R.I.P. Password Minder

In the grand scheme of things, keeping your computer passwords in a notebook near your computer is probably not the stupidest thing you can do. Trying to sell a $10 notebook in which people can write their passwords is probably more stupid. As a result, it was not a huge surprise to read on Ars Technica that Password Minder appears to have come and gone. Actually, it is unclear whether Password Minder ever really existed:

Yes, the idea was real. So was the infomercial. One of the ways Telebrands tests its products is by generating a commercial to gauge interest, a Telebrands PR representative told Ars. “In this case, the company created a test infomercial to determine interest in the product,” the rep said. “Since there was minimal interest, the product was not produced for public distribution.”

If this is the case, there are probably a few people out there who are really disappointed that they have never received their Password Minders! I guess that they will just have to watch this clip from Ellen and dream about what might have been:

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Is it secret, is it safe?

I recently saw a commercial for a product called “Password Minder” that allows people to keep track of their myriad computer passwords in a safe and effective way. What is this safe and effective way? It is writing your passwords in an alphabetized book that you keep next to your computer! I am not making this up! There is a website that features a version of the commercial I saw at getpasswordminder.com. A lot of the wording from the commercial is also available at this web page.

One of my favorite features is the leatherette cover that “makes sure that your passwords are doubly secret.” By virtue of being opaque, this cover protects your passwords from anybody who can’t see through things or figure out how to open a book! This point is driven home at 1:08 in the video on the website when a nameless woman states, “I don’t have to worry any more about security or identity theft. I now have all my passwords in one place. It’s great!” As any expert will tell you, there is nothing like keeping all of your passwords in one easily portable location to prevent you from identity theft!

Best of all, the Password Minder is only $10 and comes with a free digital reminder to let you know what you need at the store, where you parked your car, or where you stored your Password Minder! For a limited time you can double your order for free (just pay shipping and handling!). I only wish that Christmas hadn’t passed so that I could get Password Minders for all of my family members.

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