Password management?

[Sr. Mints]

My Gmail was accessed, which has me rethinking the way I handle the dozens of passwords I am required to remember for online accounts, email, work, school, etc., etc..

I use complex alphanumeric jumbled combinations, only a few of them are duplicates--but being in the process of having to change them all and write down everything again, I am wondering if anyone has any tips or advice for password management.

I need a f'n retina scanner.

[silentsim]

1Password. Has a Mac and Windows version.

'nuff said !

[Bob]

Originally Posted by silentsim

1Password. Has a Mac and Windows version.

'nuff said !

++

1Password is absolutely brilliant on Mac with Safari. It's utility goes down a bit with other browsers, but they've made some great strides recently getting the compatibility and features up. It also seamlessly syncs to Dropbox, which is awesome.

Really the only downside is that it's kinda pricey.

[The Goon]

Good timing of the question - I was wondering myself which way to go.

The two possibilities I've had recommended to me are KeePass and LastPass. Here's a site that compares them:

http://www.sync-blog.com/sync/2010/08/comparing-two-excellent-password-management-tools.html

[LeftWing]

Can't speak for the Mac world, but LastPass is simply amazing.

[FanIn80]

1Password

Has plugins for Firefox, IE, Chrome, Opera, Safari, etc etc. Works for Mac, Windows, iPhone, iPad. Even the robots can use it.

The best part is it syncs directly with Dropbox, so all your passwords are on all your devices.


(Thanks to silentsim for getting me hooked on using it!)

[Cain]

pwdhash

Free, has a firefox plugin.

[calumniate]

i always thought hacktheplanet was the best one

[Byrns]

I use Lastpass, and it's done everything I wanted. I haven't tried any others because I haven't needed to.

[photon]

Does LastPass work (sync, autofill, whatever) with Chrome, or the FireFox 4 beta?

[Burninator]

/\ I have been using it with Chrome for months now and it's been great.

[Frank MetaMusil]

I use Password Corral at work. The encryption option is nice to have for extra security.

[Jimmy Stang]

I use KeePass and really like it. I have my encrypted password file on my USB drive that literally goes everywhere with me. Once you open it and enter your master password, you can set it to auto-type the passwords into web sites by using a hotkey combination. I also have it programmed to use one of the auxiliary buttons on my mouse.

Basically I just go to the web site, put the cursor in the box, and press the assigned mouse button. Magic!

[Cheese]

KeePass is also great and will generate new Passwords for you as you need them as well.

[Jimmy Stang]

One more thing regarding KeePass - you can actually get a portable version of it that doesn't need installing. You can run it right off of your USB drive.

http://portableapps.com

So you can actually take your password file AND the application with you. I'd still be very hesitant about opening up your life's passwords on a sketchy PC (internet cafe, hotel, etc.), but when I go to my folks, in-laws, etc. it is great to use it without having to install the application on their PC.

[photon]

Yeah I use keepass right now, like it alot, but would like an iPhone version.

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by photon

Yeah I use keepass right now, like it alot, but would like an iPhone version.

Agreed. Needing to log into, for example, my banking from my iPhone is virtually impossible as the password is non-memorable.

[Russic]

1Password has changed my entire password experience. Any password that I would deem important gets something unique that I could never remember if I tried.

What I love is that it can hold and auto-populate with other types of information. You can make an identity as well, so I have a home and a work identity. If I'm ordering something online with one click I can have it populate with all work info or all home info.

I also put important numbers that aren't used every day (like alberta health #'s) in it. Sure it takes me 2 or 3 minutes to get past the multiple levels of protection on my phone, but at least it's all there. The worst is when you need to enter your credit card pin. In doesn't happen enough for me to remember it and it always takes me 2 seconds longer to retrieve it than it does for the transaction to time out.

Dropbox syncing is also huge. The fact that I can make one small change and it's reflected on 5 different devices instantly is a killer feature.

[fredr123]

Does anyone have any experience with passpack? A friend recommended it the other day. They have a desktop app as well as an online version. There are free as well as paid options available too.

[Sr. Mints]

I installed the demo of 1Password. Will give it a whirl today. It is indeed expensive for a win+mac license.

Thanks, folks.