I always have a terrible time recollecting the passwords of some of my accounts that I rarely login. I use a couple of Email accounts like Gmail, Yahoomail, Rediffmail and Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, Internet Banking Webiste etc., To add to the confustion, I have signed up for a few dozen Forums which ask my user name / password as part of the registration process and for future Sign-ins. Ocassionally, I also login to Flipkart to buy books and Amazon to look for new and old stuff on sale. Not to mention, Usernames and Passwords seem to take control of my internet browsing altogether. Now, how do I remember all my Username and passwords to have a better online experience?
Ofcourse, there are a few known and simple ways to remember your passwords but they are not without their shortcomings.
A smart way to solve the problem of remembering multiple passwords is to use a simple Password Managers or Password Management Software. Password Managers are programs that let you store your all your passwords in an encrypted database. This database is again password-protected with a master password. Important thing to note here is that you must remember this master password, or else you will lose access to the whole list of password residing inside the database! However, I'm sure it's pretty easy to remember one Master password instead of having to remember many passwords.
Today you are spoilt for choice because, the web space offers you umpteen password managers for download - both FREE and Paid. In this article, I will list out few password mangers whose latest versions I tested for features and benefits.
PassKeeper 1.2
Cost: Free
System Requirements: Windows (All Versions)
KeePass 2.19
Top features in KeePass 2.19
Target Users : Home, Business
Cost: FREE
System Requirements: Windows, Linux, Mac OS X, Pocket PC. Runs on mobile devices like iPhone, Windows Phone, Android, Blackberry and Palm OS.
LastPass
Clipperz
Clipperz again is a FREE online password manager, but quite different from LastPass in certain aspects. To sign up for Clipperz, all you need is a username and a Passphrase (much similar to a regular password, but lengthier one). Again, you *must not* forget this paraphrase! Further on, all your credentials like Username and Password are encrypted in your local browser before getting on to Clipperz servers.
Top Features in Clipperz
Target Users : Any and All
Cost: FREE. Ofcourse, you can donate if you wish!
System Requirements: Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Opera
There above ones are all FREE softwares and can be very useful for Home Users or Business users. Try these out and write to me your experience.
Ofcourse, there are a few known and simple ways to remember your passwords but they are not without their shortcomings.
A smart way to solve the problem of remembering multiple passwords is to use a simple Password Managers or Password Management Software. Password Managers are programs that let you store your all your passwords in an encrypted database. This database is again password-protected with a master password. Important thing to note here is that you must remember this master password, or else you will lose access to the whole list of password residing inside the database! However, I'm sure it's pretty easy to remember one Master password instead of having to remember many passwords.
Today you are spoilt for choice because, the web space offers you umpteen password managers for download - both FREE and Paid. In this article, I will list out few password mangers whose latest versions I tested for features and benefits.
PassKeeper is the simplest password manager ever designed exclusively for Windows platforms. The interface is ultra simple with just 3 buttons: add, edit, remove. The list of usernames and passwords you enter via the interface is stored in an encrypted data file. This data file (.dat) requires a master password to open it. You *must not* forget this master password.
Target Users : Home/ Individual usersCost: Free
System Requirements: Windows (All Versions)
KeePass 2.19
KeePass is one of my favourite password managers. It has tons of very useful features and has an impressive, organised and user-friendly interface. Its full version is FREE, Open-Source, Cross-Platform and Portable. Your data ie., username and passwords are stored in AES encrypted database. Again, to open this database you need to specify a master password which you *must not* forget.
- Ability to export the password list to various file formats
- Searching of data entries in the database.
- Multi language support
- Random Password Generator
- AES Encrypted Database to store data
- Quick Database Transfer
Target Users : Home, Business
Cost: FREE
System Requirements: Windows, Linux, Mac OS X, Pocket PC. Runs on mobile devices like iPhone, Windows Phone, Android, Blackberry and Palm OS.
LastPass is very different from the above two softwares. It is a web-based Password Management Tool that sits as an Add-on in your Firefox, Internet Explorer, Chrome, Safari and few other browsers. So, install this add-on once, specify a Master password and your Email-id. Though LastPass is an online tool, it encrypts all your data (ie., your usernames and passwords) in your local PC and the data transferred on the network is again SSL Encrypted. Much like the above two softwares, here too, you are required to have one master password that will again be encrypted in your PC. Everytime you wish to require to access a web service, you can go through Lastpass and in a single click, you can automatically get the credentials filled in.
Target Users : Home, Business or Enterprise
Cost: FREE for Limited set of features. $1 per month for full set of features
System Requirements:Cross-Platform. Works on all OS, Browsers and Mobile devices.
Clipperz
Clipperz again is a FREE online password manager, but quite different from LastPass in certain aspects. To sign up for Clipperz, all you need is a username and a Passphrase (much similar to a regular password, but lengthier one). Again, you *must not* forget this paraphrase! Further on, all your credentials like Username and Password are encrypted in your local browser before getting on to Clipperz servers.
Top Features in Clipperz
- One-click Login
- Dump all your encrypted details from Clipperz servers to your PC
- Import and Export your credentials
- No installations, No Email Id or personal details specification while signing up.
- Access your private data anytime, anywhere
Target Users : Any and All
Cost: FREE. Ofcourse, you can donate if you wish!
System Requirements: Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Opera
There above ones are all FREE softwares and can be very useful for Home Users or Business users. Try these out and write to me your experience.
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