Internet Banking - how does one keep track of security information?

Yes, its a password you have to enter to unlock the data each time you want to use Roboform after restarting your computer. You still have to memorise one password, but that's a heck of a lot easier than trying to memorise data for every individual web site you use.

Chris

It can, but you have to set up what they call "Custom Fields" to do it. I've done that for Nationwide's Internet Banking, and it works just fine.

Chris

Roboform can run on a USB flash drive, so you can unplug it and take it around with you.

Just as you are with anything else that may have been on your computer. Anyone using computers for anything serious should know to keep some kind of backup, at least for important data.

I'm not sure how that solves the problem of potential loss of data. If you lose the paper which you wrote it down on, or it somehow gets destroyed, you still have the same problem as if it was on a computer which died. Making backups of information held on a computer is much easier than making copies of stuff written down on different bits of paper.

Chris

They only asked me for one item of "memorable" data. Just go to the nationwide site and click on "Sign on". You'll see what information is needed.

It's a damn sight better than the HSBC, who insisted on using my date of birth as "security" data.

They did this for a short time as a stop-gap before the introduction of the new hardware security device.

Not used now, thank god. I know I could not remember the answers since I had to make them up. They were the most stupid choice of questions that seemed to be aimed at teenage girls: "What's your favourite colour?", "What's you favourite singer?", "What was your first school?" etc.!!!

I can't be the only one who doesn't have a favourite colour, singer and can't remember what school I went to first!

You need it when setting up new payments and transfers. I've rarely used it.

I write them down in an "encypted" form. I doubt anyone but me could read my writing anyway!

LOL! I'm 75 years old. I can remember the 10 digit customer number, the 6 digit pass code and the 3 significant person/place/date items.

OTOH, I'm useless at recognising faces until I've known someone for several years... ;-)

Fair enough

That's great, but that information is only for one bank. Some people have two or three bank accounts and several more credit card accounts. Could you memorise the logon information for all of those, together with all the other web sites you use and the various PIN numbers that we need for so many things these days?

Chris

The problem is getting just as bad as you say.

If I add up all my credit cards, individual bank accounts, pension scheme, mobile and landline phones, online payment accounts (Amazon etc), other online accounts (eg google groups); plus accounts not needing passwords but account numbers/customer ids (tax office, water company, etc etc), then I have nearly 40 different accounts.

All requiring some combination of account/customer id, username, password, PIN, memorable names and dates, together with the access method (website, telephone number)...

It's a joke. I now list everything in a file which is mildly encrypted and instantly accessible -- provided I have a computer with me.

It doesn't work on Linux, does it? I wouldn't use Windows for any secure stuff.

The mind boggles.

In message , Chris Blunt writes

I don't find the need for more than one debit and one credit card, but I think I could manage two or three more. :-)

In message , Bartc writes

One major EME event and you too are goosed, aren't you!

I keep it in a password protected file on my computer.

My biggest problem is remembering the usernames.

I use car registration numbers for passwords in some case. Not my current car , but some dating back to my father's first car. They fulfil the requirement for mixed number and letters, and could also be used for user names.

Very good. Unfortunately the requirements seem to get fussier from time to time, and just mixing letters and numbers may not be enough. Some may require you to have both upper and lower case letters, or to include at least one punctuation mark.

A lot of the time you don't have any choice about your username, you get assigned a random string of digits. Usernames aren't supposed to be secret, so your own name is fine if you get to choose one.

Your own name invariably has to be followed by a string of numbers, IME, unless you have a unique name. (Are there any unique names)?

Only if your father is Sir Bob Geldorf

I tend to store stuff in a LockNote file. That file, and a load of portable apps, are carried around on an IronKey. The IronKey also provides access to a private Tor based network and has an embedded password management application (not filesystem based).

You are HM Government and I claim my five pounds!