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| Recognize these? The top 25 worst passwords revealed“Password” tops this year’s list of none-too-cle | |
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| Topic Started: Nov 24 2011, 01:58 AM (340 Views) | |
| goldengal | Nov 24 2011, 01:58 AM Post #1 |
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Mistress, House of Dogs
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“Password” tops this year’s list of none-too-clever security codes compiled by software firm SplashData. The sequence “123456” ranked second on the list of 25, followed by “12345678.” Slightly more sophisticated electronics users type the keyboard sequence “qwerty” and the series “abc123” to complete the Top 5 worst passwords. Anybody using such a code should change it immediately, says SplashData chief executive Morgan Slain. “Hackers can easily break into many accounts just be repeatedly trying common passwords,” says Slain, whose company sells password management applications for smartphones and tablets. “If you have a password that is short or common or a word in the dictionary, it’s like leaving your door open to identity thieves,” he said Tuesday in a release. Hordes of users think they are being clever by using “passw0rd,” replacing the “o” with a zero. A few witty attempts proved entirely unoriginal, including “iloveyou,” “trustno1” and “letmein.” Three first names made the list: Michael, Ashley and Bailey. A few common dictionary words also appear, including: master, sunshine, monkey and baseball. Among SplashData’s tips to make your password more secure: • Use passwords of eight characters or more with mixed types of characters. One way to do so is to mix short words with spaces and other characters, such as “eat cake at 8!” and “car_park_city?” • Avoid using the same username/password combination for multiple websites. For example, find different combinations for social networking and financial services sites. SplashData compiled its list from files containing millions of stolen passwords posted online by hackers, the company said. http://www.thestar.com/business/article/1090745--recognize-these-the-top-25-worst-passwords-revealed?bn=1 Take care, Pat |
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| lilal | Nov 24 2011, 06:39 AM Post #2 |
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Blue Star Member
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I read somewhere that a recommended password was to use your birth or marriage date this way: IWB_***** or IWM_****** The stars indicated month, day, last two digits of the year. BUT I wonder how easy it is for hackers to find out the dates of a person's birth or marriage? |
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| Delphi51 | Nov 26 2011, 02:39 PM Post #3 |
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I once tested the passwords at my workplace (I was network admin). I learned my lesson - never again! A downloaded cracker got all but two of them. I had a punctuation mark in mine, which did the trick. The thing is, it took thousands of tries and most bank websites don't let you try more than three times. Also, sites require a username AND a password, which is much more secure than some banks that still use the easily guessed account number. I sometimes can't guess my own! I think the whole worry is greatly exaggerated.
Edited by Delphi51, Nov 26 2011, 02:50 PM.
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| Dialtone | Nov 26 2011, 03:11 PM Post #4 |
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Gold Star Member
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Delphi, you said it all in your last sentence, " I sometimes can't guess my own! I think the whole worry is greatly exaggerated. " Online thieves are only as good as the gullible people who fall for scams and lies and don't keep their malware defintions up to date. For the millions of people who bank online every day and do online credit card transactions without incidence, just make sure that you are on the true site with a secure link. Make sure you periodically change your passwords (as per your online banking rules) and don't let your ego get in the way, most people aren't that important to be a target. Online thieves and losers usually exploit opportunity, but rarely stalk. |
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| campy | Nov 27 2011, 12:53 AM Post #5 |
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Handyman Extraordinaire
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Here's how the thieves work in some places. They wait until someone like an older woman is accessing an ATM machine. Then they accost her and take her money after she withdraws it from the machine. No need to know the password. Edited by campy, Nov 27 2011, 12:53 AM.
