I have created a master password for my Firefox passwords.

Since I did not have a master password in Firefox until now and sometimes use different browsers or different computers, I don't try to save all passwords in a browser and I never save passwords in a browser for websites such as online banking.  However, now that I'm aware of the master password in Firefox, I may use the browser to save some passwords for more sensitive websites.

For several years, I've been using a Microsoft Access database for passwords. The folder containing the database is encrypted and the database requires a password to open it. 

Thanks I didn't use one but now do.

Same here. Thanks for the tip.

[Moderator]

I write mine on the ceiling of my shop...

[Web moderator]

Great idea! Just make sure no-one slips on the floor or they'll see all of them.

[Moderator]

If they're lying on the floor they are hardly noticable from there...

I've got three that I always try to use.  If I can't use those I usually need to write it down somewhere.

I worked for one company where the IT department forced everyone to change passwords every 30 days.  In the interest of security you had to use a combination of caps, numbers, letters and symbols so you ended up with a password no one could remember.  Every monitor in the office had a post it note with the new password stuck on it.  So much for increased security.