PSWRD CRZY!!

Back in the olden days, Password was a game show that usually had a celebrity help the contestant win money by providing clues to the word. Today, passwords are our entrance key to the electronic superhighway.

I have to have a password to gain access to computer. Seriously, I can't just turn the thing on. I have to have a password to use the machine in my own house. I have to have a password to check email. I need another passwords for online banking. I have to have multiple passwords at work. I have to have a password to log into check my accounts for many of the online services I use for a variety of things.

I have had to resort to putting reminders on my work calendar at work to remind me that I will have to update which password and when. Some require 30 day changes, other require 60 day or 90 day timelines

Whew, my brain is just tired thinking about it. The passwords which drive me a little crazy are the ones that require uniqueness and are as long as a football field.

But the ones I love (NOT) are the ones that are now 15 to 18 characters. Seriously, I almost have to have a password assistant to keep track of all of these. These mega passwords require at least one or two special characters but I can't have this key or that key. Then I have to have at least one capital letter or one lower case letter. I need at least one number. Some passwords are case sensitive. Now some companies even have password strength meters.

Lovely, now I have to come up with combinations that 'win' in the strength category too. It is like those crazy little meters are challenging my brain to come up with a password combo that they will like.

All kidding aside, I do understand the password reality. This reality is we have to protect our information and the access of that information by those folks out there who think nothing of ruining someone's day, months or years by stealing from them or trying to hijack their electronic lives.

While I do know people who try to keep all their passwords as similar as they can simply for their convenience. I know people who say they have a different password for everything. Now I tend to fall somewhere in between and I would guess most of us do.

Shot, I have to go, I have to password strength meters to conquer. And it is gonna take awhile.