How do you remember all your passwords?

@mipen2006 (5528)
Australia
July 9, 2009 4:51pm CST
With so mane sites to visit, and nearly all requesting passwords, how do you remember them all? Do you have a different password for each site? Do you use the same one? Is it safe to use the same password? I'm confused on this issue, and would appreciate myLotter's input on how the handle the situation.
9 people like this
59 responses
• United States
10 Jul 09
i use the same password on every site i use. lol. Its the only way i ever remember. i had to change it once on a different site, and i never remembered that password again. so if i use the same one for everything, ill never forget. =]
3 people like this
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
11 Jul 09
I think that is a little risky, but that's what I've been doing also. Now I'm going to record them all, and change some for security purposes. Thanks for your comments.
@daryljane (3406)
• Philippines
10 Jul 09
I have diff passwords. For my online earning sites, im using one password for each site, although there are websties that generate their own password, i make sure to note that down. For my email, i have another set of password, for my office tools, i note down all the password because it changes every 3months. Its really hard to keep up with all the passwords so i have notes on that one.
3 people like this
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
11 Jul 09
Hey daryljane sounds to me that you're pretty well covered, thanks for taking the time to answer, and have a good weekend.
1 person likes this
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
10 Jul 09
i pretty much always use virtually the same passwords on every site that i belong to. they are mixed up a bit but not that much. i find it easier, plus anyways, not too many people would be interested in which site i belong to because none of them are worth any money.
3 people like this
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
11 Jul 09
Hi cher, I don't think many people would be interested in the sites I go to either, but for security purposes, I'm going to change, so I'll have peace of mind. Thank you for your comments.
1 person likes this
@egdcltd (12060)
9 Jul 09
I use Firefox's save password feature to remember most of them. No, it generally isn't considered a good idea to use the same usernames and passwords on different sites, although many do. What you should do is generate a new random password every time you want one, using something like this: http://www.pctools.com/guides/password/
1 person likes this
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
9 Jul 09
Hello egdcltd, thanks for the informative reply, and also for the warning. There must be many older people, like myself. who because of poor memroies use the same username and password. Thank you for the link, I'll give it a go.
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
10 Jul 09
Ah, that word back up. Now that's something I should do more often. Thanks for the reminder egdcltd. As for the password, I think I'll take a step backwards, and go manual. Thanks for your input. I'll still check out pctools though.
@egdcltd (12060)
9 Jul 09
Most people do tend to use a limited number of passwords everywhere, usually about three or four. I don't use the password generator as much as I should I admit. I am getting better though. If you do use Firefox to store your passwords, and should some of those not be possible to reset or change if you forgot them, it's a pretty good idea to backup your FF profile.
1 person likes this
@saundyl (9783)
• Canada
10 Jul 09
I tend to use 3 different passwords - add a 4th one when they say hey you need to use more than a certain number of letters. I use things...that are important to me but change letters into numbers to make them harder to guess. I dont know how i remember then theyre just there in myhead.
2 people like this
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
11 Jul 09
If it works for you, then that's good, but I can't remember my ATM pin number so I have to write them all down. That is from now on, as I've been using the same one, which asn't very secure. Thanks for your input saundy.
@GADHISUNU (2162)
• India
10 Jul 09
I make passwords meaningful to the site or application in question.I will be coining in some sort of convoluted Sanskrit. Both these make it s good choice- in terms of complexity as well as ease of remembrance for me. Rarely have I had to request for a Password change or Password mail request.
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
10 Jul 09
Hello gadhisunu, welcome back, and I'm sorry for my ignorance, but I didn't realize Sanskrit was one of India's official languages. That's one of the good things about myLot, one can always increase ones knowledge. However, back to the topic, and I think your method, while it works for you, would be too difficult for me.
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
10 Jul 09
Congratulations GADHISUNU, you must have a good memory. As for me, well I can't always remember my ATM pin number. When I was young I could remember any number of telephone numbers, but I guess age has caught up, and the memory has faded. Thank you for taking time to respond.
