A password is the last frontier. There are just two requirements when it comes to passwords – create strong passwords, and find a way to use them without remembering them all. If you have a bevy of passwords for the sites you visit, the last word in password management just about belongs to LastPass.
A password manager is the obvious solution and LastPass is our top recommendation. Plus, since LastPass offers a free version that lets you sync across multiple devices, there’s no real reason not to try it out. Keep reading to find out if LastPass has the features you need. The first advantage that LastPass has is the ability to perform bulk password changes. This feature can be a lifesaver when a security breach happens, or at least when some employees are separated from the company. With LastPass, you will be able to change multiple passwords automatically. 1Password can’t change multiple passwords at once.
Testimonials about LastPass fly thick and fast. But is it the last word when it comes to password management? If so, then which features help it to wear the crown? Let’s fire it up and see what LastPass can do for us (rather than how).
LastPass (ver.1.75) is a 9.46 MB download for Windows (2000/XP/Vista/7). It installs extensions for Internet Explorer 6+, Firefox 2.0+, Chrome 4+, and other browsers like Safari and Opera too. LastPass comes in two flavors – free and premium. Premium comes with support for different mobile operating systems along with other features. Here we are looking at the free version which suffices for your everyday password needs.
A Password Vault Protected By a Master Password
All you need to start working with LastPass is a browser and a LastPass free account. LastPass creates a vault for your passwords. You need to remember only the master password which you decide to access the LastPass vault. LastPass works via the browser extensions. Downloading the browser extensions on other computers allows you to access your password information on the LastPass account.
Log into Websites with a Single Click
You can setup your passwords manually, or LastPass can import log-in information from the browser’s default password manager. With LastPass you can log-in with a single click as LastPass auto-fills the information. For multiple accounts on the same domain (e.g. Gmail), a dropdown allows you to pick the right one.
Generate Secure Passwords with a Click
When you are prompted by a website to create a password, LastPass comes into the picture (if you are logged in) and gives you a ‘Generate Password’ tool to create a strong password with a click. The generated password is auto-filled into the create password box. The password is saved in LastPass’ vault. You can use advanced options to customize your password.
Create Multiple Identities for Specialized Passwords
You can create multiple identities and switch between them. Identities hold log-in passwords, secure notes, and form information. Identities help to set different views of your LastPass account depending on the function. For instance, you might create identities for ‘Home’ and ‘Work’ and group sites under them.
Easy To Use Automated Form Filler
You can easily auto-fill online forms by setting up profiles on your LastPass online account. You can add selective information and use multiple profiles.
Why only Passwords? Store ANY Sensitive Information
LastPass allows you to store other sensitive information like credit card information, bank details etc. For instance, you can associate this information with the bank website URL that’s saved in LastPass. The information can only be added through the tool button when you are on the bank site. Secure Notes is a feature to add any confidential information in text form. Secure Notes are not associated with any URLs on LastPass. You can categorize and group your secure notes.
Bulletproofed Against Phishing Attacks
The LastPass auto-fill (on the extension) is only active for genuine websites which you log into. Also, it allows you to log-in if the website has a URL in the Sites list (screenshot above). LastPass protects you while filling forms by putting its icon in the form fields only if you have an account with the site. If you do not see the LastPass icons in the form fields on one of your sites, desist from entering any information as it can be a phishing site.
Bulletproofed Against Keyloggers
It makes sense to protect yourself against keyloggers if you are on an unsecure public computer. LastPass counters the threat by allowing you to create and use one-time-passwords (OTPs) and using them to access your online LastPass account just once. Anyone who captures that password cannot use it again.
You can also login using the online keyboard to prevent keyloggers from getting to your LastPass password.
Synchronize Across All Your Browsers
LastPass is basically an online service with browser extensions as the local interface. As there are plug-ins available for all major browsers, you can stay synchronized across multiple PCsand browsers.
Online Backup and Restore for Peace of Mind
An encrypted backup copy of your data is stored in the cloud at your account at Lastpass.com. You can not only synchronize it across multiple browsers but also restore them easily if you change computers or reinstall on the old one.
These ten features are the highlights from this must-have app. As you dive into LastPass, you will find a few more nuggets which make your password management a breeze. We hope to tell you more about them. In the meantime, do share your experience too with the password manager that works just about everywhere.
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You know you’re supposed to use a password manager. In fact, you’ve been meaning to set one up for a long time, but haven’t taken the plunge yet. Even popular ones, like LastPass, seem like a pain to set up. Good news: getting started with a password manager is easier than you think.
Password managers are an essential part of your online life. They create strong passwords that are difficult to crack, they keep track of those passwords so you don’t have to remember them, and they make it easy to change your passwords after a hack. You have a lot of great choices, but for this guide we’re going to focus on LastPass,one of our favorites, in your web browser. We like LastPass because the free version has all the features most people need, and it syncs across a single platform (like your PC, Mac, or mobile device). The free version of LastPass includes everything we’ll cover in this guide. For an additional $12/year you can also access your passwords from other platforms (like Windows and Mac, or Mac and iPhone, etc) and get some additional options for multifactor authentication.
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Read more ReadDownload and Install LastPass In Your Browser
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LastPass lives inside your browser as an extension. It’s available for just about every major browser, including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Opera.
- Head to the LastPass downloads page and install the extension for your preferred browser.
- After the installation is complete, you’ll see a new icon in your toolbar. Click that icon and select “Create an Account now.”
