How to Manage All Your Passwords

Well, here's a thought.

First off - use your brain. Memorise each one. You're a clever person. You can keep track. And no-one else will ever know what's inside your head. Problem is, it's not going to be the odd one or two. It's going to be more like 100 or 200 hundred.

Every password must be different otherwise as soon as someone manages to Select Quote life insurance it out once, they can use it time and time again. So all of your passwords MUST be different.

As well as being different from each other, they must also be rather complicated. Your dog's name just will not do - too easy to guess. Neither will your favorite color. Anything that can be found in a dictionary is too easy for the automatic 'harvesters' to discover (the hackers use programs which use a whole dictionary to try and get your password). They do the same with names, so you can't use your favorite Uncle's name either. No, it has to be really complicated.

But you still want to remember it, don't you? Hundreds of 'it's.

Plan B - write them down. In a small address book which will keep them alphabetical. Yes, this will work. But where to keep what I've written down? OK, so it's really no big deal at home where family members can be trusted. But in environments where there is a risk that someone will mis-use your book if they know where to find it, then it must be kept either on your person at all times (even in the shower!) or under lock and key.

I think you will find even your bank wants to be sure your passwords are not written down and easily accessible.

Hmm. Bit of a problem?

Well, no it needn't be.

There's a fantastic program from Siber Systems' called AI Roboform, which will handle all your passwords for you. There's even a USB version, which means that if you use more than one computer, you can plug in the USB stick to use it and then when you've finished, 'stop' it and take it out. It removes all traces of ever having been there.

Roboform can be set up for use with more than one person. Passwords, logins and all sorts of details can be safely kept behind a master password too. This times out after a couple of hours of inactivity. It's absolutely brilliant!

You can try it out for free and it will let you save 10 entries.

Oh, and because you don't need to remember passwords for yourself any more, you can even get Roboform to generate them for you - and save the whole login ready for next time you want to use it. Clever, eh? It does a lot more than there's room in this article to explain.

Yes, there are other password management programs. You only have to run a search in Google to see hundreds of them. But I really like Roboform. Perhaps because I've been using it for many years now, and that they gave me a discount when I bought the USB stick version, or just because it's like a pair of old slippers - easy and comfortable.

For whatever reason, I do urge you to give it a try and save the space in your brain for recalling more fascinating information - like naming all the planets in our solar system.

For your free version of Roboform (up to 10 logins) CLICK HERE.

New to EzineArticles.com, Lynda Hill lives in the UK and only recently went full-time Arizona Lemon Laws from home after being made redundant. She has nearly 25 years of computer experience (hardware and software). As well as working full time for a non-profit organisation, she was working her home business in her spare time. She is now pleased be writing about internet based home businesses and using computers in the hope that others will benefit.

You can find Lynda's blog at www.lynda-hill.comwww.lynda-hill.com