@GADHISUNU (2162)
• India
10 Jul 09
Oh! Mipen, it is not that my memory is in excellent shape. There are times when I forget, and nowadays, that is not rare. As you admitted it is the same here. Age is catching up.But what I am doing is putting a cloak of Sanskrit over whatever it is I keep forgetting. Whether it is my ATM PIN or anything else I use the alphabetization of numerals that is a popular technique in Sanskrit Works to represent numbers. This is because though I am a lover of Math I do not so much enjoy numbers or number crunching. We have the computer to do that. I would rather write a C++ Program to a Number Crunching job if need be. That way at least I learn some Programming.
1 person likes this
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
10 Jul 09
For most sites, I do. I use 3 passwords for all sites. One is my favorite and I use it in less important sites. The other are more secure, but I remember them all. I try to gave the sane user name for all sites... it makes life easier...
1 person likes this
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
11 Jul 09
I use numbers that I will always remember...
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
10 Jul 09
Hey pola, that may work for you, but I can't even remember my wife's cell phone number, and there are times when I can't remember my simole four digit ATM number. Thanks for your time responding.
• Philippines
10 Jul 09
hi mipen2006. i work in a highly multitasking environment where I use a lot of tools and keep them open all at the same time. so here is what i do: for my personal email, I follow a theme every year, so I only change my password once a year. there are applications at work wherein i need to change passwords monthly,quarterly etc. so what i do is use a password that corresponds to when i changed it: for example today070909. i use this system of 'passwording' in 2 of my applications. then for those i need to change quarterly i use seasons plus numbers. like Autumn39 then add a couple of special characters. for my online gigs, i use my personal email so i use the same password for those sites i register to. but I'm thinking of creating an alternate email so it wont be bombarded with spams and junk emails. so in your case, do a system that will work for you and something that you are comfortable with. really, creating passwords is a personalized thing. you do it your own way. hope this helps. good luck!
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
10 Jul 09
Hi NarcyaProspera, you lost me right after "highly mulyitasking environment." Not really, but your system is far too complicated for someone who can't even remember their own mobile number. Thank you for the system, and have a great day in your HME. Lol.
• Philippines
10 Jul 09
hi mipen2006. since i work on computers all night long ( i work night shift ) i use notepad to record all my notes, passwords, things to do, etc. so my system is not really that hard like what you think. hehehe. i also suffer from memory gap sometimes? so if there is something i need to remember i save it on my phone. when i was a student i usually create a to do list on pen and paper, now since i always deal with computers i put them on my PC notepad and mobile phone. :) regarding memorizing mobile numbers.. would you believe that i also familiarized myself with my special someone's number? and of course my mom's as well. for emergency cases, you know. hope this helps.
• United States
9 Jul 09
I have a small journal that I use to record the website name, user, and password. I will use the same password on about 8 to 10 websites, then use a variation on the theme for the next 10 websites. All my passwords are alpha-numeric of at least 8 characters long. I started the journal years ago when the number of websites I was visiting grew too large to keep the information on a 3X5 index card.
1 person likes this
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
9 Jul 09
Hi celticrogue, now this sounds perfect, and I hope not too late for me to adopt, as I have been using the same one, which is dangerous. Thanks for the response and useful tip. Incidently what would happen if you lost your diary? Heaven forbid!
• United States
10 Jul 09
Hi, mipen, Yeah, it's a good system. I keep the journal in the desk cabinet with the computer software discs, so that I always know where it is. If it ever got lost, I would be deep in dog doo-doo!
1 person likes this
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
10 Jul 09
Well, Im about to fpllow your system, and I never want to find myself in dog-do-do!
@EliteUser (3964)
• Australia
3 Oct 09
Hey, Well I don't really remember all of my passwords, the main reason how I actually remember them is that I put them in notepad and whenever I need to log into a website, I just merely open up that notepad document and see what the passwords is. Make sure you have a good day, God bless and Happy Lotting!!
