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Password Managers

Password Safe Open Source Password Manager

SUMMARY: Keep a list of online passwords handy with the open source Password Safe application.

Password Safe is an open source password manager for Windows that stores information in an encrypted database, currently using the Twofish algorithm. If you have many passwords, multiple "safes" are supported, dividing business, home, and emergency-related passwords, for example. Each "safe" is password protected, and when creating "safes", the software will warn you if the password seems too short, but will allow you to use it anyway if desired. There are also options to backup and restore "safes".

For each password-related entry you can attach notes, a related URL, e-mail address, and other information. To ensure you don't reuse passwords the software can optionally keep track of the last few used. Password Safe can be set to remind you to change passwords every few months or even days.

Storing passwords via Password Safe

If you tire of generating passwords for every online service, Password Safe can create them for you. You can define password lengths, characters used, or even if the software should create "pronounceable passwords". Plus, for certain needs the application can generate hexadecimal passwords.

Double-clicking an entry by default copies the password to the clipboard, but you can configure each entry to perform other functions such as copying the username to the clipboard, browsing to an URL, running a command, or sending e-mail.

When installing the software, you have the option for a "Green" installation that does not use the host computer's registry. A U3 version is also available; this comes at a price, however.

The software may be downloaded at the following address:

* Password Safe: http://passwordsafe.sourceforge.net/

This tip was written regarding Password Safe v3.20 running on a Windows XP machine. Features, information, and screenshots for other versions /operating systems may vary.

As with all password managers, use is at your own risk. If you lose access to the database or if it becomes corrupted, you may be unable to access a variety of services.