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A comment on MI5 'secretly collected phone data' for decade. Parent comment

Re:MI5 'secretly collected phone data' for decade by forgottenpass on Friday November 06, 2015 @12:47PM (#10520741)
the prosecutors must prove to a very high standard that you do actually know the key, and haven't really forgotten. For instance if you typed in the password the day before you were arrested, that's probably a good sign you know it.

I've had a few occasions where, after 2+ months of using a password at least 5 times a day, I roll into work and just can't login. I still know the password I used when I was 9 and dialing into AOL, but my work password rotation policy is so strict I just don't have long term storage for them anymore. I mostly rely on muscle memory the current password too.

So, all that was to say I don't think that standard is "very high" at all.

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Re:MI5 'secretly collected phone data' for decade by Freaky on Friday November 06, 2015 @01:41PM (#10521125)
Not to mention how badly stress can screw with memory.

If you're used to entering your password in a specific relaxed situation and now you're filled with dread every time you think about it, damn right you might not be able to remember it. That's just basic neurology.

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Re:MI5 'secretly collected phone data' for decade by nthcolumn on Friday November 06, 2015 @02:42PM (#10521527)
Which is why we need to wash all that stress out of your head by holding it under water for arbitrary amounts of time...
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Re:MI5 'secretly collected phone data' for decade by digikata on Friday November 06, 2015 @03:00PM (#10521646)
Yes! There are times when my motor memory recalls the password just fine. But, if I specifically think about the password and can't consciously recall it, at that point the motor memory seems to reset and fails too.
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