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Passwords

12 min read

This thread's last reply is from . Advice, software, and links below may be out of date — treat specific steps and download links with caution.

Post #1
Hi all, Does anyone know if it's safe to save your passwords in notepad on to your desktop? Thanks for your help.
Post #2
I wouldn't put it on the desktop. That's quite obvious, and not in notepad. If you use Microsoft Word then you can set a password on the whole document itself, just use an easy one. If you really want to be safe though, print it out and then delete it from your computer and just use the print out.
Post #7 last edited
Hey fellers & gals:..
What gives here….
I too , am interested in password security….However when I try 2 of the links below & go to download , I get a web page that says:..–> "HTTP 500 Internal Server Error"….So ,obviously , I can't download any of the "free" programs….

These are the links I'm trying:–>

Password Safe http://passwordsafe.sourceforge.net/ <– (free)
Keepass http://keepass.info/ <– (free)
(Thanks,Doug.. :) )
I currently have "RoboForm" , but the free trial has expired & I can't afford to buy it…
When I first got it , I just clicked on the website & RoboForm took me there , entered my User ID , Password & logged me in…That was very cool…
I can still use it , but now I have to click on the "Go to" feature…
Then I have to manually cut & paste in my User ID & Password , then login…

I'm hopeing that either "Password Safe" or "Keepass" will perform in a similar manner as the free "RoboForm" did….

PS:…Refreshing the page did NOT work….

ANY help on my problem(s) WILL be appreciated….

THANK you VERY much in advance of your anticipated help… :D



:whistling:
Post #8
Ron, Clicking on the links just now, they take me correctly to the target pages. You may benefit from running ATF-Cleaner to dump your temps and cookies Then run DNS Flush Start - Run (type)Ipconfig /flushDNS Best Regards
Post #9 last edited
Doug:…

I have & use ATF-Cleaner on a regular basis…
As for "Start - Run (type)Ipconfig /flushDNS" , I did that & all I got was a quick black box on screen & it vanished without any further info…
I tried both links today & they work perfectly… :) …Don't know why it wouldn't work yesterday…
I downloaded "Keepass" & now I have a question….Maybe a bunch… :o
After installing the file , here's what I get==>
[attachment removed]

That's ALL I get….What does/is this program supposed to do & how does one figure it out???…. :wacko:


Thanks for your help…..Ron.M…. :popcorn: …… :whistling:

PS:…I'm NOT trying to hijack someone else's thread….
I'm willing to start one of my own as this can be a bit longer than need be..
Please advise….Thankx….
Post #10
Hello Ron. Here is a short tutorial on how to use the program. I am sure once you get used to it, you will be able to explore the program further. Hope that helps. :)

– Mohit
Post #11
Mohit:.. … :wavey:

Hi & Thank you for your reply….

I used your link & read a lot of the tutorial…..
Here's what I like about RoboForm….
It installs a "RoboForm" bar accross the top of your webpage….
On the bar you have ,"Logins" , the name of the website RoboForm has you logged into , your name , "Save" & "Generate"…
When you go to a new website , enter a user ID , password & then hit "Save" , RoboForm saves not only the user ID & password , but also the URL…
It puts all that info on a list so when you want to return to the website , all you have to do is click on "Logins"
, a drop-down appears with a list of all the websites you saved….
Then you just click on the website you want to go to , & it takes you there & logs you in….
What could be simpler ??
Keepass seems more complex….
It seems like you have to "enter" a LOT more info…
At my age (68) I live by "KISS"….Keep It Simple Stupid… :rofl:
I was hopeing to find a free "RoboForm" type alternative…
I do not know what the vulnerability of infection or hacking into Keepass versus RoboForm would be , but I think that with a "Good" main password for either program , that would keep you safe…

MANY THANKS for your helpful reply……. :thumbup:

Later…. :popcorn: …… :whistling:
Post #12 last edited
Hello Ron.

At my age (68) I live by "KISS"….Keep It Simple Stupid… rofl.gif

Nice philosophy you have there. :rofl:

By your description, I don't think you are too comfortable with KeePass. Also, KeePass is probably unable to fulfill your demands so you might want to try LastPass. It is said to be the best free alternative to RoboForm.

Try it and see if it suits you or not. :)

– Mohit
Post #13
Mohit:… :wavey:

Hi & Thank you for your reply….

By your description, I don't think you are too comfortable with KeePass. Also, KeePass is probably unable to fulfill your demands so you might want to try LastPass. It is said to be the best free alternative to RoboForm

You are right about KeePass…I downloaded LastPass….I'll try it out & let you know how I like it…

Many THANKS…..

Later….Ron.M…. :popcorn:
Post #14 last edited
I use a simple, but effective way to create passwords. I change them each month for sensitive websites like banking, and i've not forgot one yet!

I use a mix and match way:

where i live, most telephone numbers have 6 digits, with a 5 digit area code

Mixing these up, you could get a strong numeric password 11 character's long, but i then mix in words too. let me explain:

Area code 12345 number 678901
Type the first number:
12345
then return the cursor to the beginning. type the first character from the number, then hit the right arrow key. this skips a character.
612345
Then right arrow once and the next
6172345
Then right arrow once and the next
61728345
And the next
617283945
And the next
6172839405
And the next
61728394051
until you end up with 61728394051
Next do the same with a word. this can be any word you'll remember. it does not have to be a certain length, just something you will remember. 2 6 letter words are ideal for me, because this fits nicely. Type one in uppercase, then one in lower case. Or, mix the 2:
Apples + orange in caps then lower will become:
A6P1P7L2E8o3r9a4n0g5e1 (type 12345, return to the start and type 6 ->7->8->9->0->1 [where -> is pressing the right arrow key once] return to the start and type A->P->P->L->E->o->r->a->n->g->e)
in upper then lower will become:
A6p1P7l2E8o3R9a4N0g5E1 (type 12345, return to the start and type 6 ->7->8->9->0->1 [your getting the idea now! ] return to the start and type A->p->P->l->E->o->R->a->N->g->E)
this simply from your best friends telephone number, an orange and some apples ;)

you can make it simple, such as car wash:
WCAASRH
Or:
WcAaSrH

Take a word and a number, here in the uk, we have a directory service called 118,118. It just has to be something you'll remember:
1P1h8O1n1E8 = PhOnE and 118118

Just keep the words simple, and the method of entering the same, and it may even beat keyloggers, as you will use the mouse to return to the beginning, so the keylogger will log the words, but not in the right order.

Whatcha think? :D

Edit: added colour, corrected some spellings
Post #15 last edited
Interesting and results in a strong password, though adding special characters would improve things a bit !@#$%^&*()_+=\/?>< It seems that you have developed a method that you can remember and apply, which would be highly difficult for a hacker to tackle. And it allows you to systematically change/evolve the password periodically, again without need for explicit randomization. Unless someone is directly targeting your machine with brute force, the general scan-and-attack menaces would simply pass you by in favor of easier-pickings. :) One addition that I'd recommend (and maybe you already have it in place) is to use different passwords for each site requiring password protection. Then, if a compromise occurs at one site, your others stay secure.