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| Delphi51 | Nov 28 2011, 06:28 PM Post #6 |
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Member title
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I wonder about that periodic change of password. What is the theory on that? The bad guy gets your password somehow, then likely uses it immediately and you probably notice. Oh, I guess it protects you from the patient thief who only steals small amounts over time. Maybe checking on the account several times a month while you still remember what you bought is an essential defense. Good heads up, Campy. As we get older we may become more likely targets for that sort of thing. I wandered around town with a new iPhone and notebook computer in the car on Saturday. |
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| Deleted User | Nov 29 2011, 12:20 AM Post #7 |
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Deleted User
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A thief can starve using that method Campy. They do better by installing a hidden camera at an ATM which records passwords of all who use the ATM ... robbing old ladies can earn a thief a swat across the chops with her heavy purse - at least he would from me. 1r |
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| Deleted User | Nov 29 2011, 12:31 AM Post #8 |
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Deleted User
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What Happens To People Who Choose Weak Passwords If someone else obtains your passwords, they may start to use your account to see your private data, including email, your bank accounts, your phone messages; they could start to alter or destroy your files or they could take over your computer; and they might even perform illegal activities in your name -- in such cases, it is difficult to find out who the culprit is and you might get under suspicion. The Basics The following guidelines will guard against someone finding out your password and using your account illegally: * Make your password as long as possible. The longer it is, the more difficult it will be to attack the password with a brute-force search. Always use at least 6 characters in your password, at least two of which are numeric. * Use as many different characters as possible when forming your password. Use numbers, punctuation characters and, when possible, mixed upper and lower-case letters. Choosing characters from the largest possible alphabet will make your password more secure. * Do not use personal information in your password that someone else is likely to be able to figure out. Obviously, things like your name, phone number, and address are to be avoided. Even names of acquaintances and the like should not be used. * Do not use words, geographical names, or biographical names that are listed in standard dictionaries. * Never use a password that is the same as your account number. * Do not use passwords that are easy to spot while you're typing them in. Passwords like 12345, qwerty (i.e., all keys right next to each other), or nnnnnn should be avoided Here are some guidelines about what secure passwords should not include: * Your name * Your spouse's name * Your parent's name * Your pet's name * Your child's name * Names of close friends or coworkers * Names of your favorite fantasy characters * Your boss's name * Anybody's name * The name of the operating system you're using * The hostname of your computer * Your phone number * Your license plate number * Any part of your social security number * Anybody's birth date * Other information that is easily obtained about you * Words such as wizard, guru, gandalf, and so on. * Any username on the computer in any form (as is, capitalized, etc.) * A word in the English dictionary * A word in a foreign dictionary * A place * A proper noun * Passwords of all the same letter * Simple patterns on the keyboard, like qwerty * Any of the above spelled backwards * Any of the above followed or prepended by a single digit * 123456 Good passwords2: * Have both upper and lower case letters * Have digits and/or punctuation characters as well as letters * Are easy to remember, so they do not have to be written down * Are seven or eight characters long * Can be typed quickly, so someone else cannot look over your shoulder. * Never give your password to anyone. |
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| campy | Nov 29 2011, 01:19 AM Post #9 |
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Handyman Extraordinaire
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You wouldn't be swinging any purse with two guys there and one guy holding a knife. They had the nerve to take her back to the ATM machine because she didn't take out enough on the first try. |
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| Deleted User | Dec 1 2011, 04:09 PM Post #10 |
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Deleted User
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Oh yes I would be swinging my purse. I am not a TV shrinking violet that sucks her thumb in a dangerous situation. I have had a gun held at my forehead in a bank robbery on more than one occasion. While I stared at the barrel of the gun & memorized his description, I quietly set off the silent alarm with my knee. I almost never use an ATM machine. I prefer to go to a teller for personal service and get to know the staff. |
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| campy | Dec 2 2011, 01:13 AM Post #11 |
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Handyman Extraordinaire
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No amount of money is worth your life. None. Zilch. Going to a teller is no guarantee. You could be accosted in a parking lot and it has happened here as well. Many women will not park in a dark parking garage. If I am accosted I will take the money out of my wallet and throw it on the ground and take off. But then again he might be taking me on on the wrong day and he would get a kick where the sun doesn't shine. Edited by campy, Dec 2 2011, 01:17 AM.
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| lilal | Dec 2 2011, 05:44 AM Post #12 |
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Blue Star Member
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QUOTE:Good passwords2: * Have both upper and lower case letters * Have digits and/or punctuation characters as well as letters * Are easy to remember, so they do not have to be written down * Are seven or eight characters long All this might be wonderful for a good password but this is a Senior's Forum.....how many of us could remember (don't write Passwords down? ) ones (don't use the same password everywhere you need one) done this way? oooh 02 102 :praying.gif: biggrin 04 |
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| Deleted User | Dec 2 2011, 03:32 PM Post #13 |
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Deleted User
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Lilal ... if you use Firefox, it will remember the password for you. If you forget it, then you can retrieve it quite easily. |
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| lilal | Dec 2 2011, 03:52 PM Post #14 |
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Blue Star Member
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If I allow Firefox to remember my passwords then someone else accesses my computer it's not very safe either, is it? |
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| Deleted User | Jan 5 2012, 07:30 PM Post #15 |
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Deleted User
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The passwords are hidden in Frefox and when you wish to see them, you have to unhide them. It is also a good time to delete the passwords that are no longer used when they were changed to a new one. AS a backup I went to the dollar store and purchased a small booklet for 99 cents and write all my passwords there. I deliberately had a floppy disc drive installed on my computer and store a backup of passwords on a floppy. The same can be done on a rewriteable CD or DVD ... |
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9:54 PM Jul 11