1 person likes this
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
3 Oct 09
That's very sensible, EliteUser. Thank you for responding.
@EliteUser (3964)
• Australia
14 Sep 09
Hey, I don't really have many passwords that I have to remember. I only have to remember about 4 passwords that I actually use. I don't really want to have many more passwords, or I might one day honestly forget my password. Make sure you have a good day, Happy Lotting!!
1 person likes this
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
14 Sep 09
Hi Elite, even if I had only rour passwords, I'd forget which went with which, but I do have a bad memoery, my wife will vouch for that, I'm sure. Thank you for responding, and enjoy your day.
@tigeraunt (6326)
• Philippines
27 Aug 09
i dont have many id's, that is one thing. and always when making a password, i make it a point that that is what is always in my mind even if i stumble or bump my head. i guess it is safe to use the same password. ann
1 person likes this
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
29 Aug 09
I used to use only one, but changed for security reasons. Thanks for your response.
• India
4 Sep 09
pendown on a sheet of paper
1 person likes this
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
4 Sep 09
Way to go.
@rdsantos (320)
• Philippines
6 Oct 09
what i do most often is to write down the username and password for the new site i just visited. sometimes i let my browser saves them,i know its not secure to do that,but anywat im just the only person who uses my pc.
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
6 Oct 09
It's a good idea to write your user name and passwords together. As far as letting your your browser remember them, that would be ok for most sites, if no security issues are involved. Thanks for your input.
• India
14 Jul 09
I give a single password to all the sites I join. :) Simple. Easy to remember. Cheers and happy Mylotting
1 person likes this
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
14 Jul 09
I have been doing this also, however in today's world I think it's too insecure, so I'm changing to a new system with different passwords, and write them in a register. Thanks for your input.
@skbh12 (2946)
• Philippines
14 Aug 09
hi mipen2006! well with regards to paasswords, i always choose something that means alot to me. it has somehow be related to my self or numbers and words which i always remember. but most of the time i only use one password for all the accounts i make. teehee..
1 person likes this
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
14 Aug 09
Sounds good to me,skbh, but you mast have a way better memory than me. I have to write them down, or I forget. Thanks for your response.
• United Kingdom
14 Jul 09
I have so many different passwords for so many different sites! There's one program that I absolutely love and it makes life that much easier and it's called RoboForm. I don't know if you've heard of this program but it remembers all your passwords for you whenever you enter a particular site. It's sounds a little dodgy but no, it's perfectly safe. I would recommend using this. You don't have to worry about roboform losing the passwords, you just back up the files on a weekly basis. Andrew
1 person likes this
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
15 Jul 09
Hey Andrew, thanks for that very informative information. I will give it a go, certainly safer than relying on a notebook!
@Ritchelle (3790)
• Philippines
12 Aug 09
i have 20 sites i visit everyday and i have a list of those sites together with my passwords. every 3 sites have the same passwords. though they may be combination of nos. important in my life once i lose that list i'd be lost figuring out which passwords belong to what site. i might even forget those sites .
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
12 Aug 09
I'm writing them all down now also. I'm also using the same password for some sites.
1 person likes this
• United States
11 Jul 09
I always use different passwords for important sites such as my college loan site, bank, and paypal account. Any other site I use one of three different passwords depending on the type of site it is. That way, the important sites are protected, and the less important accounts have an easy password for me to remember.
1 person likes this
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
11 Jul 09
Hey inkstainedheart, that may work for you, but I'm afraid my memory isn't good enough. I can't remember my wife's mobile phone number, let alone two or three different passwords. Thank you for your comments.
• India
12 Aug 09
I have written all my login information in my daily diary. Most of the places my password is same . Only at some sites i have changed the password.
1 person likes this
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
12 Aug 09
That's the system I'm using now. Thanks for responding.