Passwords, Security or Sillyness?

Sometimes I think that everything is just a giant conspiracy developed to make life more difficult. For example, isn't technology supposed to make our lives easier? That was probably the original intent but now it just causes a huge debate about equal access for all and the effectiveness of using technology in schools, etc. I love technology, mostly computers and specifically the Internet. But when it comes down to it, are passwords really necessary? OK, I admit, they are, but I think that I have about ten different passwords, and I can never remember them all. I always have to reset my password anyway so what is the point of having one in the first place? And isn't it true that you aren't suppsed to use the same password for all the accounts or write them down anywhere? How am I supposed to remember them if they are all different and I don't write them down? I also noticed that sometimes it is very easy to get into a website that is supposed to be password protected. Once when I tried to access my bank account, it turned out that the bank decided to change their system, therefore I had to change my password. I changed it initially but, of course, couldn't remember it the next time I needed to see my bank account, well, the site kept sending me a message that my password was incorrect, so I tried a different one, I did this about ten times until I found the correct one. Is that really security? Also, what is the deal with security questions? I mean, some sites use security questions so that you can get to the page to send you an e mail to reset the password to access the online account. (Sounds like the house that Jack built) Well, if I can't remember exactly the way that I typed the answer to the question, then I can't continue with the process can I? Or, I have been asked questions that I know the answer to, but I am sure I have never told anyone on that site that answer before. The creepy part is when I enter that answer and then it allows me access, I KNOW I never told them the answer to that question before. Hmm. Is that security or just sillyness? I saw a commercial one time for a laptop that has a thumb pad scanner on it which scans the person's thumb (a not very easily copied thing) and allows the person access to...well, to something, maybe the computer itself? I don't know but all I can say is that at least I can remember my e mail account password, because without that, I would probably be lost. I mean, I don't have my parents' phone numbers memorized (they are in the memory on my phone), but at least I know my e mail, because that's all that matters. Oh, and did I mention that on the first day of class this semester (which is my last semester, YEAH) my professor suggested that everyone log into our University accounts and tell the system to send messages to our usual e mail address, well I hadn't used that University account in probably three years, and didn't know my password, it was very embarassing! I also forgot the password for the OTHER account I have there that I used last spring but actually hadn't used in awhile. Now, is this just my own fault for forgetting the logins and passwords? Or is it really necessary to have three different places to log in for each student? OK, done venting. What do you think about passwords?

QRT