Do you use a password manager?

[Unbreakable Disease]

My 50-year old brain isn't capable of memorizing that many passwords
anymore, so I use KeePassXC. I keep basically everything here including
my financial passwords and credit card data, with the exception of
passwords that I would have to remember anyway (full-disk encryption,
login, primary e-mail passwords, etc.)

Overall, it's much easier to remember and much harder to forget 10
complicated passwords that you use everyday than 100+ simple passwords
you use every month or even less.

I can't speak about Windows version of KeePass, because with the
exception of playing games not available on Macintosh, I haven't used
one since Windows 95 days.

[Wade Garrett]

Post by Unbreakable Disease
My 50-year old brain isn't capable of memorizing that many passwords
anymore, so I use KeePassXC. I keep basically everything here including
my financial passwords and credit card data, with the exception of
passwords that I would have to remember anyway (full-disk encryption,
login, primary e-mail passwords, etc.)
Overall, it's much easier to remember and much harder to forget 10
complicated passwords that you use everyday than 100+ simple passwords
you use every month or even less.
I can't speak about Windows version of KeePass, because with the
exception of playing games not available on Macintosh, I haven't used
one since Windows 95 days.

I'd like to use a password manager but I'm not comfortable with that
data being on some server somewhere- allegedly encrypted or not.

If there's one that keeps the data just on the local machine, I'd be
interested.

I keep a spreadsheet with my PWs on my FileVault-encrypted iMac hard
drive and copy/paste to logins that need to stay secure- financial,
vendors, healthcare, etc.

I always log out before leaving the house.

[nospam]

Post by Wade Garrett
I'd like to use a password manager but I'm not comfortable with that
data being on some server somewhere- allegedly encrypted or not.
If there's one that keeps the data just on the local machine, I'd be
interested.

most do, but that means syncing between devices will be limited or
non-existent.

[Andy K.]

On Mon, 12 Jul 2021 07:37:35 -0400

Post by Wade Garrett

Post by Unbreakable Disease
My 50-year old brain isn't capable of memorizing that many passwords
anymore, so I use KeePassXC. I keep basically everything here including
my financial passwords and credit card data, with the exception of
passwords that I would have to remember anyway (full-disk encryption,
login, primary e-mail passwords, etc.)
Overall, it's much easier to remember and much harder to forget 10
complicated passwords that you use everyday than 100+ simple passwords
you use every month or even less.
I can't speak about Windows version of KeePass, because with the
exception of playing games not available on Macintosh, I haven't used
one since Windows 95 days.

I'd like to use a password manager but I'm not comfortable with that
data being on some server somewhere- allegedly encrypted or not.
If there's one that keeps the data just on the local machine, I'd be
interested.
I keep a spreadsheet with my PWs on my FileVault-encrypted iMac hard
drive and copy/paste to logins that need to stay secure- financial,
vendors, healthcare, etc.
I always log out before leaving the house.

I'm using KeepassX which is purely local, and am very happy with

[Unbreakable Disease]

Post by Andy K.
On Mon, 12 Jul 2021 07:37:35 -0400

Post by Wade Garrett

Post by Unbreakable Disease
My 50-year old brain isn't capable of memorizing that many passwords
anymore, so I use KeePassXC. I keep basically everything here including
my financial passwords and credit card data, with the exception of
passwords that I would have to remember anyway (full-disk encryption,
login, primary e-mail passwords, etc.)
Overall, it's much easier to remember and much harder to forget 10
complicated passwords that you use everyday than 100+ simple passwords
you use every month or even less.
I can't speak about Windows version of KeePass, because with the
exception of playing games not available on Macintosh, I haven't used
one since Windows 95 days.

I'd like to use a password manager but I'm not comfortable with that
data being on some server somewhere- allegedly encrypted or not.
If there's one that keeps the data just on the local machine, I'd be
interested.
I keep a spreadsheet with my PWs on my FileVault-encrypted iMac hard
drive and copy/paste to logins that need to stay secure- financial,
vendors, healthcare, etc.
I always log out before leaving the house.

I'm using KeepassX which is purely local, and am very happy with it.
AndyK

I use KeePassXC which is a modernized version of KeepassX. Can be also
cloudified if you put the database on Dropbox (which I don't recommend)
or somewhere else.

[Scott Alfter]

Post by Wade Garrett

Post by Unbreakable Disease
My 50-year old brain isn't capable of memorizing that many passwords
anymore, so I use KeePassXC. I keep basically everything here including
my financial passwords and credit card data, with the exception of
passwords that I would have to remember anyway (full-disk encryption,
login, primary e-mail passwords, etc.)
Overall, it's much easier to remember and much harder to forget 10
complicated passwords that you use everyday than 100+ simple passwords
you use every month or even less.
I can't speak about Windows version of KeePass, because with the
exception of playing games not available on Macintosh, I haven't used
one since Windows 95 days.

I'd like to use a password manager but I'm not comfortable with that
data being on some server somewhere- allegedly encrypted or not.
If there's one that keeps the data just on the local machine, I'd be
interested.

KeePass stores its file wherever you tell it. It could be local storage,
storage on a server you control (as on a VPS or a dedicated server), or
whatever cloud storage is supported on the OS you're using. I use a WebDAV
share on a VPS. It's accessible to my phone and my computers, but not to
others. (I suppose Linode could grab the file, but without the password to
unlock it, it's useless to anybody else.)

_/_
/ v \ Scott Alfter (remove the obvious to send mail)
(IIGS( https://alfter.us/ Top-posting!
\_^_/ >What's the most annoying thing on Usenet?

[Lamey]

On Mon, 12 Jul 2021 15:17:43 GMT, Scott Alfter

Post by Scott Alfter

Post by Wade Garrett

Post by Unbreakable Disease
My 50-year old brain isn't capable of memorizing that many passwords
anymore, so I use KeePassXC. I keep basically everything here including
my financial passwords and credit card data, with the exception of
passwords that I would have to remember anyway (full-disk encryption,
login, primary e-mail passwords, etc.)
Overall, it's much easier to remember and much harder to forget 10
complicated passwords that you use everyday than 100+ simple passwords
you use every month or even less.
I can't speak about Windows version of KeePass, because with the
exception of playing games not available on Macintosh, I haven't used
one since Windows 95 days.

I'd like to use a password manager but I'm not comfortable with that
data being on some server somewhere- allegedly encrypted or not.
If there's one that keeps the data just on the local machine, I'd be
interested.

KeePass stores its file wherever you tell it. It could be local storage,
storage on a server you control (as on a VPS or a dedicated server), or
whatever cloud storage is supported on the OS you're using. I use a WebDAV
share on a VPS. It's accessible to my phone and my computers, but not to
others. (I suppose Linode could grab the file, but without the password to
unlock it, it's useless to anybody else.)

If it's out there than people can access it if they want.

[Unbreakable Disease]

Post by Lamey
On Mon, 12 Jul 2021 15:17:43 GMT, Scott Alfter

Post by Scott Alfter

Post by Wade Garrett

Post by Unbreakable Disease
My 50-year old brain isn't capable of memorizing that many passwords
anymore, so I use KeePassXC. I keep basically everything here including
my financial passwords and credit card data, with the exception of
passwords that I would have to remember anyway (full-disk encryption,
login, primary e-mail passwords, etc.)
Overall, it's much easier to remember and much harder to forget 10
complicated passwords that you use everyday than 100+ simple passwords
you use every month or even less.
I can't speak about Windows version of KeePass, because with the
exception of playing games not available on Macintosh, I haven't used
one since Windows 95 days.

I'd like to use a password manager but I'm not comfortable with that
data being on some server somewhere- allegedly encrypted or not.
If there's one that keeps the data just on the local machine, I'd be
interested.

KeePass stores its file wherever you tell it. It could be local storage,
storage on a server you control (as on a VPS or a dedicated server), or
whatever cloud storage is supported on the OS you're using. I use a WebDAV
share on a VPS. It's accessible to my phone and my computers, but not to
others. (I suppose Linode could grab the file, but without the password to
unlock it, it's useless to anybody else.)

If it's out there than people can access it if they want.
Hackers are looking out for easy targets, almost nobody is going to

chase Scott Alfter. Too much risk and unknown benefits.

[Alan Browne]

Post by Lamey
On Mon, 12 Jul 2021 15:17:43 GMT, Scott Alfter

Post by Scott Alfter

Post by Wade Garrett

Post by Unbreakable Disease
My 50-year old brain isn't capable of memorizing that many passwords
anymore, so I use KeePassXC. I keep basically everything here including
my financial passwords and credit card data, with the exception of
passwords that I would have to remember anyway (full-disk encryption,
login, primary e-mail passwords, etc.)
Overall, it's much easier to remember and much harder to forget 10
complicated passwords that you use everyday than 100+ simple passwords
you use every month or even less.
I can't speak about Windows version of KeePass, because with the
exception of playing games not available on Macintosh, I haven't used
one since Windows 95 days.

I'd like to use a password manager but I'm not comfortable with that
data being on some server somewhere- allegedly encrypted or not.
If there's one that keeps the data just on the local machine, I'd be
interested.

KeePass stores its file wherever you tell it. It could be local storage,
storage on a server you control (as on a VPS or a dedicated server), or
whatever cloud storage is supported on the OS you're using. I use a WebDAV
share on a VPS. It's accessible to my phone and my computers, but not to
others. (I suppose Linode could grab the file, but without the password to
unlock it, it's useless to anybody else.)

If it's out there than people can access it if they want.

Access ≠ decryption.

[Rich]

Post by Wade Garrett

Post by Unbreakable Disease
My 50-year old brain isn't capable of memorizing that many passwords
anymore, so I use KeePassXC. I keep basically everything here including
my financial passwords and credit card data, with the exception of
passwords that I would have to remember anyway (full-disk encryption,
login, primary e-mail passwords, etc.)
Overall, it's much easier to remember and much harder to forget 10
complicated passwords that you use everyday than 100+ simple passwords
you use every month or even less.
I can't speak about Windows version of KeePass, because with the
exception of playing games not available on Macintosh, I haven't used
one since Windows 95 days.

I'd like to use a password manager but I'm not comfortable with that
data being on some server somewhere- allegedly encrypted or not.
If there's one that keeps the data just on the local machine, I'd be
interested.

This one stores everything locally:
https://github.com/zdia/gorilla

There are probably others that do so as well.

[Keith Thompson]

[I don't know why the OP cross-posted to alt.atheism. I've dropped it]

Post by Wade Garrett

Post by Unbreakable Disease
My 50-year old brain isn't capable of memorizing that many passwords
anymore, so I use KeePassXC. I keep basically everything here
including my financial passwords and credit card data, with the
exception of passwords that I would have to remember anyway
(full-disk encryption, login, primary e-mail passwords, etc.)
Overall, it's much easier to remember and much harder to forget 10
complicated passwords that you use everyday than 100+ simple
passwords you use every month or even less.
I can't speak about Windows version of KeePass, because with the
exception of playing games not available on Macintosh, I haven't
used one since Windows 95 days.

I'd like to use a password manager but I'm not comfortable with that
data being on some server somewhere- allegedly encrypted or not.
If there's one that keeps the data just on the local machine, I'd be
interested.
I keep a spreadsheet with my PWs on my FileVault-encrypted iMac hard
drive and copy/paste to logins that need to stay secure- financial,
vendors, healthcare, etc.
I always log out before leaving the house.

I use PasswordSafe https://pwsafe.org/ .

It's a Windows application with clones available for Android, iOS, and Mac.

There's a Linux version, available as "passwordsafe" in the Ubuntu repos
(and presumably others), but I haven't gotten it to work.

password-gorilla is a Linux application that uses the same file format
and should be available in the package repos for most distributions.

Keeping the database synchronized across devices is left as an exercise.

[Lewis]

Post by Keith Thompson
[I don't know why the OP cross-posted to alt.atheism. I've dropped it]

Post by Wade Garrett

Post by Unbreakable Disease
My 50-year old brain isn't capable of memorizing that many passwords
anymore, so I use KeePassXC. I keep basically everything here
including my financial passwords and credit card data, with the
exception of passwords that I would have to remember anyway
(full-disk encryption, login, primary e-mail passwords, etc.)
Overall, it's much easier to remember and much harder to forget 10
complicated passwords that you use everyday than 100+ simple
passwords you use every month or even less.
I can't speak about Windows version of KeePass, because with the
exception of playing games not available on Macintosh, I haven't
used one since Windows 95 days.

I'd like to use a password manager but I'm not comfortable with that
data being on some server somewhere- allegedly encrypted or not.

There is no "allegedly" about the encryption with LastPass, 1password,
or BitWarden. I know all three of these have been certified and tested
by third parties.

Having them on a server makes it simple to sync them to multiple
devices. At least 1Password can be synced manaully, and I would not be
surprised if the others allowed this in some way as well.

Post by Keith Thompson

Post by Wade Garrett
I keep a spreadsheet with my PWs on my FileVault-encrypted iMac hard
drive and copy/paste to logins that need to stay secure- financial,
vendors, healthcare, etc.

That is a very inefficient system, but it is a lot better than what
some people do. It also encourages patterns of passwords. One of the
main advantages of a manager is truly random passwords.

Post by Keith Thompson
I use PasswordSafe https://pwsafe.org/ .
It's a Windows application with clones available for Android, iOS, and Mac.
There's a Linux version, available as "passwordsafe" in the Ubuntu repos
(and presumably others), but I haven't gotten it to work.
password-gorilla is a Linux application that uses the same file format
and should be available in the package repos for most distributions.
Keeping the database synchronized across devices is left as an exercise.

And that means you end up with not having the password you need unless
you limit your use of the Internet to a single machine.

[Keith Thompson]

[...]

Post by Lewis

Post by Keith Thompson
I use PasswordSafe https://pwsafe.org/ .
It's a Windows application with clones available for Android, iOS, and Mac.
There's a Linux version, available as "passwordsafe" in the Ubuntu repos
(and presumably others), but I haven't gotten it to work.
password-gorilla is a Linux application that uses the same file format
and should be available in the package repos for most distributions.
Keeping the database synchronized across devices is left as an exercise.

And that means you end up with not having the password you need unless
you limit your use of the Internet to a single machine.

Not if I replicate the encrypted database across the machines I use.
I understand that that could open a potential security hole if
I'm not sufficiently careful. But if I *am* sufficiently careful,
my database doesn't exist on anyone else's server.

[nospam]

Post by Keith Thompson

Post by Lewis

Post by Keith Thompson
Keeping the database synchronized across devices is left as an exercise.

And that means you end up with not having the password you need unless
you limit your use of the Internet to a single machine.

Not if I replicate the encrypted database across the machines I use.
I understand that that could open a potential security hole if
I'm not sufficiently careful. But if I *am* sufficiently careful,
my database doesn't exist on anyone else's server.

and if you forget to sync it, murphy's law states that you won't have
the password you need.

computers are there to do work *for* you.

[Keith Thompson]

Post by nospam

Post by Keith Thompson

Post by Lewis

Post by Keith Thompson
Keeping the database synchronized across devices is left as an exercise.

And that means you end up with not having the password you need unless
you limit your use of the Internet to a single machine.

Not if I replicate the encrypted database across the machines I use.
I understand that that could open a potential security hole if
I'm not sufficiently careful. But if I *am* sufficiently careful,
my database doesn't exist on anyone else's server.

and if you forget to sync it, murphy's law states that you won't have
the password you need.

Of course. That happens now and then. The solution is to go back and
sync it.

Post by nospam
computers are there to do work *for* you.

I'm not going to go into too much detail about *how* I synchronize my
password database. I'm not confident that my method is sufficiently
secure. (Yes, I'm doing "security through obscurity", but only as a
layer on top of other methods.)

I'm comfortable with the amount of manual work my method requires.
Others won't be.

