I don't know where I stand. Although I don't trust anyone, and the only time I'll actually use bitcoins is probably to transfer it into USD, from a respected, well known exchange. I kinda laugh at the password suggestions. The things you mention like, my "wife's favorite food, mother's maiden name, plus, plus, plus plus" is laughable. No offense to anyone who does this sort of thing, but personally, I see no reason for this.

Security is for "dumb" people.(Again, no offense intended.) What I mean is, the less informed, those who don't really understand what security is. First off, there was already an article on this subject about long passwords vs short password, etc. Some will create stupid passwords like "god" "ego" "ihaveabigdick" and expect this to be secure, and have the guts to complain when something goes wrong, so it forces companies like Microsoft to make required passwords insanely more stupid in order to fend off the stupid people.

What I do is this: Throw away accounts: Facebook, Microsoft(Hotmail), Google/Gmail, sites like that, get my simplified password, my middle name(13 chars)(I have two), or my last name(9 chars) followed by a question mark, because I'm forced to because of tinfoil hat people, and "security dumbdumbs". Where is my middle name? Not on Facebook, not on Google, no where online. Only family knows my middle name, or friends that happen to ask me. Though, really, middle names aren't really a discussion.
I also don't casually tell them that this is my password.


Secure, where I have the choice: One of my middle names(7 chars), 1337'ed. Question mark sometimes added for "security" as to not easily be "bruteforced", ps: Never been hacked, ever. Never have had a single account stolen, robbed, taken over, whatever in over 12 years being online, using the same exact password schematics.