Will modern tech ever render Post-It Notes obsolete?

[just Warren]

This is the kind of controversial question these boards need!


I do like Post-Its. So I hope they don't go away.

[Ben]

They never will. People need them to post their passwords on the monitor of their work computers.

[MillCreek]

In healthcare, compliance is a really big thing, especially when it comes to HIPAA privacy and security issues.  When I am out and about in my clinics, I like to look under the keyboard and the mouse pad; you would be surprised how often I find passwords there.  So at least we are not leaving them out in the open on the monitors.

[Perd Hapley]

No.

[just Warren]

No.

Woah woah woah there! Calm down.

[Fly320s]

No.

Counterpoint:  yes.

[K Frame]

"When I am out and about in my clinics, I like to look under the keyboard and the mouse pad; you would be surprised how often I find passwords there.  So at least we are not leaving them out in the open on the monitors."

Rumor is that some months ago there was a person on my contract terminated.

Diplomatic Security conducts regular random security sweeps through our office spaces. Word is that this individual was caught 3 times in a row with passwords on post it notes around the desk. First two times were violation warnings, third time was an security incident (far more serious), and that's when he/she was removed from the contract.

True or not I'm not 100% sure, but I know I've found the occasional post it note with password on computers I'm using. When I do find them, I take it and tear it up and throw it out.

[Doggy Daddy]

Maybe.

Change my mind.

[T.O.M.]

On the OP, as long as courts and lawyers keep using paper, there will be a demand for Post-its.  We use so many around here, we could probably fund the company ourselves!

[Ben]

Diplomatic Security conducts regular random security sweeps through our office spaces. Word is that this individual was caught 3 times in a row with passwords on post it notes around the desk. First two times were violation warnings, third time was an security incident (far more serious), and that's when he/she was removed from the contract.

We had similar once a year. Ours weren't usually random as I was often given a heads up first. I'd do a "pre sweep sweep" to see where we stood. I'd always find various login credentials at a minimum of 30% of the office desks, either out in the open or in a desk drawer or other obvious place. My boss was a big fan of LOTR. Gollum Gollum.

Though my favorite thing to do was to pull the CAC card that was still in the reader at a vacant desk, then go take a long lunch off site. 

[makattak]

I will admit I have a password written on a scrap of paper in my drawer.

It's the password for a rarely used website that requires an absurdly long list of things (including changing your password every 60 days and that your password cannot be any of your previous 10 passwords.)

So, its password gets written down every time I change it.

[Fly320s]

If only there was a secure app for that...

[MechAg94]

If only there was a secure app for that...

You mean like the memo app on your phone?   

[Fly320s]

You mean like the memo app on your phone?   

Yes.  Or maybe one of the dozens offered through Itunes or Google Play.

[RoadKingLarry]

Yes.  Or maybe one of the dozens offered through Itunes or Google Play.

Anyone else find it cute that he thinks iTunes and Google Play apps are secure?

[BlueStarLizzard]

No.

The fault with using the "sticky notes" programs is that when your cat runs across the keyboard, it usually ends up writing on the notes... and deleting the notes... I never went over entirely to the computer sticky note and I have transferred back to paper for all sticky note purposes. I even bought a cork board for over my desk to secure my notes in a cat safe manner.

and yes, many a password is there.

[230RN]

I was delighted to find the sticky note gadget on Win 7.

Used it for about two weeks, finally went back to just simply forgetting things as usual.

[grampster]

post it notes are more efficient than some balky, frustrating machine.  Easier to carry around too.  Muchly more specific as well.

[230RN]

Mike Irwin remarked, "Diplomatic Security conducts regular random security sweeps through our office spaces."

One time, during one of those security flaps, the fifteen-year-old in me posted fake passwords all over my cubicle.

At lunch, I read about someone in DIA (Denver International Airport) getting ground up in the mill for making a joke about bombs.

After lunch, the forty-year-old  in me took down all those notes before someone actually saw them.

[Fly320s]

Anyone else find it cute that he thinks iTunes and Google Play apps are secure?

They are more secure than sticky notes.  I'm sure someone has taken the time to verify and test the security of those apps and publish the results.  I'm also sure that you can find the results yourself, if you care enough to try.