this post was submitted on 14 Aug 2024
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Privacy

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It is truly upsetting to see how few people use password managers. I have witnessed people who always use the same password (and even tell me what it is), people who try to login to accounts but constantly can't remember which credentials they used, people who store all of their passwords on a text file on their desktop, people who use a password manager but store the master password on Discord, entire tech sectors in companies locked to LastPass, and so much more. One person even told me they were upset that websites wouldn't tell you password requirements after you create your account, and so they screenshot the requirements every time so they could remember which characters to add to their reused password.

Use a password manager. Whatever solution you think you can come up with is most likely not secure. Computers store a lot of temporary files in places you might not even know how to check, so don't just stick it in a text file. Use a properly made password manager, such as Bitwarden or KeePassXC. They're not going to steal your passwords. Store your master password in a safe place or use a passphrase that you can remember. Even using your browser's password storage is better than nothing. Don't reuse passwords, use long randomly generated ones.

It's free, it's convenient, it takes a few minutes to set up, and its a massive boost in security. No needing to remember passwords. No needing to come up with new passwords. No manually typing passwords. I know I'm preaching to the choir, but if even one of you decides to use a password manager after this then it's an easy win.

Please, don't wait. If you aren't using a password manager right now, take a few minutes. You'll thank yourself later.

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

I've got a random username if the stupid website/app allows it. Most don't. It has to be your email address.

And a minimum random 20 char password for each website/app. Again if the stupid website/app allows it.

Secure your (I don't mean you personally) fucking website/app and credentials storage and stop making your weaknesses my problem.

Most places, and all of my stupid financial websites/apps, only have phone/SMS as the second factor. And yet there are plenty of horror stories about people 'losing' their phone numbers.

Oh wait. There is one financial site that has developed its own authenticator app. I really expect that to go about as well as storing passwords in cleartext.

Then there's all the shit websites/apps that I don't give a fuck about that now insist on having 2FA set up. They're not interested in the security, it's just to get your email and phone number to onsell your data to whoever.

It's fucking security theater.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 months ago

“Then there's all the shit websites/apps that I don't give a fuck about that now insist on having 2FA set up. They're not interested in the security, it's just to get your email and phone number to onsell your data to whoever.”

Of everything you wrote, this one had my eyes wide. Hadn’t even crossed my mind that could be a problem. 🤦🏽‍♂️