DISQUS

Glen Allsopp · 2 years ago

I know when I've forget email's in the past is because I've owned too many domains and use any old word before the @domain ;)

AndyBeard · 2 years ago

Roboform remembers everything you enter into forms so it can be used to remember which username or email address you enter on a particular site, just as easily as a password.

Lots of people do use labelling with email addresses for every site they leave an email address, so they can see who is selling their emails to spammers etc.

Glen Allsopp · 2 years ago

I know when I've forget email's in the past is because I've owned too many domains and use any old word before the @domain ;)

AndyBeard · 2 years ago

Roboform remembers everything you enter into forms so it can be used to remember which username or email address you enter on a particular site, just as easily as a password.

Lots of people do use labelling with email addresses for every site they leave an email address, so they can see who is selling their emails to spammers etc.

Matt Jones · 2 years ago

The art of having a good memory is knowing what to forget, so you are bang on the money.

Matt Jones · 2 years ago

The art of having a good memory is knowing what to forget, so you are bang on the money.

Scott Jangro · 2 years ago

On OS X, 1Passwd is a great app and plugin for Safari and Firefox.

Can't live without it. AND I can comfortably create secure passwords without worrying about forgetting them.

Scott Jangro · 2 years ago

On OS X, 1Passwd is a great app and plugin for Safari and Firefox.

Can't live without it. AND I can comfortably create secure passwords without worrying about forgetting them.

Richard · 2 years ago

Thanks for the article, I usually use the same PW for everything. I need to change it up.

Richard · 2 years ago

Thanks for the article, I usually use the same PW for everything. I need to change it up.

Michael · 2 years ago

Does remembering a few dozen, phone numbers, email addresses, etc. really effect memory as much as this article leads us to believe?

I think you are exaggerating this point a little bit. The human brain is the most awe-inspiring "machine" in existence, and is quite capable of remembering passwords and phone numbers while also operating at an incomparably high capacity.

AndyBeard · 2 years ago

Michael that is what the experts believe, and there are so many sources of expertise that recommend using a storage mechanism you trust for important information so that you can forget about it until the time when you need it, that I am not going to try to argue the point.

I could spend hours or days trying to remember a load of passwords many of which I don't use even once per month, but I would much rather not have to remember any of them.

Michael · 2 years ago

Does remembering a few dozen, phone numbers, email addresses, etc. really effect memory as much as this article leads us to believe?

I think you are exaggerating this point a little bit. The human brain is the most awe-inspiring "machine" in existence, and is quite capable of remembering passwords and phone numbers while also operating at an incomparably high capacity.

AndyBeard · 2 years ago

Michael that is what the experts believe, and there are so many sources of expertise that recommend using a storage mechanism you trust for important information so that you can forget about it until the time when you need it, that I am not going to try to argue the point.

I could spend hours or days trying to remember a load of passwords many of which I don't use even once per month, but I would much rather not have to remember any of them.

Lillie Ammann · 2 years ago

I love Roboform. I've tried similar programs in the past, but Roboform is the best.

Lillie Ammann · 2 years ago

I love Roboform. I've tried similar programs in the past, but Roboform is the best.

Jonathan Armis · 2 years ago

I found RoboForm from Rich Schefren, and have loved it ever since. Just a few it can't do, but that's still heaps of time saved.

And if Roboform ever fails... shudder.

I can't find a back-up option. Just a choice to make a physical print out.

AndyBeard · 2 years ago

Jonathan

Roboform stores its data in a very accessible location, it used to be in My Documents, but seems to use

c:\My RoboForm Data

Just zip that folder and save it to a CD occasionally, or use some secure online storage.

I do store one password on paper, access to my gmail account, but I have it buried in a 512 character string and stored safely

Jonathan Armis · 2 years ago

I found RoboForm from Rich Schefren, and have loved it ever since. Just a few it can't do, but that's still heaps of time saved.

And if Roboform ever fails... shudder.

I can't find a back-up option. Just a choice to make a physical print out.

AndyBeard · 2 years ago

Jonathan

Roboform stores its data in a very accessible location, it used to be in My Documents, but seems to use

c:\My RoboForm Data

Just zip that folder and save it to a CD occasionally, or use some secure online storage.

I do store one password on paper, access to my gmail account, but I have it buried in a 512 character string and stored safely

Enwikopedia · 2 years ago

I totally disagree with this:

Your brain has a finite capacity, though through training you can improve your use of it. The more you fill up your brain with things like passwords and phone numbers, the less capacity it has for learning important things, and thinking about them.

You can not prove that there is finite 'capacity'... maybe just finite throughput but not capactiy. Push yourself and you will be amazed.

AndyBeard · 2 years ago

I work on my recall on a daily basis but I prefer to do it on things which have a purpose

Enwikopedia · 2 years ago

I totally disagree with this:

Your brain has a finite capacity, though through training you can improve your use of it. The more you fill up your brain with things like passwords and phone numbers, the less capacity it has for learning important things, and thinking about them.

You can not prove that there is finite 'capacity'... maybe just finite throughput but not capactiy. Push yourself and you will be amazed.

AndyBeard · 2 years ago

I work on my recall on a daily basis but I prefer to do it on things which have a purpose

Jonathan Armis · 2 years ago

Thanks Andy,

I read a post at www.JamesBrausch.com that said something about making life so that you never needed to keep passwords for yourself.

