Famous Seamus

Famous Seamus
Love that belly

Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Computers and Passowrds

Am I the only person who has trouble with passwords?   Before I retired I had to remember about 8 different passwords.  Each department or service had it's own requirement so using the same password was impossible.  Then they made us change them every 3 months.  I'm a registered nurse and now retired, but the last 1-2 years were a nightmare in the password department.  Try to imagine
a medical emergency and a patient needing a medication that is locked in a vault requiring ones
user name and password - one tiny error and one is locked out in an emergency!!!  For the first
20 or so years we only needed a code to get into the pharmacy or med room.  Then computers
(which I enjoy) came into play. We had passwords for our personnel files and we were required to change them every 2 months (not repeating any as they change).  We had codes or passwords for
the pharmacy, the utility room, the instrument packs room, even the bathroom.   There were a few
more, but I think you get the idea.  It seemed I was always getting locked out of one or 2 of
the areas.  It never bothered management because they didn't go into all those rooms. They stayed
in their offices and had only one or 2 passwords to think about.  I was not sorry to leave that all
behind me when I retired.

Now that I'm at home a lot I use my computer and email and check my accounts online.  But
again I have multiple passwords to remember.  I do have a password program to store them and
when I'm on my home computer I can check them, but should I have to change one I need to
remember to change it in the storage program and quickly before I forget it or get it mixed up.
The trouble begins when I have to access an account away from home or on another computer.
And sometimes they make me change it just as the hospital did - for security reasons.  Three
days later I forget that I changed it and attempt to sign into my bank to pay bills and I use the
wrong password  then after 2 attempts I'm locked out.  Then there is a whole separate procedure
for regaining entrance to the site.  Somedays I just put a check in an envelope and mail it.  Seems to
take less time for that, unless the payment might be late then I have to go through the process in
order to get it sent  electronically.

I do believe that computers are wonderful and provide speedy service for the most part, but at
they can drive me to distraction and hair pulling.  They often won't accept the correct password
if it's been a while since I accessed that site so then I have to jump through hoops again.  I think
I'm getting too old for this stuff and being ADD doesn't help my concentration or memory either.

For all who happen to read this blog - I wish you easy passwords and accomadating computers.