Show HN: If you lose your memory, how to regain access to your computer?

Re:Show HN: If you lose your memory, how to regain access to... by 0cf8612b2e1e on Friday February 06, 2026 @04:33PM (#46918425)

Nothing says you cannot trivially encode the paper password. Those in the know understand that you need to append “BoomShakalaka”, replace “A” with “Q”, or some other super simple modification to what is recorded.

Maybe the NSA would be willing to brute force the infinite variations from that starting seed, but it is still effectively locked for mortals.

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Re:Show HN: If you lose your memory, how to regain access to... by mathstuf on Friday February 06, 2026 @04:56PM (#46918671)

I've thought about making a "word search" and embedding the passphrase in it using a pattern (e.g., a subset of a Knight's tour, a space-filling curve overlay, or some other sampling algorithm).

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Re:Show HN: If you lose your memory, how to regain access to... by unsnap_biceps on Friday February 06, 2026 @05:18PM (#46918909)

https://www.passwordcard.org/en

I used to keep a password card in my wallet and had a pattern I would use.

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Re:Show HN: If you lose your memory, how to regain access to... by Dylan16807 on Saturday February 07, 2026 @02:17AM (#46921958)

If you add an explicit reminder to check the email where you explained the modification, then the idea seems solid. Tough at that point put half the password on paper and send the other half to a whole bunch of trusted people.

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