A user name is an identity created by an account user or a network service to distinguish it from others.
It can be a user name or a fictitious name that it creates. Other user name requirements include the login name, the user name (user name), and the user nickname. The term was coined in the late 1970s.
If you use an online service or website such as online banking or shopping, it is reasonable to see a screen saying, “Enter your username.
The user name is the text you enter to initiate the login process. While it helps to use a username for everything you do online with all your accounts, it is sometimes impossible because not all websites and network services use a username.
In the same way, when I say “account,” it means any web, Internet, or mobile service that requires you to use a username.
If you already use multiple websites and network services, you probably already use several different user names on the Internet.
Of course, you need to understand how to manage all of your usernames properly so that you can correctly enter the specific site you need to access.
Your email login username, bank, Apple ID, and maybe dozens of others are included, depending on how you use online services.
By the way, anybody with a social security number can open an account online at any age and view benefits and income reports.
If you often don’t want to wait for help from the phone, receive updates from the software you’re using, or avoid waiting in line for a “live” office visit, you’ll likely use an online account with the user’s name.
Why don’t all of these websites and online services use usernames in the same way? You can only use one username, but having a username is a good idea. First, let’s see which usernames use the website or Internet service.
A Username Identifies a Unique Person
The user name is unique to the account user, which means that two people using the online account service cannot have the same user name.
Imagine two people requesting bank accounts at the same bank. Will the same account number be assigned in either case? Likewise, usernames are always unique.
If a user endeavors to create a username already in use, the software running the Internet service will not allow it.
A username will create a unique identity for you when you use the services available from your network account.
For example, the Gmail email service requires that each user create a username for their account, which also serves as their email address. Many people use their first and last names and their first letters.
Since people’s names are not unique (John, Mary, etc.), some people create usernames by combining their names and random numbers.
Some network services enable you to create different accounts, and examples of usernames include Johndoe, jdoe65, jdlovestofish, and alwaysssunnyinphilly.
A great example is Amazon, a famous shopping site. Amazon allows you to create several accounts and use your email address as your username. Use a separate email address to create a new account.
This approach allows one person to account for personal purchases and another for commercial purchases.
Each account is entirely separate from the other because a different username is used to log in to each account.
We now know that a username allows an online service to identify the unique person who uses it.
Why Can’t I Use a Username for Everything?
Some websites and online services use an email address for your username, and others don’t.
Technically, all-access works, but services that do not use your email address for your username need you to create a new username with letters and numbers.
The new text becomes your service username, which you use to log in each time you use it.
Sometimes, the service limits the number of characters you can use for your username, and sometimes, it may require a minimum number of characters.
What is needed is up to the people who created the Internet service. Some services use your login email address and password, while others require creating a unique username and will not allow you to use your email.
There are several reasons for the difference. One reason is that some Internet services identify you with an existing membership number or ID.
Items such as social security number, health insurance member number, student number, credit card number, auto club membership, and bank account number are already used to identify someone or someone’s account.
Therefore, a website sometimes asks you to use it for your username. However, most often, the service wants to protect your username, and to do this, it asks you to create a new username different from your account, member, or identification number.
Your new username is used to access your network services. Some services use email as your username. You must connect with your username and password to do so.
In this case, your email address and username are the same. Since anyone who receives an email from you can see your email address, it is less secure than a separate username.
Often, if a website or online service requires people to use something other than an email address for a username, this will discourage some users from registering to use the service.
As a result, social networking websites like Facebook and Twitter and sites like Amazon Shopping allow you to use your username’s email addresses.
Using an email address makes signing up for the service more comfortable, as fewer steps are required to open an account.
What about Usernames?
When you use a username to access or connect to a service, your web browser sometimes asks if you want to save the website’s user name.
Security experts generally think everything is fine if no one else uses your PC, phone, or tablet.
If you have saved user names on your computer, anyone with access to your computer will be able to see and use your user name.
The best protection is to use a password to log in to your computer. Although it is not foolproof, it is still discouraged. Think of it as a padlock in your home.
A closed door will not prevent a determined thief from entering at will but will act as a deterrent, making it heavier than an unlocked door or window.
Sometimes, you can use a public computer or borrow from someone else.
If you log into an account and enter your user name, your web browser will display a pop-up message asking if you want to save it.
If you borrowed someone’s computer or mobile device, always select NO so their username is not saved. In this case, the password is the last defense.
It is incredible how many people still use the password “password.” Here is a link to a newsletter article on passwords.
