security

Something very basic that a lot of us forget... don't use the same password for multiple online usernames, whether they're related or not.

It's relatively simple to find you, it's simple to find what forums you're on and if they're smart, they will use the initial password and ruin your reputation.

So:
- use complex passwords. I already linked to the cartoon, read it - use lots of words, the first and last or first two or last two and then maybe add a couple of numbers and / or punctuation. That's then easy to remember. The example I used yesterday was 'tree' 'cloud' 'sky' 'snow' - Te+cD-sy+sw-%128 is seriously complex but isn't *that* hard to remember.
- Alternative is to use a password safe of some variety - keepass springs to mind, as does "password safe" ;)
- make sure you have a password set on your computer at home and that that is different to each of your forum passwords.
- when you've changed a password, USE IT a few times to get it into your fingers. Don't change passwords - especially for example work ones - on a Friday! Do it Tuesday morning, when you get the opportunity to remember it and use it and you're awake enough to figure a decent password out.

I know, this becomes a lot of passwords. But that's the way it goes...

oh, and keeping your password safe on a service like dropbox is a very stupid idea.

- Bret