I was thinking about how we manage our various online user names and identities. Adding all the numerous sites I use, plus my work’s credentials and I have more than a hundred accounts to memorize in my head. This can be a real problem, even for a native geek.
I must have more than 45 74 unique AOL and AIM screen names. I also have accounts across various social networking sites. I also have three Yahoo accounts, four Hotmail accounts, two Gmail accounts, one Myspace account, one Netscape account, one Digg account, and one Twitter account.
Ironically, despite all the security tips I give, I use the same moniker for the various sites I participate on. This also poses a security risk because I only use a few different types of passwords. With that said, I’m in the process of “auditing” all my credentials with Web sites and updating with newer passwords.
Is this just a fruitless effort to simplify my online verification?
I’m not sure. Perhaps someone who manages multiple online identities may have insight on this issue. I’m exploring the possibilities with Open ID and discovering how it will help me in my day-to-day usage of the World Wide Wow.
[tags]Internet, Web, Authentication, ID, Identity[/tags]
{ 1 comment }
Hey Joe,
I like Password Master by Dreameesoft… It’s the only way I’ve managed to keep my many (hundreds) of accounts and logins secure and separate. Each account I use now has a different password.
There is one chink in the armor, tho… My Master Vault has one password, which gives you access to ALL my passwords. But, at least I know that if Company X shoots itself in the foot and my info gets out, it won’t compromise my bank, Amazon, NewEgg, MySpace, etc…
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