Like most of you, I have a computer. I use it for the internet. I’ve got several accounts with several users. All of them need a login, all of them need a password. I tried to make my passwords simple.
I really did.
On my first foray all those years ago I was excited but nervous. This was new territory. Sure, I’ve used computers before, but they were pretty basic and they didn’t have “The Internet”. I was boldly going where no man has gone before. Well, lots of people had gone on before me, but you get the gist. It’s easy, I was told. You just need a user login and a password. Just put in something you can remember.
Well, that does sound easy, doesn’t it? Oh, was I wrong, so very, very wrong. That first day I was delving into the unknown and I should have been afraid, very afraid. But I was ignorant, and young and, well, stupid. First of all I had to get an e-mail address. Everyone knew that, so I pick a server and follow the prompts. Then that all important step. I type in a user name and then a password. I press enter…
Password strength: Weak
What? Its five letters long and I put on a number. Does it matter if it’s weak? Just accept it. It’s my password. I want it. But the computer is adamant. After several more tries I realize the little shit won’t let me have what I want unless I give in and use a strong password. So, with gritted teeth and muttered curses I enter another string of letters and numbers. I press enter…
“Please choose a security question.”
?????
Why? Why a question. I gave you a password, didn’t I? That’s all you need, isn’t it? Apparently not. I have four choices. I must pick one. I choose the easiest: What is the name of your first pet? That’s better than “What is the name of your second grade school teacher?” I mean, who the hell remembers that?
So, I answer the question, and… Success! Yay me. I now have an account. I’ve arrived! The word is mine. Well, I can share it. So, I log out, I go to sleep, I get up, I sign in.
“Incorrect Password. Please try again.”
What the &*%#!
Seriously? I type it in again. I mean it was a simple password, right? I press enter…
“Incorrect Password. Please try again.”
Apparently not. I go to try again but hesitate. Is it three strikes and you’re out? What if I get it wrong again, will it never let me in, will I be barred? Do I want to risk it? No, I don’t. Oh, I am so screwed. But then I see those three little words.
“Forgot your Password?”
Hope blossoms. My life is saved. Someone had taken pity on computer illiterates like me and given us a get out of jail free card. Yes, I did forget my password. Silly me. So, I click on my little lifesaver.
“Please answer your security question.”
????
What security question? Oh, yeah, that one. My first pet. I type in the answer. My breathing is a little shallow, my hands are shaking slightly, but I’ve got this. It’s a mantra I give myself. I’ve got this. I can do this. I press enter…
“Please enter your e-mail address.”
Yay. Told you I can do this. High fiving myself I type in my e-mail address. Oh yes, this is good. I press enter…
“Please enter your password.”
“Forgot your password?”
6 comments:
Yes, been there, am still there. I use the same password and I know that is stupid but I just can't remember numbers at all. I had to laugh when I asked my security conscious husband what the pin number was for the satellite TV - 1111 - reminds me of the joke in Space Balls when after commenting that only an idiot uses 1234 as his password, Mel Brooks is asked his password - its 1234.
Hi Barbara. I'm glad I'm not the only one. Pin numbers, passwords, login names. All there to make our lives a misery, and they warn you not to allow your computer to remember them. If the computer can't, who can?
It's only too appropriate that I had the dickens of a time actually finding this blog to make a comment.
I've had to stop and actually think through a password. I've had to look up passwords. I've had to have passwords resent to me. I've also had to have passwords reset a few times. The most fun was the time I had to try to figure out which email I had used for a particular account because I couldn't find the pin number. Yep, I have multiple email addresses to add to the fun.
And no, I don't use saved log ins. It's a practice which saved me a lot of grief when I clicked a hijacked hyperlink and downloaded a whole mess of malware, including backdoors and keystoke recorders. I got back out and disconnected before they got anything useful. It took me a week to get cleaned up and back online, but if they had gotten logins & passwords, I'd still be dealing with the fallout for years to come.
Hi Virginia,
Yes, sorry about that. Typo's are a pain.
I've also been hacked into, but like said I don't have any sensitive info. Unless someone picks up one of my novels. Now that would be called "sensitive"
Penny, you've scared me. Tiptoeing away from the internet forever!
Hi Evanne,
Yeah, I think I'll go back to the library and do my research the old fashioned way. Oh, wait, we sell e-books, so we kind of have to stay on here. Sorry.
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