I ain't that far along yet. Roboform (and now the back up of it) is fine by me.

Jonathan Armis · 2 years ago

Thanks Andy,

I read a post at www.JamesBrausch.com that said something about making life so that you never needed to keep passwords for yourself.

I ain't that far along yet. Roboform (and now the back up of it) is fine by me.

Janelle · 2 years ago

Hi Andy,

I am always very forgetful. Will try out the recommendations. Thanks!

Janelle · 2 years ago

Hi Andy,

I am always very forgetful. Will try out the recommendations. Thanks!

Money Blue Book · 2 years ago

I think I have more than 100 passwords for every conceivable website imaginable. I store all of them on my separate personal yahoo account using Yahoo email's Notes function. It's invaluable!

-Raymond (MONEY BLUE BOOK)

Money Blue Book · 2 years ago

I think I have more than 100 passwords for every conceivable website imaginable. I store all of them on my separate personal yahoo account using Yahoo email's Notes function. It's invaluable!

-Raymond (MONEY BLUE BOOK)

FerRory · 2 years ago

I make combination of unique password. So it easy too remember.

FerRory · 2 years ago

I make combination of unique password. So it easy too remember.

Slevi · 2 years ago

I must say that even if I don't have 2000 passwords being used which personally I'd just see as way too extreme, I do go around with about 20 different passwords which tend to be unique username combinations to them as well and I've never actually needed any storage program to remember them.

Better yet, no matter how hard I try birthdates, phonenumbers, letter strings, etcetera are simply figures which after I have used them for a couple of times just don't forget.

My first mobile phone number in example which is from 9 years ago by now, I still remember it clearly. My high school student number, no hard time recalling that either. The randomly generated keystring I got with my school mail account, it's there alright. Birthdates of friends and family? I'm like a walking calendar.

Personally I would actually try not to rely too much on programs to store passwords, birthdates, etcetera. Although your brain might not be 100% failsafe at all times, especially when you age, to keep using it effectively is a way though to train it well. So by starting to store all your info into programs you're not really doing your memory that much of a favor at all since it's being reduced in how much it's used.

Calendars, organizers, password storing, etcetera should simply function as a failsafe, not replace your brain.

Slevi · 2 years ago

I must say that even if I don't have 2000 passwords being used which personally I'd just see as way too extreme, I do go around with about 20 different passwords which tend to be unique username combinations to them as well and I've never actually needed any storage program to remember them.

Better yet, no matter how hard I try birthdates, phonenumbers, letter strings, etcetera are simply figures which after I have used them for a couple of times just don't forget.

My first mobile phone number in example which is from 9 years ago by now, I still remember it clearly. My high school student number, no hard time recalling that either. The randomly generated keystring I got with my school mail account, it's there alright. Birthdates of friends and family? I'm like a walking calendar.

Personally I would actually try not to rely too much on programs to store passwords, birthdates, etcetera. Although your brain might not be 100% failsafe at all times, especially when you age, to keep using it effectively is a way though to train it well. So by starting to store all your info into programs you're not really doing your memory that much of a favor at all since it's being reduced in how much it's used.

Calendars, organizers, password storing, etcetera should simply function as a failsafe, not replace your brain.

mblair · 2 years ago

PasswordSafe is a rather nice free, open source program that is pretty secure and portable. I store about 2k passwords in it as well. While it doesn't have the robust browser integration of RoboForm you can quickly browse to a login URL from it and can do a quick copy/paste of usernames and passwords. Coupled with Mozy for backup and FolderShare or a thumb drive for portability across systems it makes for a pretty slick setup.

mblair · 2 years ago

PasswordSafe is a rather nice free, open source program that is pretty secure and portable. I store about 2k passwords in it as well. While it doesn't have the robust browser integration of RoboForm you can quickly browse to a login URL from it and can do a quick copy/paste of usernames and passwords. Coupled with Mozy for backup and FolderShare or a thumb drive for portability across systems it makes for a pretty slick setup.

Dr. Ox · 2 years ago

Great post, I have over 500 passwords and have them all stored in notepad, i'm constantly worried about my security, I have worked with Robo Form in the past but have actually had some problems with security.

I will try some of these other suggestions, thanks guys!

Dr. Ox · 2 years ago

Great post, I have over 500 passwords and have them all stored in notepad, i'm constantly worried about my security, I have worked with Robo Form in the past but have actually had some problems with security.

I will try some of these other suggestions, thanks guys!

Love · 1 year ago

My wife got on Roboform when she first really started using the internet a while ago and loves it. I was reluctant at first because it felt unsafe thinking that my passes were being saved.

But actually it works sweetly. I just keep one or two passes in my head. lol : )

Kenney

Love · 1 year ago

My wife got on Roboform when she first really started using the internet a while ago and loves it. I was reluctant at first because it felt unsafe thinking that my passes were being saved.

But actually it works sweetly. I just keep one or two passes in my head. lol : )

Kenney

Elgin Stafford · 4 months ago

YES! I definitely feel your pain. It was just too hard trying to remember all of my passwords and it just seemed as if I kept getting more and more accounts for me to have passwords to. I think you should try Mitto! A free online safe and secure password manager.

I hope you get a chance to check us out.

Thanks!

Elgin Stafford
Mitto--Your Safe and Secure Password Manager
http://mitto.com
Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mittoapp