• Need recommendation for password manager

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    #484152

    I need to replace my old Password Pro — a PC Magazine Utility from about 1995. I’m not looking for something free, but I would like to know what folks here think are the best ones. I’ve had LastPass recommended as well as one other which name escapes me at the moment. I use SPAMfighter in Thunderbird and love it, and they just came out with PASSWORDfighter, so I’m inclined to consider that too.

    Which password managers do YOU like? Why? What features are most important?

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    • #1339097

      I use Last Pass. I can sign onto my account from any PC. I also use the form filler option quite often. Works very well with web forms. Speaking of form filler, the notes section is where I have stored all my keys for the apps I have purchased. This app has never let me down.

      With the paid version, you can use Last Pass on your phone as well.

      • #1339729

        I use Last Pass. I can sign onto my account from any PC. I also use the form filler option quite often. Works very well with web forms. Speaking of form filler, the notes section is where I have stored all my keys for the apps I have purchased. This app has never let me down.

        With the paid version, you can use Last Pass on your phone as well.

        +1 for LastPass

        • #1339739

          RobertPri — I’ve been using a similar system PasswordPro from PC Magazine back in the early 90s. Only runs in XP mode now. But having to manually look up the username and password every time one is needed is a pain. Looks like many of these applications automatically fill them in for you. That’s a big advantage IMO.

      • #1341118

        I use Last Pass. I can sign onto my account from any PC. I also use the form filler option quite often. Works very well with web forms. Speaking of form filler, the notes section is where I have stored all my keys for the apps I have purchased. This app has never let me down.

        Ted,
        Intrigued by your second sentence. I’m unable to use Lastpass on the laptop, even when in the same room as the PC – always get an incorrect password notice.

        The suggestion to store keys to applications one has purchased in the secure section is brilliant. Thanks for that.

        George

        • #1341128

          Ted,
          Intrigued by your second sentence. I’m unable to use Lastpass on the laptop, even when in the same room as the PC – always get an incorrect password notice.

          The suggestion to store keys to applications one has purchased in the secure section is brilliant. Thanks for that.

          George

          Thank you George. I was looking for a way to store these things. I could store then on Skydrive (Perhaps I have, I do not remember), but my Last Pass is always a click away.

          I would second Zig’s suggestion. I would uninstall Last Pass and start over. Something must have been mixed up during the installation.

          • #1341368

            Thanks for all the feedback. What a wonderful resource this forum and all of you are. I’ve decided to try LastPass and am happy with it so far.

            • #1341428

              It’s free, reliable, includes autotype (though I never use it), fast and very easy to use. There is an app version and it can be installed on a USB stick. So by keeping the pw DB on Dropbox I can access and update my passwords from any system anywhere including my phone. pwsafe.org.

        • #1357877

          Re RoboForm, I’m a current user – but one thing has bothered me for years: user-interface font size. It’s too small for my aging eyes and I’ve never found a way to increase the size (for RF only).

          If anyone has an answer for this, I’d be extremely grateful if you could post it here! Thx, Rob

      • #1341649

        I use Last Pass.

        With the paid version, you can use Last Pass on your phone as well.

        I just tried to download the Premium Version to be able to use LastPass with my iPhone & iPad as well.

        But, it seems that you have to already have a LastPass account to be able to download the Premium Version.

        Does that mean that I have to 1st download the Free Version, get a LastPass account, & then upgrade to the Premium version?

        Why can’t I just DIRECTLY download the Premium version?

    • #1339108

      I’ve used Password Coral for a number of years and it’s free.

      http://download.cnet.com/Password-Corral/3000-18501_4-10165333.html

    • #1339154

      Check out Roboform[/url]. They have a free version and several pay options. I have used Roboform for quite a number of years and currently use Roboform Everywhere.

      Joe

      --Joe

    • #1339233

      I’ve been using the free version of KeePass for more than three years. There is an Android version, and by storing the file on DropBox, I always have the latest version with me.

      Chris

    • #1339271

      Well you have recommendations for all the major players. I suspected you would. The best way is to try them all and see which suits you best. I believe even the paid options have free trials available.

    • #1339427

      KeePass does not have a paid version, it’s open source.

      cheers, Paul

    • #1339647

      I am waaay in the minority here, but I have never cared for any of the popular managers. Yes, they work, but entering data for a 100 sites is very time consuming.
      I simply use a text file with web sites, user names and passwords. Then encrypt the one file using Free TrueCrypt and 512 bit encrypting and a very complex password. Open in seconds and I have them all at once. Not a common way to manager p/w’s, but it sure works.

    • #1339721

      You don’t have to enter the data manually. These password programs automatically pick up the userid/password as you enter them to access a particular site as you need to do anyway. For a new site, they will offer the option to create a strong password or allow you to supply your own.

      Jerry

    • #1339740

      Which of these applications can also fill in a password when required inside Quickbooks to download bank or credit card information? Or do they ojnly work inside a browser?

      • #1340454

        Which of these applications can also fill in a password when required inside Quickbooks to download bank or credit card information? Or do they ojnly work inside a browser?

        KeePass is not browser-based, and can work with almost any application that asks for usernames, passwords, etc. The Auto-Type feature is highly customizable and only requires that the target window have a title; I use it all the time for non-internet applications. There are also versions available for most smartphones.

    • #1339743

      I believe Last Pass will work inside a browser and on your phone (Paid version) It does not give the option to insert a password in my Quicken. I am not sure on QuickBooks.

      • #1339763

        Based on good info on this thread, I decided to try lastpass.
        I installed and created account. I even watched the video
        But upon restarting FF, the little lastpass icon in the UR corner is not there.
        I also did not get a confirmation email. Methinks that is the problem, and it’s not in spam folder.

        Soooooo….tried to log into my last pass, but the p/w won’t work.
        I tried reminder and that email arrived.
        Tried again, no good.

        Tried again and again.
        Gave up, and tried to create new account, but it won’t let me.
        That email addy is already used.
        Grrrrr/
        Gave up, and will try another one.

        • #1339766

          Bob,

          First I’ve heard of a problem like that. Have you tried restarting your computer??

          Zig

          • #1339771

            Bob,

            First I’ve heard of a problem like that. Have you tried restarting your computer??

            Zig

            d

            I figure lastpass was going to send some kind of confirmation email, but it did not arrive in 30 minutes.
            That’s when I tried to create a new account, but it would not let me–already have one from this addy
            So, tried to logon, but p/w would not work, and I suspect it was because it was not confirmed.
            I uninstalled fastpass–no help.
            I closedopened browsers–no help.
            My next step is to purge the registry of any strings to lastpass, then reboot.
            Can’t reboot right now–in the middle of something

            update: after using add/remove prog and rebooting, the registry has over 50 folders and probably 300 value strings for last pass. This is another reason to distrust the add/remove feature. It does a horrible job. This is also why those dreaded reg cleaners find 1,000’s of string errors. But that’s another thread.

            Fastpass still will not allow me to:
            1-create a new profile because my email addy is already listed
            or
            2-allow me to log on because they never did confirm my pw.

            Catch 22.

            I’ll either try with a new user name or another prog,

            • #1339781

              Bob,

              I agree, you should have gotten a “welcome to Lastpass” email – I just found mine from when I started in 1/2011 (so, I’m a packrat).

              ??Have you tried going to the support section at http://lastpass.com/ ???

              Zig

            • #1339782

              Bob,

              I agree, you should have gotten a “welcome to Lastpass” email – I just found mine from when I started in 1/2011 (so, I’m a packrat).

              ??Have you tried going to the support section at http://lastpass.com/
              Zig

              I am convinced that is what happened. Without the confirmation email, then “I don’t exist”.

              Not sure if I want to bother with tech support, but thanks for the idea.

          • #1340349

            A colleague of mine recommends “1Password” developed by a Canadian company in Toronto. There are versions for Windows, Mac and iPad/iPhone. I haven’t used it, but have seen him use it, and it seems to do everything that Roboform does, for example, AND it works with the latest versions of Firefox, which SOME versions of Roboform do not.
            It is relatively expensive: it seems to cost $49.99 for the Windows or Mac version, though there are discounts for a Family licence (5 users), and there is a trial version (30 days). The iPad app cost $14.99.
            I am going to give it a try for myself – up till now I have been using Roboform, but have found that my version does not work within Firefox, and with certain pages in IE9 it does not automatically fill forms. I do not want to get the latest version of Roboform, since it seems to be a yearly subscription fee.

            • #1340402

              Hi, I support using Roboform 7. Works without hassle in all primara browsers (a.o. IE/FF/Chorme) with a user friendly roboform bar on my desktops and Android phone (special app for that purpose). Also gives the choice where to keep your data, so in the cloud is possible but not obligatory. For travelling I prefer using Roboform2Go on a USB stick. Works very safe and reliable also, because it doesn’t leave any traces on guest computers. You can even prevent the master password to be caught by keyloggers with a mouse login feature. Roboform has many years of development build in, and you can notice that! Tmho worth every penny of its low price for sure. Succes.

          • #1340518

            I also am a happy LastPass user. Have used it for a long time. I like the fact that I can access my entire set of passwords from any computer. I am confident this is a safe PW manager. When I have had problems, I got very prompt support that solved the problems. I have the paid version, and think it is a great bargain, compared to other software programs. I have tried other password managers and always have come back to LastPass.

            • #1340914

              I’m also +1 ing for Lastpass. I’ve moved away from Roboform after they stopped upgrading their Lifetime license that I purchased and they stopped working with Firefox. It was a good program at one point in time, but since I’ve moved to Lastpass, I haven’t looked back at it.

              I’m wondering if

              robertpri installed the correct program?
              Lastpass has never created 50 folders on my machine(s) and he more then once called it fastpass. (could be a simple typo, but it might not be.)

              Lastpass has created only 7 folders in my registry.

              Perhaps this page will help him get it running properly if he wants to try again. You can Delete your account from here and Set it up again. Read the page.

              https://lastpass.com/delete_account.php?np=1


              Hope this helps.

              Marc

          • #1343768

            I use Roboform everywhere. Have been a Roboform user for 4 years with no complaints. 1st year I used the free version, and liked it so much I decided it was worth paying for. ( I contribute to good shareware too…)

            I has a record feature, and does very complex forms. Plenty of room to have all of your personal info secured. This software allows me to use a 12 character, very complex password as a “Master” password, which is plenty of security from my POV.

    • #1339769

      Normally the add on has to be enabled. Normally when you start the browser it asks if you wish to enable the add on.

    • #1339824

      Bob,

      It’s worth the effort, believe me.

      Zig

      • #1339825

        Bob,

        It’s worth the effort, believe me.

        Zig

        I suspect some p/w managers are worth it, and Lastpass is probably very good. But I have a major concern with something that creates over 50 folders and +300 trigger values in my registry. I don’t like that at all. I will try one that is self contained without impacting the reg. I am obsessive about things altering the reg that are probably not necessary.

        • #1340313

          PwdHash is a clever system that uses the website domain name plus a secret word or phrase to create a secure, random password for each website. You only have to remember one word or phrase. See http://pwdhash.com for details.

    • #1340404

      I’ve used LastPass for a number of years. Does LastPass work in IE? Have you installed the Firefox Add-on for LastPass? https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/lastpass-password-manager/

    • #1340406

      I have Last Pass for many years and use it successfully on IE, FF and Chrome

    • #1340409

      I have used KeePass (free) for some time and keep the (encrypted) database in Dropbox. I prefer that it’s a not a browser add-on, but is nevertheless very simple to use, and I’m quite confident it’s as safe as it can be.

      • #1340421

        It is very basic and simple. I like it because it is all self contained, no registry entries needed, you can put the program and encrpyted passwords in one folder. I keep it in dropbox, so I can access from all my computers.

    • #1340450

      I have found Last Pass (free) to be convenient and easy to use, when it works. I’ve also had it lose passwords and generally screw things up more than once. It did not take long to realize that I had better have my own backup that does not live in the highly touted, but not always reliable, CLOUD. Predictibly, the Last Pass folks insist that it just couldn’t be them, so it’s pretty mandatory that you cover your own behind. Last Pass will painlessly create a .CSV file with all its data for your local storage, and I encrypt that .CSV with the (free) True Crypt app. I use the same high security, but memorable, password for both Last Pass and True Crypt. Together, they make a handy combo. Of course, after I set up my own local password manager backup, Last Pass has never fouled up again! A corollary: For the last 40 years, I have always kept the proper air pressure in my spare tire, and check to see that I can loosen all lug nuts with the wrench in the car. As a result, in 40 years, I have never had a flat tire! So, having yourself backed up with working local storage is the key to never having a problem with your password manager! Easy, eh?

    • #1340965

      If you want a cloud-based solution, then LastPass gets good reviews and has been thoroughly vetted for its security/encryption model (per Steve Gibson on the Security Now webcast, along with other recent articles).

      If, like me, you like the idea of running your own apps rather than depending on whether an internet app provider is going to be around tomorrow, then Roboform has been the go-to password manager for nearly two decades. In its most recent update, it also added cloud sync as a backup for all the saved stuff (which is not only logons, but also the “identity” field info that you fill in repeatedly online). I’ve been using Roboform for years, and wouldn’t dream of trusting my passwords to any other local client.

      The cloud-based vs. local thing is a personal preference, though.

    • #1341120

      George,

      I’d try reinstalling lastpass on the laptop; I use it successfully on 5 computers, desktops, laptops & netbooks.

      Zig

    • #1341503
    • #1341651

      I do not know. I started with the free version and upgraded. It is very simple to install Last Pass free version. I would just go that route, then get the Paid version. Save some grief.

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