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: Virginia Blawger

Why does my password look like Sarge swearing?

Digital Security is no laughing matter. Since we do so much electronically without ever speaking to another person directly, our digital identity really needs to be secure. Otherwise, I can end up with "Sex and the City: The Complete Series" charged to my credit card without my knowledge. So, on top of being embarassed because someone may actually think I watch that show, I would have to pay approximately $300's so that someone else could watch it. (I could rant for so long as to why it's terrible and, just so we're not being sexist, about Entourage, which is Sex and the City II: Males Felt Left Out).

So, I understand where UVA is coming from when they come up with this very serious set of guidelines concerning my username and password (relatedly, I found the example username of mst3k hilarious). However, why the hell does my password need an ampersand to be secure? Really? That's going to put it over the top? I have to imagine that anyone smart enough to write a hacking program, would be able to write one that guessed passwords with non-sensical characters in it.

So, now I'm forced to remember a password that is completely insane, that I have to write down, which only increases its chances of being stolen. This seems counter-productive to me.

But, [Virginia Blawger], you ask, why don't you just make a new one? Ah, a fine question. The answer is that I think in little things I like to call words. That is how I remember things, let alone communicate. However, I am not allowed to make a password that is based off a word in the dictionary. Plus, there are fewer requirements for me to meet on my tax forms than there are in designing a new password. As such, I am forced, as the kids say today, "to deal."

Full post as published by Virginia Blawger on July 01, 2007 (boomark / email).