Usernames and passwords

[beckyman]

I have stored my various usernames and passwords with an old fashioned pen in a paper notebook for several years. Is it considered safe to keep them in a folder on my laptop or should I continue in my old fashioned way? I tend to vary both quite a lot but never change them once set up. Any other suggestions?

[hc4361]

A folder on your laptop is the worst possible place.

I highly recommend LastPass

http://lastpass.com/

[hc4361]

If you decide to use Last Pass, remember to set it up with a very strong password that you won't forget.

[Old_Geezer]

I use an app that allows me to store passwords encrypted, so I need to recall very few.

[marden40]

I must admit, I'm the same.....I keep a little book where I have all such stuff and even little notes etc......when the book is full I transfer the important bits to a new book and shred the old one.

[rhythmcrazy]

I keep mine in a Word doc on my computer, protected with a strog password, and I also printed a copy so that I have it handy if anything ever happens to the computer copy.

[tenrec]

I also keep a notebook, but nowhere near my computers.

[chi-chi66]

I do the same beckyman and marden.

[craft1948]

Mine are all on the back of an envelope somewhere.................

[pdq1]

There is free software available that can interrogate your computer and dig out your passwords so holding them that way is not very good.

If interested I can look it up?

[tamborine]

You could load them onto Word & email to yourself for privacy and global access.

While you're at it, scan your passport/driving licence & other important docs to your email for same access.

[tamborine]

↑ Scan your CVs as well & thwart Border Control, as am bored with the stupid program.

[chi-chi66]

pdq1......is it called Trojans!!!!! had them once trying to get at my passwords....had to take into shop to get sorted, I'm not technical, cost a
pretty penny.

[snags]

''Mine are all on the back of an envelope somewhere''

^ It's behind the coffee jar on the second shelf of the cupboard above the fridge.

My user names and passwords are in a text file on my external hard drives.

[craft1948]

lol @ snags................it's actually in the safe.

[snags]

Oooh the safe eh... which is behind the Rembrandt in the West wing?

[craft1948]

I'm not saying, but it's a good job the daughter put the safe combination into my mobile.

[beso]

Word is not a good place to store sensitive information because its passwords are easily broken.

Indeed anywhere on a computer is an extremely vulnerable place. To view them they have to be accessed with a password. A keylogger can capture that password and then the hackers would have the lot.

Moreover when the content of the files is decrypted it is held in memory as plain as day. From there it can even end up written to disk unencrypted in the swap file.

[pdq1]

chi-chi66 ......Never heard of Cain and Abel then?

[pdq1]

Here you are freely available

http://www.oxid.it/cain.html