164 lines
5.9 KiB
Plaintext
164 lines
5.9 KiB
Plaintext
creating and using strong passwords
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author : less than zero
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current version : 0.1
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last updated : 120502
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Disclaimer : This file is only for information purposes on how I create, store and use
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passwords. If you follow this document and something happens such as one of your accounts
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gets hacked, or something really dumb, like you lose or destroy your disk, don't cry to
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me. It isn't my fault.
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Contents:
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Section 1 - Introduction
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Section 2 - Tools you need
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Section 3 - What to do
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Section 4 - Notes
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Section 1 - Introduction
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1.1 Basics
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Too many people simple passwords, things such as names of people they know, dictionary
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words, and simple variations on standard words. In this document I will present the
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things I do to create strong passwords, store them safely, and give several other options
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to my method. In the end though, the choice is up to you on your password habits. Be
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smart, use better passwords and change them often.
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Section 2 - Tools you need
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2.1 The tools
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The following is a list of tools I recommend you have and use. If you find any others,
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that you would like to suggest, email me at freeloader187a@yahoo.com and I will add them
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to the list as soon as possible.
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Quicky Password Generator - http://www.quickysoftware.com/
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This is a great tool for creating unique passwords. It allows you to create passwords
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from 4 to 20 characters in length, store the passwords in a file it outputs or your own,
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and best of all it's free. This is the one I use and recommend. Do a search on
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download.com to find others. They're all pretty much the same in my opinion.
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PGP - http://www.pgp.com/
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I use this to secure my password file after I create it. Feel free to use your favorite
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encryption tool though.
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A cd writer, zip drive, or some kind of stable media that is transportable. I use small
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3in. rewritable cd-roms. I like these because they are small, lightweight and usable in
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just about any computer you find these days. It will also work in older cd-rom drives. I
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use these also because not every computer has a zip drive or USB ports.
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Section 3 - What to do
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3.1 Getting ready
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First thing to do is make sure you have the tools you need. If you don't have them, get
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them first and then proceed.
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3.2 Create your passwords
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Open your password tool and create a file of passwords. I like mine to be at least 10
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characters long and alphanumeric. Save this file somewhere easy to get at and name it
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passlist or some crap like that. This is file is important only so that you don't have to
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creat passwords all the time.
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3.3 Create YOUR password list
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Create a new text document. This will be your password list with your usernames and
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passwords. This is the file you have to keep safe once it is created. I always name mine
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something like blank.txt or new.txt . . . this is so that it's not related with passwords
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except in my own mind.
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In this file I use the following format which is easy to use helps me when I use other
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computers.
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/* begin account listing
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// yahoo mail account 1
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http://mail.yahoo.com
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butthole@yahoo.com
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0h05cl322s
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// butthole forums
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http://www.butt.com/hole/index.php
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dorkboy
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yBf9k3nS5a
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// next account
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I do this for all my accounts and update the file as needed. Personally, I like to change
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my passwords every month or so. It can be a pain at times, but it's worth it if you are
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paranoid about people getting at your stuff.
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3.4 Secure your password list
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Open your encryption program and encrypt that bad boy. I like to create self extracting
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files that are portable. After you have done this, copy this file to your portable media
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of choice. I dislike floppy disks because they are too unpredictable. Sometimes they just
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up and die on you for no reason and be erased by magnets accidently. That could be a good
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thing if you want to be able to get rid of your list in hurry, but it also fucks you if
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you don't have a backup copy somewhere.
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After you have a backup of your list and you're sure it works, delete the original off
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your computer. Make sure you store your passwords in a safe place. Leaving the disk on
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your desk labeled "Password File" is dumb. Somebody could steal it or use it themselves
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if they are able to copy it and hack the encrypted file.
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Section 4 - Notes
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4.1 After the fact
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Once you start creating and using secure passwords, do what you with them. Because I'm
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lazy, I leave an open copy on my computer's desktop so that I don't have to search for it
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when I need a password. However, nobody else uses this computer or has access to it.
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I don't recommend doing this if you share your computer.
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I keep my disk in a safe place as well and update it as needed. When I go someplace, I
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take it with me, so short of beating the fuck out of me, there's no way you could get my
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disk.
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Some other options for storing passwords : use a passwordsafe of some kind. That's what
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I've done in a way, but there actually programs out there that will store them for you
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and you only have to remember the password to open it. I guess that works, but I like my
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file much more.
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-----------------------------------------------
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This document is brought to you by the letters h, a, t, e, and the number zero.
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Questions and/or comments:
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freeloader187a@yahoo.com
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a war is being waged
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and i intend to win
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because i have the knowledge,
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the power
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and something to fight for
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- less than zero
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Visit the following or you are a peice of shit:
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http://www.killthechildren.com/ - kill the children
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http://www.stileproject.com/ - guts, gore, and disgusting porno for the masses
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http://www.2600.com/ - phones are so cool
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