Password storage software

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I have been pretty lax about choosing and keeping track of passwords and am now in the process of looking at password storage software. I have had the LastPass (free) program recommended to me and it does look pretty good but I know little or nothing about this subject. If anyone has any experience with or comments about LastPass (or this subject in general), I would really like to hear from you.

Thanks in advance for any comments!

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i keep all of mine in a notebook by the pc

for every site
i write down everything that may be needed
name used
password
email
any questions they ask to recover a password that wont work
etc

best to have a looseleaf binder
with one tab separator for every site
anytime there is an update put a NEW SHEET ON *TOP* of the other ones for that site
always date/timestamp every sheet in case they get scrambled

if you are paranoid then xerox them and keep a second set in a secure location
in case of fire or burglary

i do not trust any program to keep my passwords right let alone keep them safe

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i keep all of mine in a notebook by the pc

i do not trust any program to keep my passwords right let alone keep them safe

I’m struggling to understand how this strategy would be secure in the event of a burglary; the PC and all the passwords immediately available:confused:

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I’m struggling to understand how this strategy would be secure in the event of a burglary; the PC and all the passwords immediately available:confused:

Hopefully, speedball means he knows what the notebook looks like, knows which drawer/which folder it is in, and so on. Having it right by the PC is kinda sorta what I’ve been doing, keeping stuff in a text file, buried via a boring dorky name, in some dorky boring hd folder. Maybe I should look into KeePass!

"Take care of thy backups and thy restores shall take care of thee." Ben Franklin, revisted

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Many people here use password managers. Some prefer online versions, others use local storage only. It’s up to you how you want to do it.

My preference is for local storage, then I have full control over what happens to my database, and it’s my fault if I don’t back it up correctly. I also use a free (open source) program rather than a proprietary program.

cheers, Paul

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I have been using KeePass which is a free program. It is available for many different platforms including a portable version which you can put on a flash drive and use it at multiple locations without leaving anything behind.

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I use Roboform Everywhere. I used RoboForm Desktop for a number of years but switched to “Everywhere” when the number of devices I have started to proliferate. It is not free but the prices is reasonable IMO.

Joe

--Joe

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I have tried several but keep going back to a password protected EXCEL book. Reason, none of the ones I tried could fit all my needs. I have clients that I need to keep their settings and configurations as well as passwords. Excel allows me to customize each sheet to the needs of that client. I use one sheet for all my own online passwords, another sheet for all my banking & credit card info and a separate sheet for each client.

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I have tried several but keep going back to a password protected EXCEL book. Reason, none of the ones I tried could fit all my needs. I have clients that I need to keep their settings and configurations as well as passwords. Excel allows me to customize each sheet to the needs of that client. I use one sheet for all my own online passwords, another sheet for all my banking & credit card info and a separate sheet for each client.

Some of the managers allow you to keep notes, that are encrypted as well and there can even be additional safety mechanisms added, like having to reinsert the password, just to access them. LastPass does this.

On the other hand, Excel passwords are not that hard to crack. A google search will give you a good idea of how easy it can be.

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I use passwordSafe (http://passwordsafe.sourceforge.net/). They have versions for Windows, Linux and Android, thus I have access to my passwords from any device. It is usually one of the first things I install on a new PC.

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I’m still using the password storage scenario that I set up for myself 35 years ago, and it still works fabulous.

What is it?

Well it’s called a CARD FILE, that’s where you write (remember that) things down on index cards and drop them in a card file box.
Let your computer go up in a big ball of fire and smoke, or let someone break into your house and steal it, and your card file is still safe.

It’s totally SAFE from the cloud, hackers, viruses, etc, and even the prying eyes of the ABC boys.

Still works for me!

The Doctor

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I’m still using the password storage scenario that I set up for myself 35 years ago, and it still works fabulous.

What is it?

Well it’s called a CARD FILE, that’s where you write (remember that) things down on index cards and drop them in a card file box.
Let your computer go up in a big ball of fire and smoke, or let someone break into your house and steal it, and your card file is still safe.

It’s totally SAFE from the cloud, hackers, viruses, etc, and even the prying eyes of the ABC boys.

Still works for me!

The Doctor

Second that Doc!

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I used KeePass for years (and still do) but for the last 8 months have been using LastPass for daily use.

I ended up buying LastPass Premium (after recommendations in this forum) because the extended functionality and syncing over multiple devices (and tie-in with Xmarks Premium as a reduced price bundle) was worth the small annual cost.

I love the convenience of both and will have no hesitation renewing my subscription next March.

Hope this helps…

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Rick-

Thanks for the reply! I recently bought RoboForm from Windows Secrets WinDeals for about half price but have not installed it yet (and probably will not). I like the look of LastPass but still don’t know enough about password managers to know what I am doing. I admit to being a bit panicked about using a password manager for fear that I might do something that could lock me out of sites that I use on a daily basis. I wonder if I ever wanted to stop using the manager if I could once again simply log on to a site and do a manual password change? I guess what I am getting at is- if I use a password manager am I locked into that routine? Also, is there a way to view the secure passwords that have been created for the various sites I use?

Apologies for being such a wuss but I have found that, if there is a way to screw something up, I will find it. Looking forward to any responses this post might generate.

