Password managers

[Unknown Webmaster]

Thisisvegas asked about password managers in another thread, and since I love password managers, I would like to share what I know about some of the programs out there. Hopefully it can help someone else get started and maybe give me some ideas as to how I can improve my own setup. I'm nowhere near an expert on this stuff, but hope to inspire a bit of discussion.

What is a password manager?
Basically, it is a little program that stores all your logins in a database that is protected by a master password. This makes it easy for you to have unique passwords that look like this 2sf/fds/#RG(YF on every single affiliate account and forum, withougt having to remember anything besides your master password.

Password managers for Windows
RoboForm seems to be the most popular choice for Windows users. It has a version that runs off a USB drive, and will auto-fill login boxed on the websites for you, which is really handy.
Cost ca. 30$.

KeePass Password Safe is an open source (free) alternative to Roboform. It is not as advanced, and doesn't offer auto-filling of login boxes, whoever, it does store your passwords and is simple to use.

Password managers for Mac
1password) is pretty much the Mac equivalent of Roboform, wich auto-filling and everything.
Cost 40$

KeePassX is a Mac version of Keepass, and uses the same database as Keepass. Basically the same program rewritten to run on a Mac (also open source).


Cross platform

I use both a PC and a Mac, and as far as I know, there are no program that will let you use the same database on a PC and Mac and auto-fill login boxes in your browser.

Personally I use a USB drive with Keepass and Keepass X on it, so I can use the same database, and use them to put in the passwords.

A crossplatform alternative would be to use roboform and just export your database and import it in 1password each time you make a new login/password. This would give you the joy of auto-filling of login boxes, but I'm not sure it would be practical.

Secure USB drive
If you want to carry your stuff around, you may want to take a look at an Ironkey USB drive https://www.ironkey.com/. It is pretty much indestructible and very secure (can selfdestruct and everything).

Basically it gives you a secure storage space that you can access with a short password due to the fact that it will selfdestruct if you type the password wrong 10 times. It works on both PC and Mac, but the Mac experience isn't as smooth as it could be (no autorun).

It has a built ind password manager for Windows that will auto-fill login boxes, but unfortunately the password isn't accessible from a Mac, and I presonally don't like to use it for things outside of the browser fx poker clients.

Yeah - I like my Ironkey

[Brandon]

I user roboform, paid the $30, and have been extremely happy with it. Seriously, its awesome.

[Nat Arem]

RoboForm is the best $ I've ever spent on a piece of software, period.

[MewsicLovr]

Keepass does indeed auto-fill login boxes. When was the last time you upgraded the program? Sometimes it takes a bit of configuring, but it really does do it. It can also be run off a USB stick so as far as I know it can do just about everything I could think of that would make it useful.

[Unknown Webmaster]

Sweet!

Which Keepass version is it (1.x or the 2.x beta)?
Plugin or built in support?

And do you know if the auto-filling works with Firefox?

[RockbetJohn]

I'd like to be able to access all my passwords from any browser, not sure if keepass or roboform do this. I'm reading through some of the stuff but I'm being lazy and hope someone who knows better can spell it out for me. Great tools though btw. Not sure if I'm sold on the USB keys but I guess these could be useful when using another computer for max security.

[GoodKarmaKid]

RoboForm is the best $ I've ever spent on a piece of software, period.

Agreed, I've been using it for 3 or 4 years and highly recommend it also. I don't know what I would do without it. I actually have no idea what 99.9% of my passwords are on various sites because I use robofrom to auto generate and auto save and I always use the longest passwords allowed.

Using a strong password makes it much more difficult for someone to hack your account, not impossible but increases the difficulty exponentially and most hackers would just move on.

I'd like to be able to access all my passwords from any browser, not sure if keepass or roboform do this

Roboform works on both Internet Exporer and Firefox, I don't think there is a plugin for Google Chrome but I'm sure there will be sometime in the future.

I'm patiently awaiting a roboform for my IPhone and I will be a happy camper, thats the only drawback about using strong passwords is that when you go to acces them (facebook for example) on you iphone or mobile phone it can be a pain in the ass, even if your looking right at your passord it takes forever to type something in like "bvh%t$3MWUb5", and then not to make any errors while typing it in.

I can't say enough good things about Roboform.

Jason

p.s. hijack - another program I use every single day and can't live without is Snagit, can't say enough good things about this program either. super simple screen captures, easy to edit/markup, size/resize. It's great also.

[Nat Arem]

I'd like to be able to access all my passwords from any browser, not sure if keepass or roboform do this. I'm reading through some of the stuff but I'm being lazy and hope someone who knows better can spell it out for me. Great tools though btw. Not sure if I'm sold on the USB keys but I guess these could be useful when using another computer for max security.

There no (simple) way to jump from OS X Firefox to XP Firefox to Vista Chrome to Linux Firefox to whatever else. If you're willing to specify an OS and a browser, you'd make your life re: password programs much better.

I recommend RoboForm for Windows and 1Password for Mac.

I've tried out Keepass before and it sucked, but that was over a year ago so maybe it has improved to the point where it can compete with RoboForm... but since I bought RoboForm and I have tons of passcards in it, I don't see any reason to switch.

[Hazo]

Trying out Roboform now. It looks pretty impressive. Only using the trial at the moment but I'd say I will buy it. Thanks for compiling the list, hadn't really thought much about this in the past I must say.

[nirva]

Another Robo user here, saves so much time.