CompuServe Information Service          CIS:CBMAPP

The Commodore Applications Forum

 #: 49986 S1/Forum Help
    28-Aug-1998  23:54:51 EDT
Sb: Creating Passwords!
Fm: Glenn P., 74127,1457
To: All / Anyone...

                         CHOOSING COMPUSERVE PASSWORDS

     The technical requirements of CompuServe passwords are first, that they
must be AT LEAST eight (8) characters in length, but NO MORE than twenty-four
(24) characters. They must contain one, but ONLY one, non-alphanumeric
character, basically a space or punctuation mark or the like. The use of
control characters is NOT recommended and may lead to strange results.

     Although there is no requirement as to WHERE the non-alpha character
should be placed, CompuServe's own guidelines suggest that passwords should
consist of two unrelated words separated by the non-alpha character. For
security reasons, it is very important that these two words be unrelated, not
only to you but to each other -- the more disparate, the better.

     Many people seem to have trouble thinking up passwords, and there are
even computer programs -- one such available right here in this Forum! --
which will create them at random. I'm inclined to think this difficulty is
largely due to people thinking of it as a chore. Instead, think of it as a
GAME: a game in which you need to think of two totally unrelated words -- the
more incongroous, the better. And because incongruity breeds humor, the goal
is to aim for silly and confounding combinations that make you laugh. (This
will also have one beneficial side effect -- that of making the results
MEMORABLE, an important consideration!)

     Given below are just some of the many CompuServe passwords I've used in
the past. The list is not exhaustive, but it is very representative. None of
them are in current use (and Inever use ANY password more than once), so there
is no security risk in divulging them -- but I caution that there *would* be a
VERY serious security risk in USING them; for anti-social miscreants may read
this list too! I hope this list serves, both to showcase my own creativity,
and to spur your own.   :)

One final note: You'll find many of the words here rather erudite. Believe me,
they are all genuine words! I have made nothing up. You'll also notice that a
few of these passwords contain Hebrew or Yiddish words. This is not because
I'm Jewish (I am in fact solidly Lutheran) but simply because some of the
words are among the weirdest ones ever to make it into the English language.
Enjoy!

               Minuend'Bookcase               Bubblebath(Bagel
               Ashcan!Tilde                   Arson%Barbell
               Toaster:Float                  Parenthetical%Asphalt
               Palimpsest:Lightbulb           Dimple.Tenderloin
               Gazebo%Toothpaste              Harbinger!Derelict
               Volvox!Hairpin                 Sympathy,Cartilage
               Sanhedrin#Forklift             Strawberry.Caduceus
               Diaper)Haiku                   Ruby.Toothpaste
               Pincussion:Snowdrift           Spaniel?Shoestring
               Permutation-Lamppost           Dinosaur,Smokealarm
               Juniper+Glowworm               Uvula.Trenchcoat
               Gasoline.Treadmill             Telephone>Cupcake
               Octopus\Cucumber               Alligator*Toadstool
               Elevator<Quicksand             Thimble@Corkscrew
               Toaster*Oxide                  Pineapple/Tchotchke

     Do I have any favorites? Oh, yes!

     Of the ones listed above, "Sanhedrin#Forklift" (DO look that first word
up!) has to be my absolute all-time favorite -- you would be so VERY
hard-pressed to come up with any two words more incongruous in meaning. Of
course, "Diaper)Haiku", runs a very close second. And "Pineapple/Tchotchke" is
a MAREVELOUS password!!!   :)   And these aren't even ALLof them!

     I'll be uploading this text as a file, so you'll be able to enjoy it even
after this message itself scrolls. Hope you enjoyed it!

     Yours in creativity...

                                                    [74127.01457] - Glenn P.

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