Who can function properly without numerous passwords?

Unfortunately, we have become largely dependent on passwords. Whether it’s checking our emails, writing online bank checks or shopping from catalog sites, passwords have their part in maintaining computer and Internet security.

One favorite topic of Internet journalists are compilations of horror stories about security breaches, fraud, and phishing sites. Users are consistently told that a strong password is essential these days to protect private data.

Beyond the passwords automatically assigned for our use by software installs and system administrators, many times we are given the choice to pick a password.

Some folks take the easy path and select a simple, easy to remember password. Easy to remember and secure don’t go together. To illustrate, I did a google search for “top ten passwords”.

Look what I found.

If you spot your own password listed then you might consider a change.

From PCMag

1. password
2. 123456
3. qwerty
4. abc123
5. letmein
6. monkey
7. myspace1
8. password1
9. link182
10. (your first name)

From darkreading

1. (username)
2. (username)123
3. 123456
4. password
5. 1234
6. 12345
7. passwd
8. 123
9. test
10. 1

See the trend?

For some years, I have been using a Window’s based program called Password Agent. It’s an easy-to-navigate password management program that allows you to store all your passwords, secret notes and data snippets in a single, secure database.

Since it’s accessible only with the master password that you choose, your master password is used as the encryption/decryption key and is not stored anywhere. Of most importance, the program includes a password generator that generates non-guessable passwords.

Take a look, for a small purchase price the software may just save you a ton of grief.

search for : passwords, phishing