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Secure Password Storage & Management

 

 

There are a many simple methods to securely store and manage numerous passwords. The methods below have their benefits and their shortcomings. Below are a few good solutions, their recommended uses and some info to get you started:

NOTE: ANY of these methods are better than storing your passwords in a notebook, on a sticky note on your monitor, under your keyboard, or in plain text on your computer.


LastPass:

  • Moderately secure

LastPass makes storing multiple passwords for websites and web services easy. It is available as a web browser add-on and an app giving you access to all your passwords anywhere, anytime - and it's free!

LastPass Web Browser Add-On

To set up LastPass visit https://lastpass.com/misc_download2.php. From this website choose the appropriate operating system (Windows or Mac), find the web browser you use, and click download.

Once LastPass had been added to your web browser, you will be prompted to create an account.

  • Click on the LastPass browser button in the top right corner of your browser and select create an account at the bottom of the pop-up box.
  • Enter you email address and click on create an account.
  • Create your LastPass Master Password
    • It is important that this is a strong password. LastPass will display their minimum requirements for a strong password.
    • Ensure that you are able to remember this password, so that you can access your LastPass password vault. Utilizing LastPass may make this the only password you have to remember from now on!
    • You may add an optional password hint to help you remember your Master Password.

Now, you will be able to start saving your passwords to LastPass.

  • To do so, simply visit a website that requires a login and enter your password.
  • Once you login, a pop-up will appear in the upper right corner of your screen prompting you to add this sites login info to LastPass, click Add.
  • Now, when you visit this site, LastPass will autofill your login information for you.

Keep in mind that LastPass will only save and autofill your passwords when you are logged into the web browser extension. Simply login using your email and Master Password whenever you begin browsing on your computer.

In order to keep your accounts secure, enable LastPass to log out automatically after a period of inactivity or when you close your web browser.

Google Chrome

  • Click on the three vertical dots in the right hand corner of your browser, select More Tools, and select Extensions.
  • Click on Details for LastPass.
  • Click on Extension options
  • Under General select the box for both "Automatically Log out when all browsers are closed" and "Automatically Log out after idle (mins)" and enter a time (15 minutes is recommended).

More recommendations for making your LastPass account more secure are available here:
http://www.howtogeek.com/121267/11-ways ... re-secure/

LastPass App

The LastPass app on your mobile phone would come in handy in an instance where you need to access a password on an account, but do not have your computer.

 

1Password:

  • Moderately secure

 


KeePass and KeePassX

  • Very secure


KeePass is one of the more secure and robust free password managers available.
If you are at all concerned about security, I recommend giving KeePass a try.

You can download KeePass from here:

Once you've installed KeePass and created a password database, there are a couple settings that will improve the security of your password database:

  1. Configure your KeePass application to automatically save changes upon quit or lock.
    • KeePass > Preferences > General (2)

  2. Configure KeePass to automatically lock the database after a minute or 2.
    • KeePass > Preferences > Security

       

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