How long should my password be?

Just an FYI...your answer to my question below is wrong. I was able to get the password by using free software at lostpassword.com!!

Q: Help!! Before I went on vacation I set a password on an Excel spreadsheet, but now that I'm back I

can't remember what the password was. Is there a workaround??? PLEASE HELP! The Excel version is 97

SR-1. Thanks!

A: What you need to do is sort of "fool" Windows into thinking that the application does not have a

password, and tell it to give one all over again.When you are at the Desktop, click on Start. You will then

select "find". This will produce a Window intended for you to conduct a search through you C: drive. Type

the following into the dialog box: *.PWL ( case does matter )and then select the button marked Search

Now.The PWL extension refers to PassWord List. When all the files are displayed ending with that

extension, highlight them all by selecting the first one, and if there are more than one, (shift)click the

last one in the list. That should highlight them all. Then you should be able to press the delete key,

and then be prompted as to whether or not you are sure you want to send these files to the Recycle Bin.

Choose yes. Next time you try to enter a password-protected application it will prompt you for that

password, and you can type in your old password (or a new one)and it should tell that it is wrong and to

reenter it to make it your new password. Do not empty the recycle bin until all of your application

passwords have been reinstated. If all else fails you can restore the PWL's from the Recycle Bin.

This question was answered on September 22, 1999. Much of the information contained herein may have changed since posting.

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Thank you very much for your response However, it should be pointed out the free software you mentioned is only able to crack three character passwords and the use of a password that small is not recommended, because of security reasons Passwords of 7-8 characters are recommended The time that the password cracking programs take to perform their tasks is greatly increased, making the longer password more desirable because a potential hacker doesn't like to spend that much time on a single passoword.

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Posted by Ken Colburn of Data Doctors on September 22, 1999

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