- Type in your email address and create a master password. Make this password strong, it’s the password you’ll always use to access LastPass, and all of the passwords you create and store with it. Don’t forget this—you don’t have too many options if you do.
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There’s also a LastPass Mac app, but most people will find the browser extension is all they need. If you plan on accessing LastPass from your mobile device, go ahead and download the app for Android, iOS, or Windows Phone too, but be prepared to sign up for a premium subscription if you want to sync passwords between multiple devices.
Save Your Login Information for the Web Sites You Visit
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Now it’s time to save your passwords in the LastPass vault. There are a few ways to do this, but the easiest is to just use the internet as you normally do, and save your passwords as you log into each new site. That way LastPass does the work for you.
- When you arrive at a site with a login page, type your username and password, but don’t click the sign in button.
- Click the LastPass icon inside the password field, then click “Save credentials for this site.”
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As you do this, your LastPass account will gradually fill up your vault with all your passwords and login information. Now, when you revisit those sites, LastPass can automatically enter your username and password for you.
If you used your browser’s built-in password manager in the past, or if you’ve used another supported password manager, like 1Password, you can import all your login information directly into LastPass. This process varies depending on which manager you used before, but you’ll find all the information you need over on LastPass’s Importing Passwords guide.
Fix Your Weak Passwords with the Security Challenge
![Lastpass auto change password Lastpass auto change password](https://blog.lastpass.com/wp-content/uploads/Blog27.png)
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Next, let’s fix all those junky, easily-hacked passwords you’ve been using. As you enter more and more passwords into LastPass, you’ll want to go in and audit those passwords and create better ones. There are a few ways to do this, but as you’re starting out, the simplest method is to use LastPass’s built-in security challenge.
- In your browser, click the LastPass icon > My Vault.
- Click the Security Challenge tab.
- Click Show My Score.
- Enter your LastPass password when prompted.
- Wait for LastPass to analyze all your passwords.
LastPass will show you a report of all your passwords, divided into four self-explanatory sections: Change Compromised Passwords, Change Weak Passwords, Change Reused Passwords, and Change Old Passwords.
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Click on each section to expand it and see which passwords LastPass recommends you change. For many popular sites, LastPass can automatically change your password with no real effort from you. Just click the Auto-Change button and LastPass will automatically create a new password for that site in the background and save it so you can use it the next time you visit.
If a site doesn’t support auto-change, you need to update your passwords manually. LastPass tries to make this as painless as possible, but it’s still a little work:
- Click “Launch Site” and LastPass will open that site in a new tab.
- Log in with your username and password, and find the change password section in the account details for that site.
- In the new password field, click the LastPass icon, then select “Generate a New Password.” LastPass will create a new password for the site.
- When prompted, select “Save Site” to save your new password information.
Depending on how many different sites you’re fixing here, this can be a long, cumbersome process, so fire up a movie on Netflix and set aside a bit of time to take care of them all.
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Read more ReadAdd Form Fill Information for Speedy Checkout and New Accounts on New Sites
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In addition to handling passwords, LastPass can also securely store your credit card information and address to help speed up the process of creating new accounts when you sign up for an account at a new store, retailer, or any web site. Setup is easy:
- Click the LastPass icon in your browser.
- Select Form Fills > Add Form Fills.
- Enter all the information you want to store here.
LastPass has tabs to enter in a variety of information, including your name, address, and credit card information. Adding this information to LastPass makes it so when you create an account on a new site, LastPass can automatically fill data in for you so you don’t have to type it.
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This is completely optional, but it’s a useful feature built into LastPass, and your information is encrypted along with your passwords and other data. If you’re not comfortable or don’t want to store something like your credit card here, it’s still worth adding your name and address so you don’t have to re-type it everywhere.
Add Multifactor Authentication to Your LastPass Account
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As you’d expect from a tool designed to make your digital life more secure, LastPass supports multifactor authentication. Once enabled, your master password alone isn’t enough to log into your LastPass account and access your vault. You’ll also need a passcode obtained from an authenticator. This extra layer of security keeps your LastPass account safe, which subsequently helps keep all your passwords safe as well. Setup takes just a few clicks:
- Click the LastPass icon in your browser and select My Vault.
- Click Account Settings.
- Click the Multifactor Authentication tab.
- Click the pen icon next to the authenticator you’d like to use and set the “Enabled” drop-down menu to Yes. Then follow the on-screen directions.
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The process here is different depending on which authenticator you want to use. Usually, you’ll add LastPass to the app of your choice, then the app will give you a code to enter into LastPass in your browser. LastPass supports a number of common multifactor authentication apps, including Google Authenticator. LastPass also has its own Authenticator app, which includes a nifty one-button approval system that simplifies logging in. If you don’t already use any of the other supported authentication apps, the LastPass one is a good one to start with (even though it only works for LastPass.)
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Read more ReadThat’s it. Setting up LastPass is easy, and the only headache comes from that potentially lengthy password auditing process. Thankfully, it’s a one-time thing, and once all your passwords are strong, you only have to worry about changing one if a site is hacked.
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Finally, while many of us don’t need its advanced features, it’s worth pointing out that LastPass can also share passwords with other people, grant emergency access to your account to a loved one, and can even securely store notes you might not want others to see. For now though, go ahead and just pat yourself on the back for finally getting a password manager set up after all those years of putting it off.