Be Savvy – Use A Password Manager
If you are a regular reader of Alex’s Internet marketing blog you might have seen my recent post about getting my PayPal account phished due to a tabnabbing attack. I’m happy to report that my account access has been fully restored after having verified my identity. The thieves didn’t get far, thanks to my trusted Password Manager. If it weren’t for me using a software that autofills my logins securely I don’t know whether I would have been so lucky…
Why You Need a Password Managing Software
In view of the consistent threats that accompany you while browsing the Internet it makes sense to do whatever you can to keep your computer data safe. The things you don’t want to deal with are harmful viruses, spyware, or a phishing attack. Getting your data stolen or compromised is never fun, nor is it usually easy to remedy if you are a technophobe.
I think it goes without saying that you should keep your computer (and your data) protected with a good antivirus suite at all times. Failing to do so will cost you more than the cost of the software itself if your machine does get compromised.
What a Password Manager Does
A password managing software protects your online accounts thanks to strong levels of security. Many of them feature; memos, hot keys, password generators, import/export features, multiple computer support, data backup, auto-fill and more. With this type of software you can:
- Defeat keyloggers
- Declare war on phishing attacks
- Generate passwords
- Manage passwords
- Use auto-fill
- Login automatically
- Surf safely thanks to strong password encryption
- Synchronize all of your passwords between several computers
- Always have access to your passwords thanks to Roboform Online
I have been using a password manager for a couple of years and can’t believe that I actually functioned without it in the older days. As far as software goes, this is a must-have for anyone dealing with a lot of online accounts.
Roboform Puts Your Passwords on Speed Dial
Roboform is a great password manager. What I really like about it is the fact that you can get the Roboform2Go version for your thumb drive. You simply plug the USB drive into any host computer and your passwords and accounts will be readily available anywhere in the world.
Best of all, from what I know, the software doesn’t leave any traces on the host machine, meaning your data won’t be stolen by the owner of the computer after you have left.
You can get Roboform for free (trial version) to see whether you like it before you buy. For nomads like myself, the Roboform2Go is ideal, cause it’s light and portable. If you own several computers you can synchronize all of your Roboform software installs with the help of Roboform Online. It’s fast, relatively easy to use and cost-effective.
1Password – Another Nifty Tool
Another popular favorite of online marketers is 1Password. Their latest version is Snow Leopard (Mac) compatible. Something Roboform needs to address if they want to stay in the game. You can use Roboform on a Mac with their online bookmarklet, but it’s more cumbersome to use and slower – plus a lot more annoying.
Other Password Managers
This selection of password managers should get you on the right track. I’m pretty much sold on Roboform since I’m already familiar with their suite of software. If you can, start with a trial version of the software you like best and then move to the paid version if you like it.
Here’s to safe surfing
Monika
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About The Blog Author
Alex Sysoef is an IT Consultant, Internet Marketer and ProBlogger who shares his passion and knowledge of WordPress, SEO, Social Media and traffic strategies on his blog WordPress Howto Spotter. Connect on Twitter or Facebook
27 Responses to “Be Savvy – Use A Password Manager”
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Hi Alex,
Thank you for writing about Roboform and I just read your post on your phishing experience. That has happened to me before and as soon as I realised I changed my passwords etc immediately.
What cheeses me off is the people that farm our emails and then use them to send out spam. I am forever changing emails due to my email address getting farmed and spammed.
Do you know how to avoid that too!! That is one question I would like to know!
I have heard about Roboform before, but haven’t signed up. Now that I have more websites and blogs and software etc etc, I get confused regularly. I have them all written down, however if I lost my book I wold be completely lost!
Had better organise the back up plan!
Hope all is going well.
Cheers
Jacinta
Jacinta Dean recently posted..Just A Quick Update!
Jacinta,
Those posts are actually from my editor – Monika Mundell
but thank you fro reading and taking time to comment!
Hello Jacinta,
If you use Gmail there is an easy way to find the people who farm out your email address. Say for example your email address is jacintasurname @ gmail.com (spaces added in purpose), you could sign up for lists like this:
List 1: jacinta.surname@…
List 2: j.acintasurname@…
List 3: ja.cintasurname@
etc.
The great thing about Gmail is that you can insert your full stop (.) anywhere you like and still get your email forwarded to you. Just be sure to keep track of what version you use on your subscriptions and then you’ll see where the Spam is outsourced by checking your Spam folder for your address.
A much faster way of course is not to subscribe to any list, or to use a “fake email.” Uhm, did I just say that?
Monika Mundell recently posted..Join The VIC Membership
Hey Alex, great post. Agree 100%! Using a password manager helps me keep on track productive-wise. Another great password manager software that wasn’t mentioned in your post is Last Pass. It works on a Mac and the free version is pretty awesome to boot. http://lastpass.com/
Hi Alan,
Thanks for the mention of LastPass. I admit there are so many of them around. Since I am Mac based I’ll be sure to check it out. One never knows.
Monika Mundell recently posted..Join The VIC Membership
I used RoboForm in the past and it is a great tool to manages your passwords and save you lots of time. If you have loads of passwords and have a poor memory like I do, it’s an absolute necessity.
I now use the password manager that comes with my anti-virus program Norton 360. In addition to managing my passwords, and protecting me from the latest virus’, it also backs up all the files on my computers.
