I usually follow the latest and greatest about major website’s losing user’s passwords, so I consider myself an expert on this. I wasn’t surprised when I found my one gmail account on the list of 4.9 million usernames, I typically am carefree with how and when I log into places and then deal with the consequences as they arise.  Like when my microsoft account was hacked during my new-engineer-orientation for the corp. I work for, I knew exactly how to fix it because I’ve dealt with it 3 times now, with the most severe including being on the phone with microsoft verifying who I was.

When I finally got home from the first half of my hot water heater install (look for the DIY post on that by week’s end), I figured I’d download the list of usernames and check for people I knew and lo and behold, I was the only person I knew on the list… But when I checked my password manager, boy was I in for a surprise.

“Never user the same password in 2+ places,” the experts say.  I never meant to do that myself, but I only had to change 2 passwords! That’s a first for me, I think I’ll add this to my list of accomplishments and things to be proud of.  Of course, without my password list, I’m fairly helpless, but I’m focusing on the positives here.

Lesson of the day: Unique passwords aren’t easy to remember, but it’s a hell of a lot easier of a problem to fix when your password is in the public domain.