Portfolio Assignment 8

Password Managers

It is recommended that passwords should be complicated and difficult to guess. They should be more than 8 characters, contain letters, numbers, and even special characters (Create Strong Passwords). A password manager makes it possible to store all of your passwords so that you do not have to remember dozens of hard to guess passwords (Rubenking). You only need one main password to access all of your other passwords (Rubenking). There are a wide variety of password management tools available, each with different features.

One password manager is Kapersky Password Manager (Rubenking). Kapersky stores passwords and will also save your login data and makes it easier for you to access the site later by allowing you to click on the site and log in automatically (Rubenking). Another password manager is 1Password (Aguilar). 1Password is a slightly more expensive program that has several more features (Aguilar). The desktop version of the program allows users to sync information to an iPhone, iPod Touch, or an iPad (Aguilar). It is also able to store information to auto-complete forms and has a security component that deletes a password from the clipboard after 90 seconds (Aguilar). A third password manager is LastPass 1.72, which has a basic version and a premium version (Aguilar). LastPass gives you the convenience of being able to access it from any computer because it is stored online (Aguilar). Upgrading to the premium version gives you the option to sync your information to your mobile devices (Aguilar).

Many different password managers exist with different features. Each person needs to decide which features work with their needs and lifestyle. The most important thing is to make sure that everyone’s online account information is protected.

Works Cited

Aguilar, Mario. "Account Hacked? These Password Managers Keep Your Everything Safe." Gizmodo. N.p., 16 Jan. 2012. Web. 21 Oct. 2012. <http://gizmodo.com/5876508/account-hacked-these-password-managers-keep-your-everything-safe>.

"Create Strong Passwords." Password Generator & Checker. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Oct. 2012. <http://www.microsoft.com/security/online-privacy/passwords-create.aspx>.

Rubenking, Neil J. "Six Great Password Managers." PCMAG. N.p., 11 Mar. 2011. Web. 21 Oct. 2012. <http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2381432,00.asp>.