Robert recently posted..Monetize Your Blog With Affiliate Marketing Programs
Robert , I use Roboform2Go and my entire business seats on encrypted thumb drive that only myself and my wife knows password to. I can HIGHLY recommend to anyone this soft
Hi Robert
I use the Norton 360 auto form filler – it’s easy to use and it saves me so much time.
Keith Davis recently posted..A splash of colour
Hey Alex…
Great post and I’m totally in agreement with your comments.
I’m also in agreement with Alan about LastPass. I’ve used it for well over a year now and would be lost without it. Great browser integration and like RoboForm, lets you access your passwords from anywhere you have internet access. It also is free without any limits on entries like RoboForm Free has. I read an article recently that it actually is gaining ground on Roboform as the preferred password / form filler choice. It really is a great program. http://www.lastpass.com
Great summary, I really concur with you.
I have about 500 websites logins – impossible to handle without a password manager!
Roboform is best in my opinion for Web logins, but I would like to add that for bank accounts passwords and other very sensitive information I use KeePass – http://keepass.info, a great piece of free software, also available as portable edition.
OK, I’m the first one to say that before reading this article I didn’t see the value in such programs. Now however…
Hmmm. Perhaps I need to re-look. Each time I come here I am ‘educated’.
Thx.
Thanks Alex (and Monika). Every time I read one of your posts, I learn something new or get confirmation that I’m doing something proper. Thanks for all the great information that you put here.
Someone mentioned emails. I had been working on a project to create the appearance of a “bounced” email on an “email by email” basis. Basically, you could review the email, then “bounce” it back to the sender as if the email address didn’t exist. Technically, that should eliminate much of your spam pretty quickly.
But, after I got into the project, I began to do some research late one evening and discovered that a product already exists that would do that. It’s called Mailwasher (http://www.mailwasher.net/) and it’s a free product, so no that’s not an affiliate link. I’ve not personally installed it or worked with it yet, but it’s on my radar to dig into a little more and see if it works.
Regardless, if Alex (or Monika) has any experience with it, I’d love to know.
Once again, thanks for such a fantastic Blog.
@ Mark: I’m with you on the impossibility of keeping track of 500+ sites. Not that I’m owning THAT many, lol.
@ Paul Barrs: I would say, do it! Seriously, the moment you lose your password, or your account gets hacked because of a keylogging attack you will wish for one of these. Only then it’s too late.
@ James Dunn: Thank you for your kind words. As far as Mailwasher goes, I have no experience with it, perhaps Alex does?
I did mention Gmail in my reply Jacinta though. That works well, however, it’s tiresome because you have to monitor your incoming Spam, and keep note as to where you used your specific emails. My solution is to stop subscribing to all these newsletters and only focus on the ones you will be sure to read.
Monika Mundell recently posted..Join The VIC Membership
Good tips all around. As someone who has more logins/passwords then he can keep track of, and realizes the risk in simply saving them in a text file somewhere, I see the importance of a good password manager; though, I had not realized they were so advanced now. Thanks for a good read.
No worries Vince, hope you can find a software that works for you. trust me, life is so much easier once you don’t have to remember all your logins.
Hi Alex & Monika,
That is a real good write up on password managers. I have been using Roboform for years and would never think about trying to get along without it. I use it on my computer and my wife’s computer and keep them synchronized with Roboform online. Works great.
I also own Roboform2go and did use it, but lately I have not needed it anyplace so I have actually quit using it.
Herschel recently posted..Are You Doing Business Without These WordPress Plug-ins
Another Roboform user, awesome Herschel. Like you I love it and couldn’t imagine running my business safely on the Internet. Tale care and thanks for the feedback, it’s much appreciated.
Nice, but I don’t see there Sticky Password manager. It is one of the best password managers on the market, so don’t miss it and try it.
I like the fact that a password manager lets me generate a different password for every account. So I’m not massively compromised if one is discovered.
With automatic login from a single key press, I’m sure I save hours a day!
I personally use KeePass.
http://keepass.info/
Tiggerito recently posted..Google Toolbar PageRank Checker
Thanks for the tip – whatever password management is use is fine. As long as it gives you option to have strong passwords
Keepass supports strong passwords of course. Moreover, strong encryption schemes are integrated, and it’s 100% free
Excellent advice. I have been using roboform for quite a while both its portable version and the instillation and this program have proven useful many times. There are variety of freeware open-source alternatives available , but one should pay attention where he/she downloads them from as their code may be modified if not downloaded from their official web site.
I dumped Firefox for Opera some months back cos of speed and bandwidth issues and I do miss using Roboform to manage my passwords. Now I just make do with Opera’s Password Manager which is a bit buggy as I have to backup my passwords list every now and then should in case they suddenly disappear.
Udegbunam Chukwudi recently posted..How To Organize Your WordPress Posts In Categories
Thanks Alex for mentioning RoboForm.
I have been a user of the RoboForm2Go for a number of years now.
It has many features I like:
U3 drive compatable- starts when USB drive inserted
Multiple pass cards for any site
Password gen with variable length
Personal data storage for instant form filling
And when I got it, it was only $20
BTW, when I sign up at any site, I build a code phrase into my name that I give.
So, instead of a username of “terry” I would use “terry_alex” or “terry_howie”
Doing this, will allow you to track who is selling your email.