I needed online storage. I scanned the list of ‘free’ web hosts, found one and decided to join. It asked for a password and I used one of my usual.

My password was rejected as being too short. Then too weak. I was offered this ‘password generator.’

I clicked and out came something like 2]&qi6x!.

Now this is free webhosting. This isn’t the CIA, this doesn’t Open the Gate, all this does is create the greatest insecurity possible; for a password like this needs to be written down.

Nothing is worse than a password that needs to be written down.

Walk around offices, glance at the post-its near the computer; you know that 3y^i2ke( is a password, so is wiuyQt7u.

The best passwords are those you don’t need to write down, those you won’t forget.

People use their names, their children’s names, their favourite character’s name, because they won’t forget them. They can keep them ‘in their head’.

If you can’t keep a password in your head it is insecure.