MSE Poll: How many passwords do you have?

MSE_Petar

Poll started 13 April 2021

With scams on the rise during the pandemic and several high-profile data leaks reported recently, it's more important than ever for all of us to ensure we're cyber-safe – for example, by having different passwords for different accounts (see Free Antivirus Software & Ways to Stop Scams for help). So this week, we want to know how you use passwords.

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SaxonMaiden

I don't bank online.  For anything to do with my business, I have different passwords for everything.  I don't do a lot of social media, but for the few sites I'm on, I have different passwords, because some idiot pretending to be me and posting garbage could cause me big problems.  For anything with my card saved on it, I have different passwords.  For random sites I hardly ever use and don't have anything important saved on them, I use a generic password, because there's a limit to how much havoc someone could wreak by logging into them as me.  

YBR

I have (in theory) a different password for every site, but one logic to it.
It started based on a pattern on the keyboard that moves according to the first letter of the website, but has got more complex thus more likely to be unique every time.

loony767

Whilst I tent to use a very similar password everywhere, it is around 17 characters long. Making entropy about a billion years.
If you can't remember 3 simple words, such as MySafePassword1# then use keypass. It's simple, free and great for generating complex passwords which you can copy and paste where needed

jbrassy

I started using LastPass password manager about a year ago and it's great. I used to use the same password a lot, but then I came across this website and found my email and password have been compromised:
https://haveibeenpwned.com/

For the relatively small cost, password managers are worth it in my opinion.

One scam I nearly fell victim is this one involving Whatsapp:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/zakdoffman/2020/08/04/is-your-whatsapp-still-exposed-to-this-dangerous-hack/?sh=4e06f97f3fd5

Luckily I have 2-step verification set up on my Whatsapp, so the hacker couldn't gain control of my Whatsapp. However, a lot of people haven't got this set up and are vulnerable.

vacheron

I have 463 according to my password application which auto generates passwords for me. 

BobbinAlong

I use KeePass to store passwords but usually create my own password to put in it. Keepass is free and easy to use.
Another alternative I've used is a password protected spreadsheet which can live on cloud storage and be accessible from any devce.
 I don't allow ebay to store my Paypal password so any purchase needs it entering manually and I try to stop Amazon doing one click purchasing, but it's quite hard to do since it always stores card details.

PRAISETHESUN

I used to use LastPass but recently migrated to BitWarden due to the changes to the free version. Works a treat. I also make an effort to limit what data companies have about me - no saving payment details, or providing unnecessary data where it isn't needed.

One thing that I've been thinking I need to get around to is working on better recovery/security questions. A lot of the commonly asked questions relate to personal details that in theory a fair number of people know or could work out. In an ideal world I'd also have these to be unique for each service, but for organisation like banks it might be hard to justify why my mother's maiden name has changed It's easy for new services moving forward, but might be more challenging for older ones - or require a fair amount of time on the phone which I'd rather avoid.

MattMattMattUK

I have 106 accounts with passwords, they all have unique and complex passwords, I remember them.

Choppit69

I have hundreds of passwords, all different and mostly randomly generated. I currently use Bitwarden (paid) which I highly recommend, but previously used Lastpass, and Keepass/Dropbox. Lastpass I found to be unreliable and clunky, but it was the free version limitations that finally pushed me away. Keepass I used for over a decade, but found it to be difficult to live with on IOS devices. I use 2FA wherever possible and Yubikey or authenticator app where available.

LukeHayward

I use keepass - highly recommended and safe (the code is open source, so no back doors etc)