Speaking only for myself, I don't find a 20-character password inconvenient in the least. Most of my passwords, as noted, are over 35 characters. PWs for some accounts are over 60. Though I use LP for general storage of them, I can easily reproduce them manually if I need to do so. In any case I find it odd that some can treat the email account so cavalierly. (I don't say that as if I'm some kind of expert. My username is most fitting in this whole discussion. Instead, I say it as someone perpetually interested in the whole issue of email and online security.) :-) While some may use email only for getting their AOL 'joke of the day,' an email account is, of course, much more. It's been called the skeleton key to one's online identity. (Didn't mean to rhyme that.) ;-) E.g. take Amazon. If you go to Amazon to login and click that you forgot your password, Amazon will send a password reset to your back-up email address. Just like that. No further identification or security procedure at all. Amazon assumes you are in control of that back-up account. But what if you're not ? What if that account is the very one that has been hacked because of having too simplistic/crackable of a password ? Then the hacker can easily gain access to your Amazon account while in control of your email account. It may not be an inconvenience for snidely and others to have an email account and an Amazon account compromised. But what if other Amazon account holders do find it so, and what if they even have a gift card credit in that account ? The hacker can now order whatever he wants on your credit. And while looking through your email account the hacker can see what other services etc. you belong to. And many of those places will allow passwords to be reset just as easily as Amazon will. Imagine the implications, the pervasive compromises, that can result. Maybe during the night while you're asleep. Allll that time to do whatever he wants with your account. Others' mileage may vary, of course, and I fully respect that. :-) But I personally don't evaluate the importance of my email account by the types of emails I receive or how often I get email, but by the services that require my having that account and that depend for their so-called security on my having access to it. The more of a "junk" account it is, the more likely it's used for those services which, if compromised, would lead to a nightmare of multiple account recovery. And in all this I most definitely prefer the ounce (or two) of prevention to the pound of cure (or would it be "pounding" in this case ?) IOW, I don't want to be Chicken Little and lose sleep at night over all this (and I don't). But neither do I want to be careless, not if being careful only means making some simple changes (like increasing the size/complexity of my PWs and maybe using an otherwise reputable and reliable password manager). Just my two cents (or is it cents-less ?) ...

There are some pros & cons on these two different comparison articles on password managers : http://lifehacker.com/5529133/five-best-password-managers http://gizmodo.com/5876508/account-hacked-these-password-managers-keep-your-everything-safe?tag=password-managers

Since this whole thing has gone on, I haven't been able to get into my email for 2 mos. which is 10 years old. They want my phone number from 10 years back to text a code and haven't a clue what it is. Even if I did know, the text would probably go to someone else who now has the number. Can't get into my account to change the phone, so what are they expecting all to do. Also can't create a new GMail account, they ask for the same info to send a security code, then tell me I have suspicious usage. Finally went to email which is not connected to MS, which is the issue and didn't want to do...they own GMail, outlook, hotmail, MSN. None will work for me to create a new account, all hold the same information. I've searched forever to find an answer to this whole mess. You are the first to mention this regarding personal affect, and it goes deeper than we understand. What happens to all the old email names? Is someone else going to use mine? They can't possibly eliminate millions of email addresses and have people create millions of new ones not ever used. Well, maybe they can by requiring special characters, numbers, etc. as more are doing now for passwords. Yes, I am now writing down my passwords. To change them every month almost means a page alone for each link to get into. Has anyone else had problems with their email accounts?

Elmer, you are a better person than then me! First of all, thank you for your help on my other dilemma. I have such difficulty with Win 10. I have learned enough to do what I need to do. But, I knew my way around XP so easily I took such better care of my computers than I do now. For example, I kept getting pop ups from MS that updates were ready to be installed. It’s on my screen now. “Important Updates are Pending.” i keep hitting ‘remind me later.’ Last night, before shutting down, I tried to find the updates to install. Couldn’t find them! Tried a search, sat there for 1/2 hour and get, ‘ no results.’ I wanted to let them in as I was going to bed. Couldn’t find them. Went to Administrative Tools. Nothing! Looked around Best I could, not knowing where anything is, no luck! Went to bed. Came here and saw Ccecilm’s post and was glad I didn’t find them! I’ll hold off for now. Thanks, Jane