Managing Your Passwords
The passwords problem
In addition to all of your UCSF accounts (see List of Accounts), you probably also have personal accounts elsewhere, each of which has its own login and password. For example, you might have a non-UCSF e-mail account, or one for your bank account or online auctions account. Since keeping track of all your accounts can be problematic, we suggest some possible solutions.
The passwords solution
Use a password manager to help you manage your passwords. Enter all your login and password information in a single location secured by a master password. All your passwords are stored in encrypted form, so even if the electronic file is lost or stolen, it would be very difficult or impossible to recover any of your passwords without the master password.
The following software products are listed as suggestions only and are not an endorsement by UCSF.
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Password management tools |
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Web-based with offline option |
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Windows |
eWallet, KeePass, KeePassX, Keeper, LastPass, Password Safe, PasswordVault, RoboForm, Web Confidential |
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Mac OS |
1passwd, KeePassX, Keeper, Apple Keychain, LastPass, Data Guardian, Password Wallet, PasswordVault, SplashID for iPhone, Web Confidential |
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Palm OS |
eWallet for Palm OS, HanDBase for Palm OS, Keyring, Password Wallet, SplashID for Palm OS, Web Confidential |
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Blackberry |
DataVault, eWallet for Blackberry, HanDBase for Blackberry, KeePass for Blackberry, LastPass, SplashID for Blackberry |
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iPhone |
1passwd, eWallet for iPhone, HanDBase for iPhone, iphonelockbox, jkPassword, KeePass for iPhone, Keeper, LastPass, Lockbox, LogOnce |
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Linux |
GNOME Keyring, KeePassX, Keeper, KDE Wallet Manager, MyPasswordSafe, PasswordVault |
When choosing a master password:
- Make it hard to guess: Since a master password gives you access to all your other logins and passwords, it should be harder to guess than your other passwords. To learn how, see How to Choose a Password.
- Never lose or forget your master password: Most password management tools are designed to be unbreakable, so if you lose or forget your master password, you won't be able to recover the data in your password file.
