[ale] OT: password gripe

[lists at serioustechnology.com (Geoffrey)]

<rant>
I do my best to create good passwords.  I'm continuing to find various 
companies that I do business with, restricting the character set for 
passwords and/or length.  This drives me nuts because all my passwords 
contain a combination of alphanumeric and punctuation AND long.  I'm 
continuing to find companies who do not permit punctuation in a 
password.  I just don't get it?  Do they not understand that they are 
reducing the security of a password by restricting the character set?

I called support for one company and they told me it was an 'internet 
standard.'  I told them they were full of crap.

What am I missing here?  Can anyone give me a good reason for such a 
policy????
</rant>

-- 
Until later, Geoffrey

"I predict future happiness for America if they can prevent
the government from wasting the labors of the people under
the pretense of taking care of them."
- Thomas Jefferson