Dear Dan: Help! I’m drowning in user names and passwords that I need to access everything from critical resources like my bank accounts and e-mail, to the more frivolous like online stores. I live in fear that I’ll lose them or they’ll get stolen. How can I manage this monster? – Password Overload
Dear Password Overload: Password management software can make your life a little easier. These inexpensive programs, ranging from $15 to $30, will store and organize all of your user names and passwords. And some will automatically insert the information for you. Usually, such software will encrypt your information, requiring one “master password” to access all the others. So you only need to remember one. The software logs you in automatically, and can generate strong passwords for greater security.
Some password programs will store and encrypt other sensitive information that often accompanies passwords, such as credit card and bank account numbers.
There’s also a movement underway at major internet firms to create a system that lets users consolidate their internet identity, eliminating the need to create separate IDs and logins at each Web site. It’s called OpenID, and Yahoo! is one of the latest to announce support for this pilot program.
Yahoo’s OpenID service became available in public beta on January 30. Somewhat miraculously, the OpenID technology will allow you to use your Yahoo account to sign into hundreds of other Web sites, with the list growing daily. For details and to sign up, visit opened.yahoo.com.
These password management programs are worth a look:
• RoboForm ($29.95) memorizes your passwords and logs you into Web sites automatically. It can fill out registrations and checkout forms with one click; encrypts your passwords for maximum security and generates random, hack-proof passwords. It will also backup your passwords and synchronize passwords between different computers, such as your home, office, laptop and handheld devices. www.roboform.com.
• Password Agent ($24.95) will store any textual information you need to keep track of and find quickly, from passwords and Web logins, to credit card and passport and serial numbers. Create your own custom groups and subgroups to organize your entries. www.moonsoftware.com.
• Password Safe Pro ($29.95) bills itself as an easy-to-use password protection package with a feature others don’t have: an internal timer that terminates the program after three minutes of inactivity, for an added level of protection. www.passwordsafepro.com. •
Daniel Kehrer can be reached at editor@business.com.
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