Password changes

[technical.angel]

Well, it's the time of the year where all the student passwords expire, and they call us confused.

"Your password needs to be something different than what it is right now, and can't be or contain your first or last name. What would you like it to be?"

"Oh.... um..... uh..... hu. Um.... How about.... uh.... jeeze... uh.... something easy for me to remember...... um................"

Jenni dies from headdesking.

[Samaliel]

Though I understand the security issues, coming up with a new password can be a PITA.

My mother's bank require her to change her password every month, and the new password can't be one of those used ine the 6 previous months, can't contain her first or last name and so on and so on. At some point, it almost felt like it would be easier for a hacker to brute force a password, because of all the things it can't be.

[SteeleDragon78]

if you want to barrow my cluebat for the next week you can. i get reset calls like that everyday, and most are system generated passwords that the eu whines about not being able to remember. even after i explain for 10 min how to change them on login. and a little headdesking is the leading cause of grumpface in my line of work, and your too young and pretty for that

[Ironclad Alibi]

In my previous job I had to change system passwords every six months. As you might guess from my avatar, I went through the names of many US Civil War ironclads, North and South.

[powerboy]

How about inviting them all to dinner and making them some Clusine. It might help

[JustADude]

Me, I can make some pretty strong passwords using a simple thing I like to call a "Keyboard Algorithm". Take the password z1X@c3V$b5N^ for example, for a "high security" password. If you know the key (bottom letters, numbers, alternate shift per pair) it's simple to remember, but otherwise it's pure gibberish.

[rvdammit]

Me, I can make some pretty strong passwords using a simple thing I like to call a "Keyboard Algorithm". Take the password z1X@c3V$b5N^ for example, for a "high security" password. If you know the key (bottom letters, numbers, alternate shift per pair) it's simple to remember, but otherwise it's pure gibberish.

And hope you're always using a US keyboard.

[technical.angel]

if you want to barrow my cluebat for the next week you can.

I think it's going to take a little bit more than a cluebat for some of these. Prime example was the guy I just talked to..

"Your password needs to be something different than what it is right now, and can't be or contain your first or last name. What would you like it to be?"

"How about... johnD?" (names changed to prevent me getting in trouble. )

"It cannot contain your first name."

"Oh."

As if I needed more proof that people don't listen to my spiels.

and a little headdesking is the leading cause of grumpface in my line of work, and your too young and pretty for that

Oh, SD, , flattery will get you everywhere!

[SteeleDragon78]

im seeing your problem though, reminds me of our mainframe passwords. must be 8 chars long, no special chars, must have a number, cannot contain 2 repetitions of any letter, cannot reuse any parts from the previous 5 cycles. so my fav which is something like happy12 wont work more than once. cant use happy13 either because it contains a part from a previous cycle. you could start using this link http://www.pctools.com/guides/password/ which i think has been in another thread, not sure who posted it though. and btw, i dont flatter i tell it like i see it

[technical.angel]

I wonder if I was the one who posted that link. It's the one I use at least.

I can't wait for the first student who asks me to make a password. Heh heh heh... I be evil.

[technical.angel]

A double post, because I posted it first in a different thread by mistake....

"Uh, me and a bunch of my friends noticed the email isn't working. We didn't know if you like, shut it down for the summer.."

[JustADude]

And hope you're always using a US keyboard.

Nope, that's the beautiful thing. If you know the /layout/ of a standard QWERTY keyboard, then it's just fine.

[Kilamon]

I wonder if I was the one who posted that link. It's the one I use at least.

3/21/07... http://www.customerssuck.com/board/s...pctools&page=2

I did.

Be advised that the same company also has a free offline version of this same tool. I use it all the time and if ANYONE asks for help on a new password, NEVER give them the option of making it themselves. Simply suggest that they allow you to make one for them and that they write it down (my favorite part) on the back of their drivers license. People are dumb and they will accept your 'help' and you get the chance to use a 10 digit password generator. Be sure, however, to tell them not to leave their password on their PC, keyboard, or anywhere easily found. If they ask, just remind them that, "well, in the movies, the bad guys always find your password on the underside of your keyboard or a similar easy place. You wouldn't want us to shut off your account, call the police and the FBI because we thought you were hacking, would you? Keep your password secure." Works every time.

...Yes... I operate on the basis that lusers, especially the ones making the mistake of calling me, are dumb. That way, when they surprise me by not being so, I'm able to be genuinely impressed.