Have been an Internet user for more than 9 years, I have 100's \rof logins and passwords to keep. I'm paranoid. I'm now even \rmore paranoid after I joined YMMSS because I use online payment\rsystems on weekly basis if not daily.

I used to use Microsoft Excel to manage my usernames, passwords, \rand other registration information, both online and offline. \rExcel is not safe because there are programs to crack password \rprotected Excel workbooks and I even cracked the spreadsheet and \rVBA source code password for one of my old Excel financial \rmodels I developed. Today I still use Excel to store some personal \rinformation but I only save the Excel file on my another \rPC that is not connected to Internet.

In my article "6 Essential Steps to Protect Your Computer On the \rInternet", I highly recommended the award winning RoboForm. Free \rversion of RoboForm (http://www.roboform.com) does come with \rlimitations such as 10 Passcards only. If you don't want to buy \rthe Pro version (costs $29.99 as of my writing), there is an \reasy-to-use freeware (see below) you can download right now and \rmanage unlimited usernames and passwords.

Download freeware Password Safe from SourceForge.net - the Open \rSource community.

https://sourceforge.net/projects/passwordsafe/

Here are some great features of Password Safe:

- No installation is required. Simply download and double click the \rpwsafe.exe file.

- Easy portable. Just copy and paste the EXE file and .dat database \rfile to any disks. Be aware that when you open Password Safe in \rthe other disk, you need to specify the database file location \r(the .dat file).

- One master password unlocks an entire password database that can \rcontain all your other passwords.

- Grouping. Usernames and passwords can be grouped into different \rcategories you define, eg. Email Address, Payment, etc. You are in \rtotal control.

- Strong, random password generation.

- Copy username and password to clipboard so that you don't have to \rtype them. Always keep in mind that you should never type any \rusername and password.

- Browse to URL. With one click, the URL related to your username \rand password can be opened in your default web browser. Another \rsave on typing.

- You can create more than one password database (but you have to \rmemorize more than one master password. Not recommended.)

Here are some tips of using Password Safe (version 2.04) and \rmanaging password in general.

Tip #1 - Always create a strong master password (Safe Combination \ras used in the software).

Strong password should meet the following criteria:

- At least 8 characters long to prevent cracking. The longer the better.

- The password should contain lowercase, uppercase, numeric, and any \rother characters that are available on keyboard.

- Ideally you should not use any meaningful words or numbers in the \rpassword. Totally random password is the best.

Tip #2 - Let PasswordSafe generate random password for you.

To generate random password:

- Click the menu item Edit.

- Select Add Entry (or use corresponding icon button).

- When the dialogue window opens, on the right hand side, you can \rsee a Random Password Generate button. Click it, a random password \rwill be automatically inserted in the Password field.

The generated random password is constructed according to the password \rpolicy defined in Password Safe. You can modify the default policy.

- Click the menu item Manage. \r- In the dropdown menu, click Options. \r- Click the Password Policy tab. \r- Change the policy based on the strong password criteria stated above.

Some sites only allow alphanumeric passwords so make sure you select \rthe appropriate check boxes when this is the case.

Tip #3 - Very Important: Never type your master password when open \rPasswordSafe.

Keylogger spyware can record keystrokes.

How can you enter master password without typing? I do this.

Step 1: Open a Notepad file (.txt).

Step 2: Copy and paste an article from any Internet website to \rthis .txt file.

Step 3: Select characters from this article and copy, paste to form your \rmaster password.

Tip #4 - Very Important: Never lose your master password.

I memorize my master password. In addition, I also physically write it \rdown to a hand written study material that has my previous uni works. \rAmong the 1,000's of words, I placed my 22 characters master password \rin two different pages in encrypted format that can let me derive \rmy master password.

Tip #5 - Categorize username and password.

When you add a new entry, you need to specify Group, Title, \rUsername, Password, and Notes. The entries that share the same Group \rname will be gathered together automatically.

One Group can contain another Group as its sub Group. For example, \rI have Email Address group which contains three sub-groups as \rFriend, Work, Family.

Tip #6 - For security reasons, always use Copy Username to \rClipboard and Copy Password to Clipboard.

Remember, never type username and password on a web form. This is how \rto do it.

- Highlight an entry.

- Right click mouse.

- In the pop-up menu, select Copy Username to Clipboard or Copy Password \rto Clipboard

- Go to your login form, paste the username or password.

You can use mouse to do copy and paste. If you prefer short-cut keys, \rthis is how.

Copy: Ctrl+C\rPaste: Ctrl+V

Tip #7 - Use "Browse to URL" rather than typing URL in browser address bar.

When you enter a new entry or edit an existing one, you can enter a URL \r(must start with http://) at the first line in the Notes field. You can save website login \rpage's URL in this field. When you need to open a login page in browser, \rright click the entry and click Browse to URL in the pop-up menu. Then \rthe login page will be opened in your default web browser automatically.

Tip #8 - Don't forget to backup your password database file.

Use the Make Backup menu item to save a second copy of your password file.

Tip #9 - Store your backups in a different offline computer or location.

This is a widely used backup strategy.

Tip #10 - Use the Notes field to store as many information as you want. Very handy for memo.

If you don't have two computers, you need to use other storage media \rto save a second copy of your backup file and version them by date \r(easy to track back). Other storage media can be zip drive, \rthumb drive, floppy disk, CD, etc.

Off site backups are also important. Don't overlook this. You lose \rall your data if you lose both your computer and your other \rstorage media all together for any reason.

Many companies provide online storage services for a fee. You can \rstore any digital files (you should password protect these files \rfirst) on their secure servers. Search Google and you will find a lot.

I have two computers. One is used to surf net and it does not have any \rsensitive info stored on it. Another one is for my development work \r(not connected to Internet) and it has my backup files. I also store \rmy backups in a thumb drive and CDs sometimes.

The author, Jerry Yu, is an experienced internet marketer and web developer. He is a proud member of YMMSS. Visit his site Get Paid Full Time Income By Reading Ads Online - YMMSS for FREE "how-to" step-by-step action guide to kick start a successful online business, tips, knowledge base articles, and more.