Too Little Too Late

Passwords protect access to a myriad of  personal accounts, banking information, files, credit cards, the ATM,  your cell phone; yet the frustration of tracking separate passwords proves exhausting and time consuming. I freely admit my propensity towards defaulting to the same password for every account and access I need, and, yes historically created  something I knew well like the year of my birth and my initials, or, my grandfather’s name followed by the year I graduated from high school.  If you find yourself defaulting to the take the same approach; please don't.

1. Create strong passwords.

2.  Consider using a password manager. There are a wide variety of online password manager applications which allow you to view your passwords from anywhere you have access to the Internet  Online password managers allow you to have a multitude of passwords, protected in an encrypted environment accessible by a “master password.” Here are a few to applications to check out: :

3. Investigate a flash drive solution, i.e., an encrypted application on a flash drive.  Keep in mind, the flash drive must be carried with you :

Look for additional information regarding password creation  by searching “what makes a strong password” in your favorite search engine, or the following links may prove helpful as well: