The number of usernames and passwords we all have to create and remember keeps growing exponentially, with just about every online site demanding a login from us. The best security practice is to use a unique login for each site--especially financial ones and sensitive work-related sites--but that many individual passwords can be a difficult feat. That's where password managers come in.
These applications store all your logins--and, in some cases, other data like secure notes or credit card information--in encrypted databases under one master, super-strong password. By using a password manager, you can have very complex passwords for each website you log into without needing to remember them, and you can automatically log into those sites quickly, without hassle.
Here's a look at 5 of the most popular password managers available for PC, Mac, Linux, and all platforms as an online service.
Windows: KeePass is not only a free password manager, it is also open source, so it's been community tested. You can keep all your passwords in the KeePass database organized by category, such as Windows passwords, network, banking, and so on. Databases are encrypted with strong AES and Twofish ciphers. You can use one master password to unlock your database or use a key file (for example on a USB thumb drive for even stronger security. Other features include a wealth of plugins to extend KeePass's functionality, such as filling in login data automatically from Firefox or Chrome. KeePass is available for Windows only but has been unofficially ported into mobile versions and is available for Linux/Mac OS X users in a cross-platform version port called KeePassX (see below). More »
Windows, Mac OS X, Linux: KeePassX is the free and lightweight version of KeePass that works on all major operating systems. While it can import KeePass 1.x (Classic) password database formats, KeePass X doesn't support plugins or the KeePass plugins. It does, however, feature a customizable password generator and shares other similar features as KeePass (above). More »
Windows/Mac/Online (free limited version or $19.95 full version of Everywhere or $29.95 for desktop version): One of the more robust, feature-rich password managers available and also one of the earliest ones introduced, Roboform can fill web forms with your login or other information in one click and has convenient integration in all major browsers. You can sync your passwords securely through "RoboForm Everywhere"--Roboform online servers--or store on your desktop only. Besides form filling and password storage, Roboform can also do password generation, credit card and encrypted notes storage, and bookmark syncing. Versions are available for running off of USB, Android, iPhone, and other mobile platforms. More »
Mac/Windows ($39.99), iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad ($14.99), Android (free reader): 1Password is another robust password manager, originally one of the few options that integrated very well on Mac OS X. Since then, Agile Bits has extended 1Password to the Windows platform and added support for iOS and an Android reader and you can sync your passwords across your PCs via Dropbox. 1Password has convenient browser plugins to fill in your passwords, identities, credit card info, and more, as well as very useful unique features: visual indicator of each login's password strength, mltiple login list views, tags, and more. More »
Online (free; $12 per year for premium version): Free password manager LastPass is unique in this round up in that there's no desktop software version. You install it completely as a web browser plugin and LastPass stores and syncs all of your passwords and notes encrypted online. (If you upgrade to the Premium version, you can also backup and use your data via a USB drive, as well as access other features such as using multiple identities to control sites access.) LastPass is one of the easiest password managers to use and provides convenient syncing across all your devices, plus it's free. As with the other password managers--and especially for one that relies on cloud servers--it's critical that your master password is strong enough. More »
No comments:
Post a Comment