Best Password Book

“A good attacker won’t hack in; they’ll log in.” This was a quote from Ryan Kalember, executive vice president of cybersecurity strategy at Proofpoint (1). He’s not wrong. But no matter how many posts are published about poor passwords, entirely too many people still fall into the same trap. They’ll use birthdays, anniversaries, “123456” or “password” as their passwords, but be surprised when their accounts are hacked.

However, if you’re looking for the best password book, then you are a consumer who clearly understands that selecting various passwords is the best way to secure your account. (Of course anti-virus software, clearing cache and Internet files, and discouraging Internet ads and pop-ups help, too.)

But having a quality Internet password book is a step in the right direction of creating passwords that don’t all mirror each other and keeping the book in a safe place to access at a moment’s notice.

Best Password Books

1. WTF Is My Password

Why would you need to know “wtf” your password is? If you’ve ever had a “word fart” where you simply could not remember a super common word, you know the pain of this. With a password notebook, you have a way to rescue yourself from struggling to figure out the password or being forced to reset it every time. Whatever you do though, please don’t use “123456.”

Key Features

• 105 pages
• Alphabetized pages
• Premium matte cover design

This password notebook is a place to record your most important usernames, passwords and website addresses for safe-keeping in case you forget them or in the event of an emergency. This 6 x 9-inch password organizer is interestingly dainty and eye-catching with a flower in a black frame book, even with the “WTF” printed on the front.

Pros

• Flexible paperback material
• High-quality paper

Cons

• One user reported “ink spills” on some pages
• Another user complained that the pages were printed too high up with too much white space at the bottom

This independently published book is lightweight enough to carry around as needed and provides enough room to write a few notes in the “Notes” section, too.

2. Personal Internet Address & Password Logbook

Passwords can get tricky at your job. If your HelpDesk rep needs to log in, you may have to share your old password to get a work assignment fixed. If you can get around this, try changing your real password to something vague like “password” until he’s done. Then change it back to the original, more secure password you were using before.

Key Features

• Removable cover sleeve
• Hardcover spiral notebook
• Tabbed A to Z pages

These tabbed A-to-Z pages hold three entries on each page of the 4.25 x 5.75-inch book, with five lines for a website name, website address, login/username, password, and three lines for recording extra information about the website/account.

Pros

• Space to list “Software License Numbers”
• Five pages for extra notes at the very end of the book

Cons

• One user ended up with black fingerprints from front and back covers
• Another user reported the pages would stick together

This book can hold 390 total entries.

3. Boxclever Press Password Book

Should you write down your secret questions, in addition to your passwords? As long as you can make sure this book stays in a secure place, write down anything you think would be forgettable. Pay special attention to plural words or things you may overlook (ex. adding “Mr.” or “Mrs.” to your favorite teacher’s name).

Key Features

• Alphabetical tabs
• Ten notes pages
• Available in four designs (black zig zag, teal, black birds, blue floral)

This password book (6 x 4.5 inches) has enough room for 400 passwords and 30 websites per tab. This book closes with an elastic closure to protect the pages.

Pros

• Satin ribbon page marker to mark favorite pages
• Space to write password hints

Cons

• Paper was curling when it arrived, according to one user
• Pages would not lay out to comfortably write on

Unlike other books, this password book can “hide in plain sight” because it doesn’t have a “password” label on the front. Hide if you want or leave it be.

4. Shit I Can’t Remember

Should you use multi-factor authentication (MFA) or pins in addition to your password? That is a completely independent decision. Just be careful that if you have MFA options that you remember to update them before changing your mobile phone number, or have a landmark line as an alternative to verify who you are.

Key Features

• Room for 160 different websites
• Notes section for each entry
• 48-page paperback

This password book (5.5 x 8.5 inches) allows you to record your usernames, passwords, websites and notes, with a comical front cover.

Pros

• Lightweight (5.6 ounces)
• Small enough to fit in a purse

Cons

• One user received a poorly cut book that said “asswords” instead of “passwords”
• No alphabet tabs to easily find pages/websites

Although there are no dividers to easily find each page, if you’re in the habit of jotting down notes as needed, this may not sway you away from this book.

5. BookFactory

While each user has their own ideas about how much space and how many lines are needed, have a general idea (from your own notes) of how many pages you’ll need to carefully write down login information for your password journal. This will save you from jamming passwords on the wrong alphabetized page.

Key Features

• Side wire-O binding
• 120 pages
• Available in three sizes (3.5 x 5.25 inches, 5 x 7 inches, 8.5 x 11 inches)

This password journal provides enough room to write down usernames, passwords, email addresses, websites and notes.

Pros

• Translucent cover
• Durable, thick texture

Cons

• Acid-free paper
• Alphabetized letter pages don’t stick out for easy navigation

This veteran-owned company allows users to jot down notes on a flat surface at a moment’s notice.

6. Wellspring

Are you ever worried that you’ll have too many passwords to the point of being overwhelmed? Consider a pattern of passwords to make it easier to remember. For example, are you a fan of “The Flintstones”? Make your passwords similar: Barney, Fred, Wilma, Betty and more. This way they’re different enough to still have to figure out, but you’ll still have a better chance of keeping track of them all.

Key Features

• Spiral-bound
• Black ink retractable pen
• Aluminum case

This strong, durable password book (3.5 x 4.5 inches) gives you more room to write with its horizontal print option on 70 alphabetical pages.

Pros

• Password tips included
• Extra blank pages for notes

Cons

• No alphabetical tabs to easily navigate the page
• Horizontal spirals may make it harder to write unless folding each page

Write out your websites, username, passwords, and a few extra pages for notes.

