What is that Login again??

How to get around the problem of forgetting the multiple amount of passwords for all kinds of logins.

So we all social network, on many varieties. Login into website for specific profiles, IMDB for example. And have a load of other stuff that require a password of some type. Inevitably you will be clicking forgotten password? link.

Well I came up with a system and been using for a long time that means that I never forget my password and still is secure as I need it.

Firstly, there are different amounts of security for different things, for example my home server can be logged into by my housemates, I don't worry about that. But my grocery login is for me and my friend who do a shop together. And finally, I have my email that only I have and no one else. So I have 3 levels of security. But it is all based with a keyword. For an example say our keyword is:

cheddar

So with passwords I happy to give out it, I will just set the password as cheddar.

But if I need a bit more security, but still give the password to close friends then I will use the keyword plus a combination of letters from the website or service itself, eg the first, second and last letter in capitals (some services, like iTunes, will need at least 1 capital letter). I will then add a couple of numbers almost as a short pin (this also covers website that require alphanumeric passwords) So for Tesco.com I will have

cheddarTEO32

or eBay

cheddarEBY32

Then for the upmost security I will use the system before but with a related word at the end. For example cheddar-cheese. For Gmail it would be:

cheddarGML32cheese

or Facebook

cheddarFAK32cheese

So rather than use one password for everything (at some point someone else will know it), or try and remember dozens of passwords, you remember 1 keyword and 2 systems to generate unique password that are very secure.

I hope this is useful to the instagramming, facebook hogging, google plussing tweeting manics out there.

Tech on folks

Dom

p.s. my keyword is not cheddar