Call it lazy, call it "not worried" or "it will never happen to me". Whatever your reason is for using the same password for everything, so be it. However, here's some food for thought:

Yes, I use some of the same passwords for many things. Then one day it occurred to me that I was also using those same passwords for my email account(s). Here's the problem, if a website I sign into with may "password" is compromised/hacked, and they also have my email address, it wouldn't be too hard for the hacker to login to the web based email site for my account and access my email. While reading my messages may not be that exciting, they would have access to my contacts, any stored email (including receipts, order confirmations, product registrations, etc. etc.) Think of the havoc that could be had by having the user name (which is usually your email address) and password to all your shopping sites?

Bottom Line: Try not to use the same password for everything. Definitely DON'T use the same password for your email account on any other site. Make your online banking/financial site passwords something totally different than the other passwords/user id's that you use for every day stuff.

Has anything happened to me? Not that I'm aware of, but that startling revelation, really got me thinking and making changes!

I have been using Pastor store my passwords & Serial Numbers. It also includes a password generator. They are working on an iPhone version.

http://www.mehlau.net/pastor/index.html

Given the environment in which I work, I would like to find a reasonable cross-platform* application like Pastor.

*cross-platform means same data file format on both Mac OS X and Windows XP or later.

I'm a user and big fan of 1Password

Doesn't look like it's cross-platform though.

Andrew

Many people don't like it but cyclical changing of passswords is a good idea. The problem most people have is that they say they cannot remember the multiple password changes. It's really easy to set up a system that works.

Example of a monthly change

1) Pick a word that easy for you to remember

Haney

2) Add the current month number to the password

Haney03 - Month would be March.

Change it every month

Haney04 - April

By doing this it does a couple of things. If you just remember the word, whatever month it currently is will be the number. Also you get the benefit of a more complex password because it has both letters and numbers. If you want to "kick it up a notch" use upper and lower case letters.

If monthly changes are too much for you, go quarterly

Haney01 - Jan thru March

Haney02 - April thru June

Haney03 - July thru Sept

Haney04 - Oct thru Dec

Just a suggestion.

Nice Calvin!
I also recommend using numbers in place of letters :
H0me
H0spita1
etc.

Mixing numbers into the password still allows you to have an easy to remember password, that is still more complex than just using the letters themselves.

If your site/system allows for symbols USE THEM!
Passw0rd#02 <-Upper/Lower Case, Number 0 instead of o, Pound Sign as a symbol and Calvin's month/quarter number on the end for regular updates.

Maybe this is a hokey idea for Jim's cross-platform request:

What about a simple text file. Textedit has a "no access" choice in the Get Info window.

And/or Make entries, select all & change to a strictly ornament font that both systems will recognize. Open & change to a text font for the info.

It may be foolhardy, but I keep a simple WP file with everything in it. Some similarities, but not 100% predictable.

Not cross-platform, but you can store any text you want in the Keychain.