7. Internet Password Logbook

If you’re ever worried that your password logbook will come up missing, consider writing various codes that give you password hints instead of writing down the actual passwords. The only downside is should your loved ones need to access these accounts in the event of an emergency, they may not understand these hints. Consider one hidden book with the actual passwords and another with password hints.

Key Features

• Tabbed, alphabetical pages
• 128 pages
• Cognac leatherette

Keep track of all of your login information (i.e. usernames, passwords, websites) in this 4 x 6-inch logbook.

Pros

• Extra pages for notes
• Durable hardcover

Cons

• Several users said the pages fell out
• Does not lie flat

Although it’s described as “thick as a journal,” depending on how many passwords and how many notes are needed, this description may be more complimentary than a complaint.

8. Juvale

Are you looking for the perfect place to store this two-pack? You should make sure one is in an indestructible place like a fireproof box, to avoid spills, potential fire damage, pets and even your kids.

Key Features

• 13 alphabetical dividers
• 80 pages (each)
• Two-pack of journals with black and grey covers

This logbook journal (5.8 x 7.3 inches) has tabs to easily reach the page you need while navigating the internet. Write out your usernames, passwords and websites as needed.

Pros

• Sturdy plastic cover resists rips, tears and folds
• Memo note section for additional reminders

Cons

• One user said the cover curls up
• Binding may stick and not flip pages as easy as other books

There are two letters per page, which means you may have more traffic on some pages more than others.

9. Lettering Design Co Password Book

Should you use symbols in all of your passwords? Generally speaking, yes. But just make sure you recall which ones you use for each login. Consider a pattern of using certain symbols for certain types of logins (ex. dollar signs for bills) so it’ll be easier to create new passwords as needed.

Key Features

• Calligraphy and hand-lettering design
• Paperback
• 108 pages

This password book (5 x 8 inches) offers the opportunity for you to jot down your login and private information for online and print use.

Pros

• Printed on high-quality stock paper (60# interior stock)
• Easy to carry in a purse or backpack

Cons

• Cover may come off the binding, according to one user
• Pages started coming out of the book, for one user

This password book, with its alphabetized pages, can also be used for bills and social media information.

10. Mentor Creations My Password Book

What should you do with customizable pages like the one in this password book? Make the best of it with password hints, secret question answers, account numbers and/or even percentage increases for your bills.

Key Features

• Burgundy cover
• 330-password capacity
• 8 writing lines per section

This Internet password and private code book, which is 7 x 5 inches, takes into account more popular letters. The more common lettered pages have additional pages than the lesser-used pages.

Pros

• More writable space for longer passwords
• Visible printed letters

Cons

• No tabs that stick out
• The pages may bind/hang upon the wire coil along the back

The yellow highlighted area in this 110-page book is designed to help you quickly recognize names on each password page.

11. Eccolo World Traveler Password Keeper Logbook

Do you ever get to the point where you’re fed up with trying to remember a boatload of passwords and want to throw in the towel? Probably. Does that mean you should do so and just make ever password all the same? Google says hackers steal approximately 250K logins per week (2). Don’t make it easy for them.

Key Features

• Faux leather hardcover
• Alphabetized pages
• Three designs (black bee, gray key, pink bow)

This password book (5.75 x 4 inches) is the perfect place to record your passwords, usernames, license information, websites and other confidential information. The attached bookmark also helps you keep your place for popular login info.

Pros

• Pocket-size book that fits in your purse
• Tabbed format for easy searches

Cons

• Pages don’t totally lay flat
• Tabs don’t have plastic on them, which tends to keep tabs from folding over

In addition to the usual passwords and usernames that go in a book like this, there’s also a print space for software licenses, hardware, modem, ISP, router and IP address information.

12. Galison Password Keeper Diary

If you ever wonder whether the password rating is worth it (good, OK, poor), know that these ratings didn’t come out of nowhere. Their sole goal is to save companies from scrambling to try to get you back into your account and hackers out of it. It’s a win-win for both.

Key Features

• Elastic closure
• Card pocket
• 160 thumb index pages

This 3 x 5-inch password keeper has a classic vintage look to make your “secure” password book look even more secure.

Pros

• Small enough to place in a purse
• Easy-to-spot alphabet organizer with tabs

Cons

• No secret lock (just an image of one)
• Trying to remove the lock sticker will ruin the front and back cover, according to one user

Your eyes aren’t playing tricks on you. The lock design on the front of the book is not real, but it’s a great conversation piece.

Bottom Line

Do you worry that having a password journal makes you more vulnerable to having your accounts hacked? What if you bring the book in your book bag or purse and accidentally leave it? The first step you should take is to consider buying two password books, not one.

Leave one on a bookshelf somewhere that can easily be found and used around your home. And keep a second one for on-the-go login needs. This way you won’t have to worry about trafficking around one book, or leaving it, if it’s always in your most accessible place.

Having two password books also provides you with the opportunity to change passwords immediately in the event one is lost. While potential loss is a reasonable argument for why notes should be vague enough for you to remember but not so much that strangers can, be careful with password hints and secret questions.

Choose verification information that you would not easily forget as opposed to very specific spellings and details. The goal of these books is to make accessing your accounts easier to do, not harder.

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References:

1. Bree Fowler. 2020. Tips for Better Passwords. https://www.consumerreports.org/digital-security/tips-for-better-passwords/
2. Selena Larson. 2017. Google says hackers steal almost 250,000 web logins each week. https://money.cnn.com/2017/11/09/technology/google-hackers-research/index.html