Organize Passwords or Go Nuts!

If you are trying to earn residual income online you better diversify your income streams. The rough times at eHow have taught us that even the best programs sometimes stumble.

With effort diversification comes more and more online accounts with logins and passwords that must be remembered. Even when I try to use the same username, sometimes my somewhat unique name has already been taken. Other times a topic targeted username might be more appropriate. There are times when more then one account on a site makes sense – or is required to join the forums vs. access content. Constant Content allows a screen name in the forums and real name in the author section for example.

Password management is easy when you have just email and maybe a couple of sites you visit, but organizing login and passwords in your head goes out the window as your online presence grows. An out of control password management strategy is hardly very Zen.

High Tech Password Management Solutions:

There are many competing software solutions to password management out there. These high tech solutions come with bells and whistles like automatic password generators, form fillers and other cool tools. One of the most highly recommended password managers is Roboform.

A high tech solution simplifies web surfing and account logins. Roboform, for example, just fills in your username and password when you revisit any site. The downside is that never having to use your passwords helps you to forget them. If you use another computer or heaven forbid your computer crashes, the password tool becomes pretty useless.

Medium Tech Password Management Solutions:

Creating an Excel spreadsheet with columns for Website, Login, and Password makes a lot of sense. You can update the sheet as required, pull it up from a desktop icon, and print out a hard copy. If you are concerned about someone with access to your computer getting at the password list, just lock it behind a secure password.

Again the disadvantages are that a hacker could get to your spreadsheet, or the computer could crash. Having a paper backup allows you to take the list with you when traveling.

Another related idea is to create a Google Doc to manage your passwords. This allows access from any computer and reduces the risk of loss due to computer crash. You can still print it out.

Low Tech Password Management Solutions:

This password management article suggests a nice manageable low tech solution using index cards. The author thoughtfully suggests using a pencil to make password changes easy.

To up the security of the index card system consider putting the login but only most of the password. To do this, add the same two digit number or letter combination at the end (or beginning or middle) of every password that allows numbers, but do not write that number down anywhere. The cards will be useless to anyone who does not know the special digits (and likely does not even know there are digits to add). Be sure not to use anything easy like the year you were born.

Advantages of an index card password management system include the ability to easily alphabetize, ability to remove cards that don’t matter any more and complete lack of risk of hacker attacks or computer data loss. Disadvantages include people in your house could find and steal the cards and it is slower to access websites then using a tool like Roboform.

The right solution is a matter of personal preference. Perhaps a hybrid system is what you need.

Whatever you do be sure to share the location and keys to your login and password management system with someone you really trust. When you die, someone needs to be able to go in and manage your passive income streams and online identities. You might also consider creating a document and placing it with your will outlining how you manage your online presence and what to do with your accounts should you pass away.

Hopefully this gives you some new ideas to simplify your online life. I welcome your comments and ideas below.

Get Organized and Prosper
JadeDragon

Tagged as: Constant Content, four hour work week, freelance writing, Zen Habits