Computer FAQ

for Aug. 20, 2003

Hi, All;

This week: Does Passport make changing your passwords easier so you can change them often?

After looking at both the Microsoft Passport web site www.passport.com and the "Yahoo! Wallet" web site, "wallet.yahoo.com," I find that both of these services appear to be similar. You can key in your ID and password, and the same ID and password will be used for any business that has also signed on with the two services. So it appears to me (I did not sign up with either service) that they will hold your ID and Password, shipping, billing, and credit card information in an encrypted secure file on your PC that can then be called up and used when you order from a company that is a member of the service.

So your information is safe, but is it convenient?
Without actually using the service, this is a hard question to answer. My feeling is that, at least for a while, this is just one more ID and Password to remember. When you use a Passport/Wallet member company, it saves having to enter the same information over and over. It does look to me that if you change all your passwords and IDs to match your "Passport" or Yahoo! Wallet" then you can use them to enter the information. But you can have your browser remember ID's and passwords and keep them different for each site you visit, and different ID's/passwords avoid a security risk if a hacker should compromise a password file. Even if you use the same ID and password for each web site, you have control.

I do not use the same ID and password for every site because some web sites will not accept my standard password or ID, so I keep them written down. But someone would have to steal my password file physically to gain access, and I can control how secure that paper is. A truly secure web site will not let you save either the ID or password either on Passport, Wallet, or in your browser, so you and only you know what to enter to get in. My online banking uses that method--there is no option for an electronically stored password; it has to be manually typed. Still the very best way to protect your information.

'Til next week, (ComputerFAQ#151)

Robert

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Index to Past ComputerFAQ Columns:

(under construction)

July 05, 2000 Introduction to ComputerFAQ
July 12, 2000 Computer Definitions
July 26, 2000 More Computer Definitions
August 02, 2000 Defining Bits, Bytes and Hex
August 09, 2000 Internet Service Providers (ISP)
August 16, 2000 Backup up your PC
August 23, 2000 Backup Devices.
August 30, 2000 What is the slowest PC for Internet Access
September 06, 2000 PC Nomenclature
September 13, 2000What to do with Mail Attachements.
September 20, 2000What Happens at boot up
October 04, 2000Desktop Areas
October 18, 2000Start Button
October 25, 2000Display Made Bigger
November 01, 2000 More Monitor Controls
November 15, 2000 Right Click Display Menu
November 22, 2000 More on Desktop Menus
November 29, 2000 More on Desktop Menus
December 06, 2000 Desktop Properties Menu - part 1
December 13, 2000 Desktop Properties Menu - part 2
December 20, 2000 Desktop Properties Menu - part 3