Passwords!

Tools intended to increase productivity and save time sometimes don't. Make tech work for you.

I can't keep up with passwords. I use the same password for everything. I just check remember me when I sign in.

What to do:

      Try LastPass

Why to do it:

• Remember just one secure master password

• Works with everything you sign in from, even if it's not yours forever

• Saves, generates and populates individual secure passwords for every sign-in you have.

How to do it:

• Set up a free account on one computer.

• For $12 each year, a premium account works with mobile browsers.

• Bookmark the sign-in page, and download the app to other devices

• Create one secure master password

  • Make it difficult to guess, but easy to remember. Maybe an entire phrase with crazy caps and symbols like [^$eeVery%gOodboY+d0eS*FINE_#] but not that particular one

  • Do not write it down.  Remember it.

• Access your LastPass account from anywhere.

.Why to stop doing what you're doing:

• An unfamiliar computer can't remember you, and “Remember Me” gets anyone into your accounts.

• Passwords are often easy for mere mortals to guess

  • Your kids' names? Birthdays? Password123?

  • Remember those games asking you to post a stage name based on your pet's name and the street you grew up on?

  • Aren't those the questions you're asked to recover your password?

• Computer programs have great algorithms to figure out passwords.

• If you're using the same password on a less secure site that you use for, say, your online banking, the bank site's security doesn't matter.

Bonus:

Whenever you need to use the hotel's or your colleague's computer, logging into LastPass keeps your bookmarks, usernames and passwords with you, as long as you meet their authentication requirements.

About this series: It's all about what you can do, not what the technology can do. These are tools I use--there's no promotional consideration.