Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Writing Down Passwords?

Posted by Cliff on from the would-you-write-down-your-safe's-combination dept.

Atryn wonders: "I was recently checking for the latest firmware for a Netgear router when I decided to click on their Guide to Internet Security where it states: 'Contrary to much 'expert' advice, there is very little risk writing down passwords. In fact, years from now you may discover you need them to access old files.' I'm wondering what Slashdot thinks of Netgear's recommendation." Update: 06/08 21:19 GMT by T : Reader 654043 reminds us of the Microsoft recommendation to write down passwords which ran a few weeks back, and which has some pretty sound reasoning behind it.

17 of 428 comments (clear)

  1. recommendations? by professorhojo · · Score: 1, Funny

    can anyone recommend a centralized password storage software solution that works well for them?

    1. Re:recommendations? by Professor_UNIX · · Score: 2, Funny
      I've got this thing called a spiral bound notebook...

      Then just lock it in a safe. The problem with that is I wrote the combination on a sticky note somewhere and I can't find it. As a backup I copied it into a text file and uploaded it to a remote server with a non-obvious name but unfortunately I forgot what I called it. :-( Next time I'm just going to keep the combination taped to the front of the safe.

    2. Re:recommendations? by bano · · Score: 2, Funny

      Yes email them to me, along with your credit card numbers.

    3. Re:recommendations? by rjelks · · Score: 4, Funny

      It's a good idea to hide passwords that you've written on paper - but you don't need a safe. Just stick it to the bottom of the keyboard like I do. No one will every find it there.

      --


      Tech News, Reviews and Tutorials
    4. Re:recommendations? by sTalking_Goat · · Score: 2, Funny
      ah, dammit.

      My whole system was running like a greased skillet until you mentioned that.

      Now I can't remember a damn thing...

      --

      My days of not taking you seriously are certainly coming to a middle...

    5. Re:recommendations? by bnardone · · Score: 5, Funny

      I thought what he had posted was the Perl script.

    6. Re:recommendations? by Draveed · · Score: 3, Funny

      Amazing! That's the same combination as my luggage!

      --
      Oh, Edmund, can it be true? that I hold here, in my mortal hand, a nugget of purest green?
  2. Google groups by jusdisgi · · Score: 2, Funny

    No, no, just post them to Google Groups! That way you can always get back to them no matter where you are!

    --
    Given a choice between free speech and free beer, most people will take the beer.
    1. Re:Google groups by tourvil · · Score: 2, Funny
      No, no, just post them to Google Groups! That way you can always get back to them no matter where you are!

      Nah, just give your passwords to me. I'll email them back to you if you forget.

  3. this seems like it MIGHT not be a bad idea.... by shoblime · · Score: 2, Funny

    ....because to get all your passwords, the l33t after-school hackers would have to *gasp* leave the basement, and presumably do some breaking and entering to get your list...

  4. Passwords? Blog 'em! by otisg · · Score: 3, Funny

    Hide them where cr@ck3rz will least expect them - your blog!

    --
    Simpy
  5. Either that, by Scud · · Score: 3, Funny

    Either that, or call the help desk like I do.

    They always seem to know what it is.

    We're on a first name basis.

    --
    I dream in binary.
  6. Re:it's in my wallet by Antonymous+Flower · · Score: 3, Funny

    would your password be 'trojanman' or 'lifestyles', by chance?

  7. Re:it's in my wallet by hsteck_ylf · · Score: 2, Funny

    damn... how'd you figure that out?!? :P

    --
    If you are expecting something here, I don't know what to tell you...
  8. best password mnemonic ever by circletimessquare · · Score: 3, Funny

    1. pick a number (one to three digits probably)

    2. add 5

    3. multiply by 3

    4. square this number

    5. add the digits over and over until you get only one digit (i.e. 64=6+4=10=1+0=1)

    6. if the number is less than 5 then add five otherwise subtract 4

    7. multiply by 2

    8. subtract 6

    9. use this number to select a letter of the alphabet 1=A, 2=B, 3=C, etc.

    10. pick the name of a country that begins with that letter

    11. take the second letter in the country name and think of an animal that begins with that letter

    but wait...

    there are no elephants in Denmark!

    --
    intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it
  9. Coincidentally... by Skjellifetti · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'm sitting here reading /. because I fucking can't remember the fucking root password to a server that I'm supposed to administer as a favor to a friend. I changed it two months ago, haven't needed to get on the fucking machine since and now, when I need to fix it, I can't remember what the fuck I changed it to. And no, I can't just stick a rescue boot disk in because I don't know what fucking city the server is in.

    Note to self: Next time, write down the fucking password and put it in the fucking file cabinet.

    Note to poster: Did you ask this fucking question just to fuck with my mind or was it pure coincidence?

    --
    FreeSpeech.org
  10. Have you tried... by Captain_Chaos · · Score: 3, Funny

    ..."fucking"?