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I guess what I am getting at is- if I use a password manager am I locked into that routine? Also, is there a way to view the secure passwords that have been created for the various sites I use?

You can still enter passwords manually and, yes, there is a way to view (and amend) the passwords that have been stored by LastPass. Why not try the free version and see how you get on with it?

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Rick & ruirib-

Thanks for the replies! I believe that I will screw up my courage and install the free version of LastPass. BTW, I compared the free and premium versions and since I will be using LastPass only on my desktop I have no need for the premium version. The subscription for premium IS quite reasonable!

Thanks again to all for your inputs!

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Rick & ruirib-

Thanks for the replies! I believe that I will screw up my courage and install the free version of LastPass. BTW, I compared the free and premium versions and since I will be using LastPass only on my desktop I have no need for the premium version. The subscription for premium IS quite reasonable!

Thanks again to all for your inputs!

Glad to be of help :).

The premium version is justified only if you need the mobile version. Of course, you may also want to support the app as, as you stated, it is a very reasonable price.

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Rick-

Thanks for the reply! I recently bought RoboForm from Windows Secrets WinDeals for about half price but have not installed it yet (and probably will not). I like the look of LastPass but still don’t know enough about password managers to know what I am doing. I admit to being a bit panicked about using a password manager for fear that I might do something that could lock me out of sites that I use on a daily basis. I wonder if I ever wanted to stop using the manager if I could once again simply log on to a site and do a manual password change? I guess what I am getting at is- if I use a password manager am I locked into that routine? Also, is there a way to view the secure passwords that have been created for the various sites I use?

Apologies for being such a wuss but I have found that, if there is a way to screw something up, I will find it. Looking forward to any responses this post might generate.

LastPass also allows you to export all your passwords to a csv file, so you can go manual whenever you want without losing any of the existing passwords.

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ruirib, could the excel spreadsheet itself be zipped by 7-zip, along with a password? Then, RonB simply extracts the spreadsheet from the passworded-zipfile. ?A properly passworded zipfile is tougher to crack than an excel passworded spreadsheet?

"Take care of thy backups and thy restores shall take care of thee." Ben Franklin, revisted

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ruirib, could the excel spreadsheet itself be zipped by 7-zip, along with a password? Then, RonB simply extracts the spreadsheet from the passworded-zipfile. ?A properly passworded zipfile is tougher to crack than an excel passworded spreadsheet?

Yes, that could be a good option. I don’t know 7-zip, since I use Winzip, which supports 256 bit AES encryption and that would be good enough protection (if used with a good, long password ).

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LastPass is the bees knees, I have the Premium version and use it across platforms. I don’t actually know what most of my passwords are, I let LP manage them for me, but I can easily find what they are if necessary.

Win10 22H2 Pro, MBAM Premium, Firefox, OpenOffice, Sumatra PDF.

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Spokes-

Thanks for the post, it is good to hear from a satisfied LastPass user. I presume that to find your LP passwords you would import them to a .csv file or some such?

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Spokes-

Thanks for the post, it is good to hear from a satisfied LastPass user. I presume that to find your LP passwords you would import them to a .csv file or some such?

No. You can search for the site you want and choose to edit the login details (or LastPass will allow you a quick access to the site’s login details, if you are viewing the site on your browser, without the need to search for it), and you click an icon to view the password.

The user interface is well thought out and you have easy access to what you need when you need it.

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Yes you can access the passwords online, you can even ask for repeat master password entry before accessing or editing individual entries.

And of course if you must, you can export everything to an openly readable file.

Win10 22H2 Pro, MBAM Premium, Firefox, OpenOffice, Sumatra PDF.

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If, for some reason, you DO want to export your passwords, do the following:

1. Click on the LastPass icon in your browser’s toolbar and select Tools:
38372-lastpass1
Click to enlarge

2. Next, select Advanced Tools.

3. Select Export To.

4. Select LastPass CSV File.

Hope this helps…

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If this is still being watched…
I’ve been using Dashlane password manager. I used LastPass but had some issues with it and my bank. Regardless of settings it tried to autolog in to my bank site.

Dashlane has one thing I don’t like, and that’s the inability to create new categories for passwords. Other than that it works fine. Also stores online receipts.

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I don’t use the online password savers because every week there is somebody being hacked. Even companies that are supposed to be security conscious or security vendors don’t seem to be immune from this.

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Dashlane – after a stellar report in the NY Times a while back, tried it, liked it, bought it. Seems to work well

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Um, what happens if they steal both computer and card file? Or card file goes up in smoke because the PC has set fire to it?

Oh well, whatever floats your boat!

Eliminate spare time: start programming PowerShell

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Um, what happens if they steal both computer and card file? Or card file goes up in smoke because the PC has set fire to it?…

Then we jump on a camel and ride off into the sunset. :crossfingers:

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You’re in outback QLD then!

cheers, Paul

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You’re in outback QLD then!

cheers, Paul

Well, yer just can’t help bad luck mate!

Sorry Paul,

No, am based on Sunshine Coast area but have (mis)spent many years in areas in Western QLD (Dalby, Cunnamulla, Longreach, Winton, Hughenden, etc. Those blokes out there really do it tough.

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It was the camels that had me thinking the outback.

cheers, Paul

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