How often do you change your internet passwords?

[Susan]

Or do you not? Do you have the same password for the same website? I'm just getting concerned because I had a virus and spyware on my computer and I think I should change my passwords. But I'm worried if I still have spyware on my computer hackers will find out the new password. Have you had any similar experiences?

[Mike T]

Having different passwords fordifferent sites, and changing your passwords frequently is an ideal way of keeping hackers away from your data. However, there is very very little spyware available which will be able to capture your passwords for hackers (are you thinking of key loggers?). If you think your computer has been compromised, run a complete virus and spyware check, then change your passwords, and you will be FINE!!

[Destination Venus]

Download this..http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/.

[Cameron]

get a hard 1 what no 1 knows than never change it

[Andrew S]

Well, me, i will never change it, i have one pass for every account i make in the computer.
because i know i still haver rember pin numbers, insurance, codes, passwords,might aswell make 1 password for 6 accounts, risky but easy.

[aRae]

i have the same for all... easier to remember

[austindavid]

(a) pick a good method for remembering a few passwords -- like 3-4 passwords, not too many and certainly not just 1. Don't use a single word for a password (like "teapot" or "t3ap0t"), but mnemonics can be good -- "i'm a little teapot" could be "i'maltp0t".

(b) find a good way to record them; an encrypted memo on a palm pilot might be OK, or you can write them down on a piece of paper and carry it in your wallet. It's obviously best not to write down the actual password, but a reminder -- "i'm a little teapot", for instance. And definitely don't associate the password with the "type" of site using it. if you're down to a few passwords, you can prolly figure out where they went.

© assign a small number of passwords to different "types" of sites:
1 the many sites that require "registration only" for reading news or something
2 stuff that stores personal info, like profiles.yahoo.com or facebook
3 stuff that stores financial info, like your bank
... etc

Re-do all of the about every 3 months, or more frequently if you think a password is getting stale, or may have been compromised.

[yeayea shoushou]

you should purge your system to the best of your ability with anit-virus/adware/spyware first.
personally, i use the same password for all websites but i change them periodically. the reason is i can become more confused with too many passwords that it discourages me to even use these websites. as long as your password is hard to crack you shouldn't worry about it for a month or two. for example, a good password is one that doesn't just have numbers or one that doesn't just have letters. use a word you know well like your middle name or you childrens middle name and change certain letters that resemble numbers like replace an "i" with a "1" or replace an "o" with a zero. you can even capitalize the first letter to add much more strength.
for my work i have to use many passwords and some have to change more frequently than others so i keep a text file with each different username and password so i don't forget. i keep the text file in a place no one would expect. it's a bit extreme but i'll not let it be my fault if something goes wrong.
i'd check on different firewalls that are out there if i were you. i cannot say which is the best because i would be proving my own ignorance. if there truly was a best then the other developers would be out of business. its all in what fits you. however, i would recommend Zone Alarm because it is one of the strongest. it may take a bit to configure at first but it walks you through much of it. i use Zone Alarm Security Suite as it also has an anti-virus program among other utilities integrated into it that really works great.

best of luck!