Pinned Down By Passwords: Netizens' Agony

'Your password is old and needs to be reset', for any netizen this message is as hurtful and disruptive as biting the tongue while savouring a mint-laden chewing gum. The immediate reaction is 'oh no not again' or somewhat more combative 'WTF, got it changed other day only'.

In this wired and increasingly wireless world passwords and pin numbers are the digital equivalent of what keys and padlocks were to the brick and mortar world. Losing is just not an option and in case of passwords one cannot even seek others help to carry out a search!

In the ever increasing list of passwords and pin numbers (now even some credit cards need them) it becomes a challenge to remember and update them on a frequent basis.

'Password strength not enough' is the prompt we get when we go for some simple and easy to remember words during those updates. Many sites have further raised the bar by asking users to have alphanumeric passwords, which take a heavy toll on the bytes in brain’s grey matter. Names of spouse, kids, girlfriend/boyfriend, exes, movies, movie stars, cricket stars, books, authors... date of birth, marriage anniversary ... all these usual suspect permutations and many more get used up for alphanumeric passwords, but alas like sea waves the reset prompts keep coming. 

And sadly however strong be the password, it makes you no way immune to a hack attack, because they strike at the servers itself, which the site administrators need to take measures to prevent such attacks. 

Remembering passwords is just half the battle. In many sites, as an additional security measure, they have introduced Captcha. A Google search will reveal that Captcha is a type of 'challenge-response test' to determine whether the user is human or not. However, they often make me wonder whether the people who programme those Captchas are anyway human! They contort English alphabets and numerals to such an extent that they resemble a cross between Chinese alphabets and Hieroglyphics. If you clear it in the first attempt, then be rest assured that you may be human, but not normal!!

Banks have an uncanny knack of sending prompts for resetting passwords when you are frantically trying to book a flight or train ticket online. The delay caused due to resetting often costs dear - either you fail to get reservation, get relegated to RAC or fares shoot up.

As for remembering passwords the best way would be to rely on good old pen and paper and store them at a safe place. I shudder when I see people checking their phone screens while typing pin numbers at ATMs. Wonder what they would do if their phone conks off, gets lost or stolen.

If you fail to note down passwords and your memory plays hooky, then you get locked out of emails, bank accounts and host of other services and messages such as 'invalid password' or 'your account has been locked' mock at you. Getting disenfranchised from virtual world can be equally tough as in real one!

Also Read: Bangalore Beat

Suddenly Something

On a languid Saturday morning while the TV channels were dishing out the migraine inducing fare of spot fixing and Srinivasan saga came the news that put the corporate world in a tizzy. The poster boy of India's IT revolution N R Narayana Murthy will be taking back the reins of Infosys - his 'middle child'.

The company, which financial journalists often describe as IT bellwether, of late seems to have lost its byte, much to the disappointment of its shareholders and employees. Hence the top management, in its sheer desperation, decided to press the panic button.

The return of Murthy, though hailed by the corporate world, raises some questions. Infosys right from the early days had tried to project itself as a professionally run company not wedded to any individual or family. All the founders of the company were first generation entrepreneurs. Its management style came as a whiff of fresh air in the Indian corporate world, dominated by clannish Mumbai-centric business dynasties, steeped in crony capitalism.

Murthy himself had always maintained that the CEO should retire at 65 and always kept his family away from the matters of the company. Hence his return and that too along with his son has broken both the above principles, providing ammunition to his detractors. In any other company a former CEO returning along with son in tow would have hardly raised any eyebrows. But Infosys is different and is always viewed with a much loftier yardstick.

Its image of propriety has spread far and wide. Even Government dignitaries from various Western countries while visiting India make it a point to squeeze Bangalore into their itinerary - mainly to visit Infosys campus. Vidhana Soudha - the seat of Karnataka government, is at best an afterthought and often skipped.

Another unhealthy fallout is that Infosys now runs the risk of being seen as a one-man company, something which will not be to the liking of Murthy. Somehow the company failed to groom successors worthy enough to step into the shoes of Narayana Murthy or Nandan Nilekani.

The Infosys co-founder has taken a calculated risk by agreeing to steer the company again and hopefully he does succeed in his task soon and calls it a day for good. Any delay will be good news for his detractors.

Also Read: Bangalore Beat

Computer Keys and Programs Demystified

Computers as seen through the eyes of a person who has been using it for long but is still no way savvy enough.

Control Z: A big time life saver for all and sundry, especially the technologically challenged. Wish there was such an option in real life too - it would have meant fewer regrets and guilt trips.

Backspace: A reliable companion for two finger typists (and that includes around 98% of netizens) and those afflicted by a disease called writer's block. In many computers and laptops this is probably the first key that goes kaput due to overuse.

Pause break: A key seen next to 'number lock' in most computers. Till this day I have never used the key nor I am able to figure out what it is all about.

Control c+ Control v: For plagiarists it is as significant an invention as the wheel was to scientific community. But this function is useful for others in copying lengthy quotes or sending interesting url links to friends.

Notepad: The purgatory where all that remains is pure words and numbers, all commands or hyperlinks attached to it disappear. Wish it had a spell check option.

MS Word: A god-send for those with handwriting styles ranging from chicken-scratch to hieroglyphics (that covers more than 90% of literate population). Also a boon for those who care about correct spellings (a dwindling breed under the corrosive influence of SMS lingo).  The sheer convenience it offers in preparing and sending documents has made many forget what post office was all about.

MS Excel: Those rectangular cells do seem quite intimidating. However a little knowledge will make you realise the wonders it can accomplish in computing. But still I am not so comfortable about using it. Did some computing of monthly expenses, but the exercise was short lived as it was just part of my New Year resolution.

Also Read: Bangalore Beat