[batpark]

I want to set up a free password manager for a Windows10 desktop, would appreciate a recommendation. Am I losing something valuable by passing on getting a for-price app? Thanks. ...batpark

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Hi batpark,

I can't provide you with any recommendations from my own experience... as I never use them.

 

However I do know that some folks swear by them and other folks swear at them!...so do your research before you start using one.

 

There is no doubt that password managers are very good at creating very long and complicated passwords, so that is a definite plus factor.

 

Two factor  authenication (that a lot of them use) adds a significant extra layer of security. There are some recently discovered security holes in some of them and you will need to do a lot of reading/research to determine if you think the risks identified are "real" as likely to affect your systems, or more theoretical....

 

Password managers generally use a " master password" to gain access to its settings/contents, so if a " baddie" can some how get hold of the master password they have probably got access to all of them contained within the password manager no matter how complicated and long the individual passwords are..... remember the old saying about not keeping "all one's eggs in the same basket"

 

It's no good having very strong individual passwords created by a password manager and then protecting the whole thing by a weak master password.... so really you need a very strong master password, but how do you remember what it is? especially when by definition it should be long and complicated, have a mix of characters, not be a word in any dictionery in any language in the world...etc etc.

 

When doing visits to business firms (as a repair technician) it is quite common to see passwords (sometimes lists of them, on a "post it" note stuck to the office VDU's..... Definitely not recommended! (this sometimes happens when the firm's security people in the IT Deptartment insist on long complicated passwords that must be changed frequently..... the poor old staff have no real hope of remembering them, so just write them down and keep then handy in the easiest place!!

 

So to sum up, do your research dilligently, there are no short cuts, and when you have amassed all the relevant information required, make an informed decision on the advantages and benefits to be obtained by using a password manager compared with the disadvantages and demerits of not using one.

 

I hope this helps and does not make the issue even more complicated!

Regards

paws

[paws]

Hi batpark,

I can't provide you with any recommendations from my own experience... as I never use them.

 

However I do know that some folks swear by them and other folks swear at them!...so do your research before you start using one.

 

There is no doubt that password managers are very good at creating very long and complicated passwords, so that is a definite plus factor.

 

Two factor  authenication (that a lot of them use) adds a significant extra layer of security. There are some recently discovered security holes in some of them and you will need to do a lot of reading/research to determine if you think the risks identified are "real" as likely to affect your systems, or more theoretical....

 

Password managers generally use a " master password" to gain access to its settings/contents, so if a " baddie" can some how get hold of the master password they have probably got access to all of them contained within the password manager no matter how complicated and long the individual passwords are..... remember the old saying about not keeping "all one's eggs in the same basket"

 

It's no good having very strong individual passwords created by a password manager and then protecting the whole thing by a weak master password.... so really you need a very strong master password, but how do you remember what it is? especially when by definition it should be long and complicated, have a mix of characters, not be a word in any dictionery in any language in the world...etc etc.

 

When doing visits to business firms (as a repair technician) it is quite common to see passwords (sometimes lists of them, on a "post it" note stuck to the office VDU's..... Definitely not recommended! (this sometimes happens when the firm's security people in the IT Deptartment insist on long complicated passwords that must be changed frequently..... the poor old staff have no real hope of remembering them, so just write them down and keep then handy in the easiest place!!

 

So to sum up, do your research dilligently, there are no short cuts, and when you have amassed all the relevant information required, make an informed decision on the advantages and benefits to be obtained by using a password manager compared with the disadvantages and demerits of not using one.

 

I hope this helps and does not make the issue even more complicated!

Regards

paws