Password Security

*CaptainPC* · Sep 13, 2009 01:45 PM

Creating strong passwords is a vital aspect of securing your data and online resources from prying eyes. About the only thing bad guys like better than breaking a really weak password is finding password sticky notes all over a person’s desk or hanging from their computer. For many users, that is exactly the extent of their password security. I should know, because for quite some time that was my favorite password storage method. One day I realized how insecure my password management system was, and decided to do something about it. I typed all my passwords into an Excel worksheet, saved it, printed it, and stuck the printout under my keyboard, and tore up all my little password sticky notes. I then congratulated myself for my cleverness, and looked down on others who still used the sticky note system. I printed new copies of my spreadsheet as I added or updated the passwords, and promptly shredded (I give myself a kudo for doing at least one thing right) the old copy before placing the new one under the keyboard.

One day as I was updating my password listings, a thunderbolt of an idea crossed my mind. What if someone broke in to our home and looked under my keyboard? The realization of how easily they could gain access to my online banking and other sensitive areas was a real jolt. At that moment I understood that my spreadsheet system, while much more tidy than that of the sticky note method, was even less secure because all my passwords were contained on one sheet of paper. Not only that, but my password spreadsheet could easily be found on my hard drive because I did not even secure it with encryption. Near panic swept over me as this intolerable situation had to be remedied, and soon!

Gathering my thoughts, I googled for password managers to find out what is available. There are bunch of password managers out there, some for a fee, and some for free. Having been impressed with open source software due to my experiments with different Linux flavors, I settled on an open source program called “KeyPass”. KeyPass received very good marks for a password manager, so I downloaded and installed the program.

Once you install KeyPass, you will be prompted to enter a password to access your password database. The one thing you must remember is this password. It is the only password you will ever have to remember again. Keypass will even rate the strength of your master password (as well as all your others as you type them in). Make sure you create a very strong password and memorize it. If you have to write it down temporarily to give you time for memorization, please shred it afterward.

KeyPass allows you to create folders for similar categories of passwords. For example, you can create a folder named “Pay Bills” and add all the websites, user ids, and passwords for those websites to make it easy to find all your passwords when it is time to pay those bills. You are free to add folders for as many categories as you want.

When you go to a site requiring entry of your user id and password, just fire up KeyPass, and use your mouse to drag your user id and your password to the appropriate login fields. Once you have logged in, just close Keypass and go on about your task.

Another feature I really enjoy is that you can install KeyPass on a USB memory stick and simply carry it to the PC you want to work with at that time. This is handy if you have more than one computer in your home, and only want to install Keypass one time. I use mine on a USB stick and it has worked flawlessly.

If you would like to try KeyPass, click on the link below to download for the Classic Edition:

KeyPass download

Do you already use a password manager? If so, which one? What do you like most about it?

**Joe V** · Sep 14, 2009, 09:51 AM

great tip

I've been using RoboForm for years - great product.
It's not free but worth the price.

Password Security

Password Security

World News & Politics

Pro-life educator supports health care bill.

The nanny state is arriving

Nurses, Fair Elections Advocates Deliver Disinfectant to...

Teacher uses the word "Loser" to bond with his...

'Vaccines court' rejects mercury-autism link in 3 test cases

Erasing Jefferson?

This is a reasonable, responsible plan. Don’t let anyone...

Sen. Reid tells off the GOP leadership

Limbaugh to leave US if Health Care Reform passes

Victory in Iraq

Tagged Topics