As the Internet attracts more and more users there is the need to make it more and more secure. This has lead to username and passwords we have to keep track. Bank sites for one are increasing their security model by demanding more complex, harder to hack passwords and assigning passmark images to help users avoid fake web sites setup to retrieve their account information. The need for stronger, more secure passwords will continue to grow.
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I think most people have a standard username and password they try to use for most of their web site access. This strategy can be dangerous. If someone gets your password they can have quick access to any of your sites you login into. So what is a person to do? I found a low cost, rock solid solution in a product called RoboForm from Siber Systems Inc. (www.roboform.com). This inexpensive piece of software installs into your computer and attaches itself to your browser. It then trains itself to remember each and every username and password you enter into web sites. For example lets say you install RoboForm and then go to your online banking site. When you login RoboForm will popup a window asking you if you want it to save the username and password for. If you says yes the next time you access this site you just need to click on the RoboForm button on your browser and it will fill in the login information for you. It also keeps track of several bits of information about such as shipping and billing addresses and credit cards if you let it. The Google toolbar has a similar feature but it is not as robust as what RoboForm has to offer.
But what about security you say? RoboForm is secure. The first time you access RoboForm in a given sitting it will ask for a master username and password. This will then allow you access to all of the accounts. The data is stored on your local computer and not on the Internet so it is safer than remote solutions. The data file can be easily moved from one computer to another but the data is encrypted there as well. The company even offers a USB thumb drive version so you can access your accounts from anywhere.
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Now the tools does have the same flaw as noted above, if a user gets access to your master file they have access to all your files but it sure beats leaving stick notes attached to your monitor. At $29.95 US the product is affordable and you can even get a free version with up to 10 accounts which you will max out quickly. They even offer a version for your mobile phones and PDAs. I have been using RoboForm for years now and couldn’t do without it.
Michael Park
System6 Software, Inc.
parkm@system6software.com
(607) 738-3282
