by David Ecker, Manager of Client Support
We seem to have Internet passwords for every Web site we visit from reading online news to conducting online banking. I originally tried to keep all my passwords the same, but then restrictions were placed on how long a password could be and the types of characters allowed. At work I was keeping track of all my Stony Brook passwords on a piece of paper (I have since learned this is NOT a good idea).
I went on vacation for a week and when I returned, I couldn’t remember the password for my computer. There were so many passwords running through my head. Was it the name of the dog, my mother’s maiden name, or my favorite song? I called Stony Brook’s Computer Accounts office and they reset my password, but I knew I had to change. I spent the next few evenings after my family went to bed searching the Internet for a solution.
I found an open source program called KeePass that is designed exactly for the problem I was encountering. I was excited, but skeptical since I needed more options:
- It had to be portable, so I could carry it with me.
- It had to have encryption on the password file, so I could feel comfortable putting passwords into it.
I checked it out and, yes, it does both of these things. I have been using KeePass for almost a year and it has been a lifesaver. I no longer have to remember my passwords. I can just look them up in a file. It even has this neat little feature where you can copy and paste your password into a Web browser.
If passwords are driving you crazy, make a turn for the better and try KeePass.