Are you one of those people who likes to write down passwords in a little notebook?
Or are you one of those who rely on an application to manage them?
Let me tell you that there is a method that combines the best of both systems.
That method would have to:
Therefore, the notebook ... pffffff. You will see it very well but, believe me, not only is it possible to get lost (unless you have several notebooks with identical content stored there) but other people could access them untimely. Or take a look while you consult it.
And third party applications or sites that manage passwords, of course ... could be hacked, their activity could stop, your passwords could be seen through a screenshot without your knowledge ... too many "could".
I only know one well-established password manager: Clipperz. It allows you to save an encrypted copy for offline consultation and it is also accessible online.
Now, among the simplest, safest and most effective methods to manage all your passwords you have to remember one that is not exactly a novelty or a technological innovation, but it just works: the passwords card.
This wonder is one of the safest ways to save (and recover your passwords). It's so simple that you can print as many as you want and save them in different places, as well as carry them in your pocket or purse.
There can be all your passwords, whether you have one or two hundred.
No one can know what your passwords are; only you.
It does not need electricity or an Internet connection. The elaboration of a passwords card is simple. You could do it manually or use the secure key card generator.
There you can choose a series of parameters although, personally, I recommend that you do not change anything. If anything, mark that it includes symbols. You choose a master password that will help you generate another identical card if you ever needed it and that's it.
If you want one to store your numeric PINs (banks are very fond of them) you can generate one with numbers.
This other is a card generated with uppercase, lowercase, numbers and symbols:
Now you can make all the copies you want, laminate it and enjoy it.
Your passwords or your PINs are where only you know. Because you choose how to look at your passwords in that characters soup. For example, you can use the initial of the website and your password will be the one that results from traversing 4 characters down and 4 characters to the right. Example, on the card up there: the key to Google following the given pattern would be )zos/b;t
The above gives you 8-character passwords but you can decide, with good judgment, to choose them longer, as much as you want. Or follow a different route, of course. That's a convention you do for yourself and nobody else knows it. It does not matter if someone steals your card because he can not extract your passwords from there unless he knows the system you use, which you will not reveal to anyone or, well, maybe to your heirs when you make a will.
Losing a little time in your security can not be considered wasting time. Making a passwords card will require you to change your passwords on the important sites. Worth it. Think only what it is that someone gets to see your mail. Your messages will surely arrive to your email to reset your password on many other sites. A simple search among your emails will reveal many sites that you access. And having control of your mail will be able to access most of them, including your bank account.
So start reviewing your passwords now and change them to a more secure one than the birthday date of ...
The secure paswords card will be your faithful friend.
Translation of "Almacenamiento en frío de contraseñas" by BlackCatHacker.