But what do you suggest?

[nospam]

Post by Keith Thompson

Post by nospam

Post by Keith Thompson

Post by Lewis

Post by Keith Thompson
Keeping the database synchronized across devices is left as an exercise.

And that means you end up with not having the password you need unless
you limit your use of the Internet to a single machine.

Not if I replicate the encrypted database across the machines I use.
I understand that that could open a potential security hole if
I'm not sufficiently careful. But if I *am* sufficiently careful,
my database doesn't exist on anyone else's server.

and if you forget to sync it, murphy's law states that you won't have
the password you need.

Of course. That happens now and then. The solution is to go back and
sync it.

no, the solution is to have it automatically sync.

Post by Keith Thompson

Post by nospam
computers are there to do work *for* you.

^^this^^

Post by Keith Thompson
I'm not going to go into too much detail about *how* I synchronize my
password database

you already said how: you manually sync it.

automatically syncing means a new or changed entry is available on
other devices within seconds, no additional effort required.

[Keith Thompson]

Post by nospam

Post by Keith Thompson

Post by nospam

Post by Keith Thompson

Post by Lewis

Post by Keith Thompson
Keeping the database synchronized across devices is left as an exercise.

And that means you end up with not having the password you need unless
you limit your use of the Internet to a single machine.

Not if I replicate the encrypted database across the machines I use.
I understand that that could open a potential security hole if
I'm not sufficiently careful. But if I *am* sufficiently careful,
my database doesn't exist on anyone else's server.

and if you forget to sync it, murphy's law states that you won't have
the password you need.

Of course. That happens now and then. The solution is to go back and
sync it.

no, the solution is to have it automatically sync.

The solution *I use* is to go back and sync it. It works.

Post by nospam

Post by Keith Thompson

Post by nospam
computers are there to do work *for* you.

^^this^^

Post by Keith Thompson
I'm not going to go into too much detail about *how* I synchronize my
password database

you already said how: you manually sync it.

There's more to it than that.

Post by nospam
automatically syncing means a new or changed entry is available on
other devices within seconds, no additional effort required.

I know what "automatically syncing" means. You haven't said anything
about how to do that. (I use Ubuntu, Windows, and Android.)

For my situation, I've decided (so far) that automation would be more
effort than it's worth *for me*. I'm willing to change my mind if
presented with new information. If you have none to offer, that's fine.

[nospam]

Post by Keith Thompson

Post by nospam

Post by Keith Thompson

Post by nospam

Post by Keith Thompson

Post by Lewis

Post by Keith Thompson
Keeping the database synchronized across devices is left as an exercise.

And that means you end up with not having the password you need unless
you limit your use of the Internet to a single machine.

Not if I replicate the encrypted database across the machines I use.
I understand that that could open a potential security hole if
I'm not sufficiently careful. But if I *am* sufficiently careful,
my database doesn't exist on anyone else's server.

and if you forget to sync it, murphy's law states that you won't have
the password you need.

Of course. That happens now and then. The solution is to go back and
sync it.

no, the solution is to have it automatically sync.

The solution *I use* is to go back and sync it. It works.

except when it doesn't, which you admit happens 'now and then'.

Post by Keith Thompson

Post by nospam

Post by Keith Thompson

Post by nospam
computers are there to do work *for* you.

^^this^^

Post by Keith Thompson
I'm not going to go into too much detail about *how* I synchronize my
password database

you already said how: you manually sync it.

There's more to it than that.

those details are irrelevant. the fact is that it's manual which means
it's a lot of extra work with the opportunity to screw it up.

i suspect whatever system you're using does not properly handle merges.

Post by Keith Thompson

Post by nospam
automatically syncing means a new or changed entry is available on
other devices within seconds, no additional effort required.

I know what "automatically syncing" means.

then why not use it?

Post by Keith Thompson
You haven't said anything
about how to do that. (I use Ubuntu, Windows, and Android.)

what's to know? choose a password manager that offers automatic sync.
done.

