Contest - Internet Password Organizer

We are all looking for practical solutions for everyday organizing around the office and home.  But we're also looking to win a contest, right?

Innovation Lab, Inc. of Cary, North Carolina is giving OrganizingLA Blog readers an opportunity to receive one of four copies of the Internet Password Organizer, a nifty high-quality book designed to provide computer users with a centralized location to organize and store user names and passwords for the websites you subscribe to.

If you've been to art school, these books are very similar to Cansen Field Sketch books. 

The books feature:

• Reinforced laminate tab dividers
• Spiral binding, allowing you to write the full length of each page
• Double-sided tab dividers
• 5.5" x 8" (W x H) pages
• Hard black cover which discretely protects the contents inside
• Bonus sections provide fields for service providers, email settings, wireless networks, licenses and notes.  You could use it for product keys, too.

We particularly love that the books are non-descript in order to hide in plain site and there is a VERY thorough information section on the website outlining the pros and cons of an internet-based password system vs. paper/book form.  So you can stop forgetting your passwords and up your productivity!

• Internet Password Organizer - official site

The Internet Password Organizer is also available for $19.99 through Hallmark Stores, Target, Amazon.com, Borders and OnlineOrganizing.com.

Contest Rules:

To enter, simply add a comment of value to this post.  We'll randomly select four winners from all entries received.  Entry collection ends Tuesday, May 13th midnight.  Winners will be contacted through email on Wednesday, May 14th, and we will be requesting addresses in order to mail out the organizers.  Good luck!

Update 5/14/08:  We've closed comments on this post and will be drawing/contacting the winners sometime late today.  Thank you to everyone who submitted a comment.

Comments

[Ana]

Internet Password Organizer: $35

[Ana]

Internet Password Organizer: $35

[Joy Gross]

Yikes... I don't have a comment of value... well except I am new to your site and love it. And I really really need one of these. =)

[Shannon S.]

Never use the same password for everything. I use a variations on acronyms for passwords. Makes it easy to remember. =)

[Carina]

Wonderful idea and much better than the 20 post-it notes I have next to my computer. A comment of value, well all I can say is opt out on your work computer for the password memory option when you go to different sites. I learned the hard way.

[Carina]

Wonderful idea and much better than the 20 post-it notes I have next to my computer. A comment of value, well all I can say is opt out on your work computer for the password memory option when you go to different sites. I learned the hard way.

[Denise aka The Blog Squad]

I use RoboForm and a thumb drive so I can switch between my desktop and laptop. No more books or lists for me.

Good luck everyone!

Blog on!

[Alex Fayle]

How totally timely John! I just finished writing a script for http://www.OrganizingConnection.com in which I talk about recording passwords.

I'm totally forwarding this post along to the Organizing Gals.

Cheers,
Alex

[Kim Wolinski "Dr. DeClutter"]

Great John!

I know that one of the great time-wasters is going through the roladex of my mind remembering what Username goes with what Password on what site. I've created my version of this kind of book by my computer. Way helpful. Absolutely saves time, energy and sanity.

2 Tips: 1) make sure someone else (who you trust) knows where to find it in case some big bad thing happens to you and this information can be found, 2) write in pencil!

Great blog and job as always John! You rock!

Blissings,
Kim "Dr. DeClutter"

[Leea]

I was once told not to store your passwords on your computer, as if you get a hacker, they have all your important passwords ....

[Katherine Macey]

Wow, you mean I could stop using the back of the diary I've had since 1999 with all my passwords written in chronological order? You mean I would be able to find my passwords easily? You mean I could update my password list to only include the passwords that are actually current? What a revolutionary, organized idea!

Another hint for password creation, use capital letters and numbers or special characters that resemble letters and spell a word - for instance, password could be P@55w0rD.

I like the sleek look too. John - you always find the best products! Thanks.

[Kevin]

Wow!

Looking at the number of post-its containing passwords and miscellaneous computer access information which delightfully frame my computer screen with sunshiny yellow, I really need one of these.

[Michelle Rosborough]

I could really use this book. I have post it note all over my computer with passwords written on them

[Cynthia Friedlob]

I use Roboform which generates, then saves random passwords for each site. I "lock" sensitive sites with a master password that I can remember. But a back-up in book form, stored in a safe place, is a great idea!

