Why do we have to constantly change our password?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Gary King
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AI Thread Summary
Constant password changes, typically every 180 days, are debated for their necessity, especially for accounts deemed low-risk. Some users feel this requirement is excessive and serves little purpose, while others acknowledge it as a security measure that also helps manage account activity. The discussion highlights a lack of awareness about the frequency of required updates, with some users reporting infrequent changes. Additionally, there are suggestions for managing passwords more easily, such as alternating between two passwords. Ultimately, the conversation reflects mixed feelings about the balance between security and convenience in password management.
Gary King
Why do we have to constantly change our password after a set number of days? I believe it's 180 days? I just don't see the point; it's not like our accounts have anything of importance.
 
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I don't think it's that often you need to update your password. I only remember doing it once. I think it serves two purposes: 1) protects your account here and 2) updates the member list, so if you don't update your password, the system knows you're no longer active (at least I think that's how it's done).
 
180 days would be sweet, where I work they seem to know exactly when I finally learn my password. 'Cuz when I do get it learned it is time to change it!
 
Gary King said:
Why do we have to constantly change our password after a set number of days? I believe it's 180 days? I just don't see the point; it's not like our accounts have anything of importance.

did not know we had to do that every 180 days? Even if we had to, it's no effort at all, isn't it ?

marlon
 
Moonbear said:
I don't think it's that often you need to update your password. I only remember doing it once. I think it serves two purposes: 1) protects your account here and 2) updates the member list, so if you don't update your password, the system knows you're no longer active (at least I think that's how it's done).
It is not used for this purpose; I should know this since I develop vBulletin modifications :)

In the administrator control panel, they can already see when you last visited, when you last posted, and when your last activity was.

Anyways, I find this requirement to change passwords really extra work and quite useless. I'm sure there are several members that are annoyed by this, but of course don't bother to say anything about it.
 
I don't know, it doesn't seem like that much work to me. It's certainly less than every 180 days since I've been here over a year and only once had to update my information, and that was after a site upgrade. Though, there could be stuff in the private journals that people do want to keep private, thus password security would be a good idea. If you really don't have anything here that you care about protecting, then just use two passwords and swap back and forth between them. Or change your password and then change it back.
 
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