Topic: Cameras & Computer Passwords

[Ed Wenn]

Anyone else out there use camera names as passwords for computer accounts at work? I work as an IT geek and I have to logon onto numerous different systems both within my company and on customer sites. Usually these passwords will have 'strength' rules which involve the use of a minimum number of characters, the inclusion of at least one capital letter and/or a digit. For years I struggled to find a system that was fun, would meet the criteria and resulted in passwords that were easy to remember, then a couple of years ago I started using camera names and found that they work perfectly;

• Bronicas2a
• Polaroid360
• PentaxP30T
• SureshotZ90W

...and if you need a non-alphanumeric you can always add a hyphen or a full stop. Easy to remember (because we're camera geeks) and it gives me a little feeling of 'photography freedom' every time I have to logon to a grim corporate computer system.

[Skorj]

Hey! That's a GREAT idea Ed. I've been using `1234` and then `qwerty` for years. I'll go and change all my passwords now! Thanks.

[kuru]

That is a good idea Ed. Might work that into the next password change I implement on the systems I run.

[Francois]

You mean
admin, nimda, root & toor won't work anymore?

so sad....

[LT]

I've been working my way through the ilfrd films at work - fpfour. hpive, panfplus, delta100, delta400 etc etc

[Phil Bebbington]

At last I don't have to use password any more!

[Ed Wenn]

I've been working my way through the ilfrd films at work - fpfour. hpive, panfplus, delta100, delta400 etc etc

Leon, FILMS what a great idea. Thanks!

[moominsean]

now i know how to break into everyone's personal files.

[Phil Bebbington]

Now if you have a limited number of cameras or only use a few films fab....three attempts and so many cameras or films to choose from.  But..if you are trying to think of a password films and cameras are great idea. I guess the trick is not to use a camera you own...damn I've given away my own system

[FrankB]

There used to be a great terminal emulator called Terminate that would do pretty much anything (FidoNet point system, external transfer protocol, instant BBS, fax machine, etc., etc.). One of the files in the install pack was a list of bad passwords... Ahem, hours of fun right there...! 

One of the most common passwords is FRED, because of the ease of entry from a QWERTY keyboard. Allegedly in New Zealand DERF is popular, local slang for sheep erm droppings (confirm anyone?).

Eh? My passwords? Cameras?

Nope! 

[This-is-damion]

top stuff,  i have always struggled,  working for a big grim corporation its password crazy, every bloody application i need a different password -  network, email, IM, Operating systems and they all essentially need changing every other month.

i usually just add another number or ! to my current one, but now its getting stupid!

now i have a whole new tranche to explore.

cheers wenn.

[Francois]

At least it's not as bad as back in university...
The system would automatically generate "magic" passwords and you had no way of changing them... Just try to remember stuff like "Lkz3n89DF8979k"...
And to help things alone, it created the mail accounts using a similar system... I used to call it hell on hp-ux... and later, hell on SystemV...

I feel so old when I think about this stuff...