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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Our View: Highway 62 bypass — just get it done ... Cooking up some fun ... After six years, wilderness trail is open ... Our View: Highway 62 bypass — just get it done ... Cooking up some fun ... After six years, wilderness trail is open ... Frank Talk: When good passwords go bad Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Oct. 2, 2014 at 1:20 PM Posted Oct. 2, 2014 at 1:20 PM » Social News By Frank Mulligan More Content Now The following purported conversation is entirely the product of the writer’s imagination. It’s contrived, fictional and didn’t even happen: “Um, Mr. Mulligan?” “Yes?” “We’ve been reviewing some of your passwords.” “Why?” “I’ll be asking the questions here.” “Sorry.” “Well, it’s just that we’re trying to make sure that a certain level of civility is maintained in the passwords employed here to tap into the various computer access points at our disposal.” “Oh, right. OK.” “And, well, we’ve been noticing that some of your passwords seem laced with, well, bad words.” “I’m sorry?” “Profanity.” “It’s easier to remember them that way.” “Couldn’t you come up with a better way to remember them?” “I guess so. But what’s the harm?” “Well, they could fall into the wrong hands.” “Whose?” “For instance, what if a child needed to access your payroll account?” “I don’t see that ever happening.” “But what if it did? Say you fell in front of your desk at the office and were grievously injured and unable to reach your computer keyboard and you needed to access your account to update your payroll information so you could get your check in order to pay for emergency medical care. And then, a small child walks by who happens to be visiting the newsroom with his Cub Scout Troop. And say you’re able to gasp out that you need help desperately. And that child valiantly takes up a post at your keyboard. How would you relay one of your passwords to this innocent cherub?” “I could spell it out.” “He’s a Cub Scout. They can spell.” “Well, I could wait for EMS to arrive and ask a paramedic to log in for me. Those guys must be used to some salty language.” “The child could still hear you.” “I’d write it out on a piece of paper.” “He could read it.” “I could use code.” “Look, it was just an example. Let me ask you this, ‘Do you kiss your mother with that password mouth?’” “Huh?” “You know what I mean. Wouldn’t you be embarrassed if your passwords were made public?” “Not really. Oh, c’mon. They’re not that bad. We all say these kinds of things when we get angry, like if you hit your thumb with a hammer.” “Well, whatever. Let me get to the point. We’re urging you to tone down your use of profanity in your passwords. OK?” “I could use code.” “Oh, all right. But it better not make any sense.” “I guarantee it won’t.” “Yeah, yeah. You can be a real pain in the, well, you know, the password.” Wareham (Massachusetts) Courier editor Frank Mulligan can be reached at [email protected]. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Oct. 2, 2014 at 1:20 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501