The Grump was talking with his wife this evening… Grumpette???… and this was our topic: Internet passwords are a minefield through which there is no rational and effective way to navigate. Many people like to use the same password for everything, which we all know is not secure, but even if you want to do that no two sites have the same criteria so you can’t do that anyway. Then there’s two-step authentication, which The Grump grudgingly admits is a good security measure, but it’s a pain in the butt… especially when my phone is in another room and I have to get up to retrieve it.
Now, most sites aren’t too bad, you pick a password and go, But some are infuriating. Your “conversation” with the website goes something like this…
- Website: Please choose a password. (And that’s all it says.)
- You: abc
- Website: Passwords must be between 8 and 16 characters.
- You: abcdefgh
- Website: Passwords must contain at least one number.
- You: abcdefg1
- Website: Passwords must contain at least one capital letter.
- You: (sigh) Abcdefg1
- Website: Passwords must contain at least one special character.
- You: (eye roll) Abcdef1$
- Website: No, that that special character. Chose from the following special characters: @
- You: (grumble) Abcdef1@
- Website: That password is already taken.
- You: 😐 Abcdef2@
- Website: Thank you. Please proceed.
Ummm… Why didn’t you list your criteria BEFORE I started all this crap? I mean, really!
Footnote: I have never used the above passwords, nor even close, nor will I ever. Go away.