WARNING - internet passwords

zzzLazyDaisy

This is just a warning to make sure you use totally different passwords for banking, internet sites, ebay, hotmail, etc etc. I know it sounds like common sense, but asking around several people I know use the same or very similar passwords for several different accounts for convenience.

Why am I so paranoid? Mu ebay account was hijacked last week. It took ages to sort it out, I changed the password to random numbers/letters and the very next day it happened again. It turned out that the hacker had somehow gained access to my hotmail account and was able to reset the password (I have NEVER clicked on any email purporting to be from ebay). I was using different passwords for ebay and hotmail, but only by a couple of digits. Worse, I was using the same password for all four of my hotmail accounts. Fortunately my paypal account and internet banking were totally different passwords - but some of my security questions on my banking were the same (eg Mother's maiden name).

I have now reset EVERYTHING with random passwords and information, including giving my poor mum a new maiden name!

We spend so much time on the internet, and it is scarey what can happen. Please don't take a pop at me for not being sufficiently secure, I know from asking around that I am not the only person who uses (or in my case USED) the same or similar password for different accounts, that is why I am posting this message.

It has been a horrible time and it has left me feeling very shaky and more than a tad paranoid. Please be careful and double check your passwords.

Daisy

planemad

Sorry to hear about this, I'm quite secure using many different password methods but i'm also going to change them all again now as I frequently do.

dwsjarcmcd

I think you have posted a very sensible message, and if we (mostly) are honest, our passwords are fairly similar. So I have been warned!!

bristolleedsfan

dwsjarcmcd wrote: »

I, and if we (mostly) are honest, our passwords are fairly similar.

Yep true, ( saves writing them down )

mrs_deadline

But how will you remember all that random password info???

gazza975526570

There lies the problem with a different name and password for everything

Its very difficult

EverTheOptimist

i am just in the process of changing many passwords as i too did have similar ones for different accounts. but the thing that has freaked me out recently is two days ago, i recieved emails from lloyds tsb, RBS and one other bank telling me to log in to my internet banking and change my details and gave me a link, now i might just be being paranoid but i dont have any accounts with any of those banks, and didnt know whether by clicking on the link would have given them access to my hotmail account or caused a virus on my computer. but its sad that i am so sceptical about everything these days.

m_c_s

One possible solution is to use password databank software. The best are 256 bit (or higher) encrypted which is almost impossible to crack (without a super computer and 50 years!). You must however use a long password (difficult to predict) so it is properly protected. The software is very easy to use.
The main issue is that you have all your passwords in one place but a sensible password will ensure that nobody can decrypt the database.
I would not use storage or auto-complete in the web browser or other non-encrypted software or less than 128bit encryption because even an amateur hacker or computer engineer can access your passwords.

Murphy_The_Cat

mrs_deadline wrote: »

But how will you remember all that random password info???

On a Word document, record all of your login and password details and then password protect that file as well, with a password that you are very familliar with.
Doing it that way, you only need to remember one password, for all of your sites :beer:

The_Fiddler_2

EverTheOptimist wrote: »

i am just in the process of changing many passwords as i too did have similar ones for different accounts. but the thing that has freaked me out recently is two days ago, i recieved emails from lloyds tsb, RBS and one other bank telling me to log in to my internet banking and change my details and gave me a link, now i might just be being paranoid but i dont have any accounts with any of those banks, and didnt know whether by clicking on the link would have given them access to my hotmail account or caused a virus on my computer. but its sad that i am so sceptical about everything these days.

Please don't ever click such links, even if you have an account with a bank mentioned in the email. These are phishing emails trying to get your personal details.

bristolleedsfan

Murphy_The_Cat wrote: »

On a Word document, record all of your login and password details and then password protect that file as well, with a password that you are very familliar with.
Doing it that way, you only need to remember one password, for all of your sites :beer:

Ud also have to create security questions to access the word document just in case someone discovers the password to the word document :rotfl: