These days we need to remember many passwords – they should be different for each website and be a random list of characters which, by definition, are almost impossible to remember.
So – what to do?
Password managers!
Wikipedia’s definition:
“A password manager is a software application that helps a user store and organize passwords. Password managers usually store passwords encrypted, requiring the user to create a master password; a single, ideally very strong password which grants the user access to their entire password database. Some password managers store passwords on the user’s computer (called offline password managers), whereas others store data in the provider’s cloud (often called online password managers). However offline password managers also offers data storage in users’s own cloud accounts rather than provider’s cloud. While the core functionality of a password manager is to securely store large collections of passwords, many provide additional features such as form filling[1] and password generation.[2]”
There are many password managers to choose from – I use and recommend Roboform (disclosure: this is an affiliate link – I get a small commission if you buy Roboform – but there is a free version)
I love Roboform – I have a single strong master password – then this opens up Roboform which then logs me into whatever site I want with it’s own strong password that Roboform kindly remembers for me.
It is very important that you have a strong master password. I have a long one which is a combination of nonsense phrases for my childhood (in random upper case and lower case) and a few numbers and symbols. This would be pretty hard to crack but is easy for me to remember.
As an extra precaution I do have a copy of it with another person just in case.
Roboform also generates passwords for you – I get it to generate 40 character passwords for me now. And I never have to worry about remembering them.
I have a paid version plus an online backup and I use roboform on my phone and tablet.
Another feature that I love is that it can fill in forms for you – so I click on registration forms are done – this is such a fantastic time-saver.
My affiliate link gives a very good overview – and remember the free version is quite feature rich.
This is also extra protection against phishing sites as Roboform fills in your login and password from the correct originating site – so if you click on an email link and roboform does not popup – then you have probably clicked a phishing link.
ooh I like that point about the password manager filling in the original site with my password and thereby being able to spot if its a phishing site! I use a password manager too and I really love how fast and easy logging in is now. How would you compare Roboform with Lastpass? Are they as good as eachother? Theres a few password managers out there but its hard to be sure of their security so its good to hear your confidence with Roboform
Hi Val
I prefer Roboform, but LastPass is better known.
There are many password managers out there; I have only tested these two.
Both have excellent reputations and security.
I find Roboform easier to use, but that is a personal preference.
LastPass does have a sharing passwords option (both people need a LastPass account to use), which is handy if you do need to share passwords. I don’t tend to do this.
Both have free and premium versions – and the cost is tiny $25 or so per year.
Roboform was one of the earliest password managers and still has the strictest password generator ie it can generate the stronger passwords than it’s competitors.
Ta
Seamus