Computer passwords

**scottie33** · 04-17-2008, 01:14 AM

I have the same password for everything that needs a password...and when I worked for a construction contractor out in Maryland i had to change the damn thing every month and would forget it so I'd have to call IT.

**Iastfan112** · 04-17-2008, 03:52 AM

Originally Posted by scottie33

I have the same password for everything that needs a password...and when I worked for a construction contractor out in Maryland i had to change the damn thing every month and would forget it so I'd have to call IT.

Could you have just altered it slightly? Such as isugrad1 and change that to isugrad12 and then back the next month or would that have been impossible?

Personally I have 2 passwords I use frequently and a 3rd on some of my stuff from a few years ago.

**Flag Guy** · 05-05-2008, 08:26 AM

GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!

*BEATS HEAD REPEATEDLY AGAINST DESK*

This moment of madness and frustration has been brought to you NMCI, CAC cards, NKO, Homeport, MyPay, and any other system I've tried to access or register for today

**Flag Guy** · 05-05-2008, 08:55 AM

Originally Posted by scottie33

I have the same password for everything that needs a password...and when I worked for a construction contractor out in Maryland i had to change the damn thing every month and would forget it so I'd have to call IT.

At home I had 2 different password bases... I eventually created alpha-numeric versions of the alpha-origionals.

Niether of those passwords are strong enough for new password requirements... though I do feel better because I only have to have a 9 character password for being on Navy systems... the Marines have to have atleast 15

**Phaedrus** · 05-05-2008, 09:24 AM

HA HA!!!

We have the 15 letter, 3 integer, and 2 special characters, with no repeating letters, names within the password, or keyboard adjacency rule.

And that's just one of my 12 or so passwords. And they are changed at 60, 90 or 120 day intervals, (each passwords has different "special rules" to prevent you from "synching" them) and you can't use any of your last 12 passwords, when you change.

In the end, password complexity leads to LESS security, not MORE. People will, I guarantee, write down these overly complex and idiotic passwords, which will lead to absolutely and positively simple violations of basic comsec.

Personally, I keep all my passwords in a file on my hard-drive and in my e-mail database in a folder entitled: "Here are my passwords, Have fun, Terrorists!!!"

There are guys who make IT password regs, that need perma-removed from the gene pool. Wait... they already aren't going to reproduce by any natural means, anyway....

**Cy Heavy** · 05-05-2008, 09:27 AM

Originally Posted by cmoneyr

I use 12345 for everything, is that bad? It's also my luggage combo.

I've always told people they could easily steal my identity if they ever watched Spaceballs.

**jbhtexas** · 05-05-2008, 09:39 AM

Originally Posted by cmoneyr

I use 12345 for everything, is that bad?

Yes, that is bad. I recommend you use "qwerty". The additional 6th character will provide much better security...

**isukendall** · 05-05-2008, 09:47 AM

Originally Posted by Flag Guy

I now work for the government. Pretty sure I'm stuck with 10 different passwords and 20 different pin numbers, even though computer access is mostly controlled by an ID card and pin number...

To give you an idea of what that system is like, it takes a month to add me to that system before they can issue me this computer card... so in the mean time I just log in with a user name and password.

I've only been there 3 days and just got e-mail today, so I'm still working on accumulating those passwords but yeah... apperently there are so many that some people write them down in a book to keep track of them, or store pin numbers in their filing cabinet, which defeats the purpose of having those numbers or passwords in the first place (if someone really wanted to get into the system, they just have to look around a little)

You'd think that'd be motivation to simplify it but... you know whatever.

I also work for the gov't, and would say I have a similar experience. One of the main arguments you get from IT people and the higher-ups is "well, we're on networks that are connected (somehow) to sensitive information, top-secret information, the Pentagon, etc." However, in my position, there is no reason I personally would ever need to be connected to these networks. I'd think it would be much easier (and cheaper) to just unhook small guys like me and keep us on a local network.

Half of the passwords I have, I'm not even sure what they're for.

**CycloneErik** · 05-05-2008, 09:49 AM

Originally Posted by Phaedrus

HA HA!!!

We have the 15 letter, 3 integer, and 2 special characters, with no repeating letters, names within the password, or keyboard adjacency rule.

And that's just one of my 12 or so passwords. And they are changed at 60, 90 or 120 day intervals, (each passwords has different "special rules" to prevent you from "synching" them) and you can't use any of your last 12 passwords, when you change.

In the end, password complexity leads to LESS security, not MORE. People will, I guarantee, write down these overly complex and idiotic passwords, which will lead to absolutely and positively simple violations of basic comsec.

Personally, I keep all my passwords in a file on my hard-drive and in my e-mail database in a folder entitled: "Here are my passwords, Have fun, Terrorists!!!"

There are guys who make IT password regs, that need perma-removed from the gene pool. Wait... they already aren't going to reproduce by any natural means, anyway....

The truth in the last sentence may explain why they design these password systems that way.

**Flag Guy** · 05-05-2008, 12:45 PM

Aaaaaaaand we're onto the 5th hold in a 17 minute phone call so far... guess it's a good thing I didn't post this after the 3rd one like I was going to

Whats the phone call for? Trying to get my machine configured for my CAC card insted of user log-in like I've been doing... I tried to do this earlier but couldn't because I was still on the exceptions list for not needing a CAC card. Starting to think I should have stayed on that list a little longer...

**Flag Guy** · 05-05-2008, 12:56 PM

now up to 8 in 29... though the last couple of times I was taken off of hold was just to let me know that he was still there, waiting for my card to be intiated, then put me back on hold. I've been holding a good 10 minutes now

**bos** · 05-05-2008, 01:06 PM

They need to further the use of retinal scanning, finger print scanning, and stool sample passwords.

**Flag Guy** · 05-05-2008, 01:16 PM

Aaaaaaaand after 47 minutes, I was taken off and placed back on hold 11 times, though there was a 10 mintue strech where he took me off hold 2x just to let me know I hadn't been forgotten about.

Yay technology

Oh yeah if I log off any time soon I'm locked out for the next 3 hours while the system updates