I'll spout some heresy. I think it is a good idea to write many of your passwords down. But you need to strongly protect the place where you have them written down. For example, keep them in your wallet, written in code that looks like a list of phone numbers, possibly just encoding the hint that lets you remember the password.

I think this is a good idea because I think you should do all of the following:

• Never use the same password/PIN twice (for two different systems).
• Never use a password that someone could guess after they get to know you or "research" you.
• Change your passwords regularly.

and if I do all of those, how am I ever going to remember the 47 passwords/PINs that each has nothing to do with my personal life, the account being accessed, or each other while forgetting the completely different set of passwords I so painstakingly memorized last month?

Now, the password to my top-secret security clearance account at the Air Force, that one I'd just memorize!

        - tye (but my friends call me "Tye")