[Pam McCutcheon]

This is a great tool that I will recommend for my clients use! I had a client pass away about two years ago, and the family had us run the estate sale. After her desk sold, we had to flip it over to get it out the door. Only then did we see that she had written all her internet passwords on a piece of paper and taped them to the underside of the desk! The family was thrilled to find them. This is a classic example of why something like this password organizer is needed!

[julie]

with 3 of us on one computer...ooohh too many passcodes to rememer..the computer is dressed in post it notes!

[Donna V.]

What a helpful tool! I know it seems like almost everything requires a password now and it would be great to keep them in one place in this organizer. Like other posters, I often use the post-it note method and it definitely is not effective. I've lost a few that way!

[Dustin]

This sounds like a great product that I could really use. My useful comment is that you should change your passwords every few months.

[Ann]

Well, when we lived in Holland I used to write all my passwords on a piece of paper. Then we moved to Oregon and guess what ... the piece of paper got lost in the move. We're still coming by programs where we need the password and we need to re-do all the steps as we lost them all! I would love to win this to get organized properly!

[Holly]

My comment of "value" is:
I use a specific word for each category of passwords in life. One for financial items, another for social networking sites, another for passwords shared with others, etc. The word is then followed with numbers that are significant to me. Clustering with similar first words helps me get into the frame of mind to remember the number combo I assign.

For instance:
Online banking, mortgage, car loan, might all look something like "happy#####"

Facebook, myspace and plaxo might all be similar to "face######"

"Open" passwords that I share with others might be "open######"

[Shilo Beedy]

I would love to finally have a place to put all my passwords. I love the bonus section which would come in handy. I use to write all my passwords in a notebook. After awhile the book eventually got ruined and now I tend to use the same info for everything.

[SJ]

Oh I could benefit from one of these! I have so many passwords to keep track of on a daily basis, this would really simplify my current system!

[SJ]

This organizer would simplify my current system of password keeping, which is unorganized to say the least! I could really benefit from this product!

[Cindi]

Hello, I am on the computer here at my home a lot! My computer knowledge is pretty minimal. I do have many sites that I go to,but do not know how to bookmark them. I write internet sites and my passwords in sticky notes. I would really appreciate winning this organizer. It would be put to good use!
Many thanks,Cindi

[clenna in NH]

This organizer would help me to keep a lot of information in a specific place. I would feel better organized.

[Laurie Silva]

My personal organization tip: I keep a pair of SHREDDING SCIZZORS (by COMPACT-IMPACT.COM) at my desk. Each day when I open my mail, I simply shred the personal information from anything that I put into the recycling bin (located just below my desk). This way I keep up with mail clutter on a daily basis.

[Soraia Serralbo]

The IPO is a very handy tool. Now I can have all the info togheter and when I need it I have to look for only one piece. GREAT, keep creating more tools like that.

[Shannon]

Gosh, this would certainly come in handy around here! I just recently lost my entire list of passwords and seeing as how I do all my bill paying online, that poses a problem. :) Love your blog and always look forward to new posts.

[Celeste]

I have all my passwords in my computer under a file name "passwords". I thought it would never be lost, but if my computer ever died, all my passwords would be lost!

[Mark - Innovention Lab]

John, thanks for hosting this giveaway. Lots of great suggestions here! Although I don't qualify for the contest I would like to offer-up the following tip to your readers.

Make sure the length of the passwords you choose are at least 8 characters. The best passwords contain mixed upper and lower case alpha-numeric characters plus common symbols.

7.2 Quadrillion combinations can be made from a sequence of 8 characters that use the prescribed characters above. The more combinations, the longer it takes to compromise. If you follow these rules it can take anywhere between 22,875 Years to 83½ Days to crack (depending on whether a single computer or a cluster of computers are working to guess your password).

If you use passwords that are only six characters long, the time required to compromise them drops to anywhere between 2.5 years to 13 minutes.

For more details visit the following link:

http://www.lockdown.co.uk/?pg=combi&s=articles

[susan]

love reading your blog--very helpful as a journalist w. lots of clutter!

my valuable tip: may seem so obvious but u have an existence system right on your mac computer--no need to carry a datebook around if u use the computer's calendar! i have used it and it has cut down on my clutter immensely.

[Angie]

I just found your blog and have subscribed to your feed. I used to be very organized and I'm not quite sure what happened over the years but I'm sure your blog will help me.

This Internet Password Organizer would be great for me. Right now I use an address book and they are just not meant for passwords really.

Thanks for the opportunity and I look forward to reading your blog.