Post by Keith Thompson
For my situation, I've decided (so far) that automation would be more
effort than it's worth *for me*. I'm willing to change my mind if
presented with new information. If you have none to offer, that's fine.

what effort? download a new password manager app that offers syncing,
then export passwords from your existing password manager and import
them to the new one. it should take a minute or two.

[Keith Thompson]

Post by nospam

Post by Keith Thompson

Post by nospam

Post by Keith Thompson

Post by nospam

Post by Keith Thompson

Post by Lewis

Post by Keith Thompson
Keeping the database synchronized across devices is left as an
exercise.

And that means you end up with not having the password you need unless
you limit your use of the Internet to a single machine.

Not if I replicate the encrypted database across the machines I use.
I understand that that could open a potential security hole if
I'm not sufficiently careful. But if I *am* sufficiently careful,
my database doesn't exist on anyone else's server.

and if you forget to sync it, murphy's law states that you won't have
the password you need.

Of course. That happens now and then. The solution is to go back and
sync it.

no, the solution is to have it automatically sync.

The solution *I use* is to go back and sync it. It works.

except when it doesn't, which you admit happens 'now and then'.

Post by Keith Thompson

Post by nospam

Post by Keith Thompson

Post by nospam
computers are there to do work *for* you.

^^this^^

Post by Keith Thompson
I'm not going to go into too much detail about *how* I synchronize my
password database

you already said how: you manually sync it.

There's more to it than that.

those details are irrelevant. the fact is that it's manual which means
it's a lot of extra work with the opportunity to screw it up.
i suspect whatever system you're using does not properly handle merges.

It does not, and I did run into a problem with that not too long ago.
It took some manual work to resolve it.

Post by nospam

Post by Keith Thompson

Post by nospam
automatically syncing means a new or changed entry is available on
other devices within seconds, no additional effort required.

I know what "automatically syncing" means.

then why not use it?

Post by Keith Thompson
You haven't said anything
about how to do that. (I use Ubuntu, Windows, and Android.)

what's to know? choose a password manager that offers automatic sync.
done.

I've spent *some* time looking into alternatives, but perhaps not
enough. The password manager I use uses a local file. Others I've
looked at store data "in the cloud", i.e., on someone else's computer.
I've decided *for myself* that I don't want to store my passwords in the
cloud, and that I'm willing to pay the price of more difficult local
updates.

Post by nospam

Post by Keith Thompson
For my situation, I've decided (so far) that automation would be more
effort than it's worth *for me*. I'm willing to change my mind if
presented with new information. If you have none to offer, that's fine.

what effort? download a new password manager app that offers syncing,
then export passwords from your existing password manager and import
them to the new one. it should take a minute or two.

And install it on all my devices, and learn how to use it -- plus
convincing myself that it's sufficiently secure. Much more than
"a minute or two".

Is there a password manager that supports automatic sync among Linux,
Android, and Windows *without* storing any of my information in the
cloud (i.e., on someone else's computer)? (It's possible that I hadn't
made it clear enough that I don't want to use cloud storage.)

[nospam]

Post by Keith Thompson

Post by nospam

Post by Keith Thompson

Post by nospam

Post by Keith Thompson

Post by nospam

Post by Keith Thompson

Post by Lewis

Post by Keith Thompson
Keeping the database synchronized across devices is left as an
exercise.

And that means you end up with not having the password you need
unless
you limit your use of the Internet to a single machine.

Not if I replicate the encrypted database across the machines I use.
I understand that that could open a potential security hole if
I'm not sufficiently careful. But if I *am* sufficiently careful,
my database doesn't exist on anyone else's server.

and if you forget to sync it, murphy's law states that you won't have
the password you need.

Of course. That happens now and then. The solution is to go back and
sync it.

no, the solution is to have it automatically sync.

The solution *I use* is to go back and sync it. It works.

except when it doesn't, which you admit happens 'now and then'.

Post by Keith Thompson

Post by nospam

Post by Keith Thompson

Post by nospam
computers are there to do work *for* you.

^^this^^

Post by Keith Thompson
I'm not going to go into too much detail about *how* I synchronize my
password database

you already said how: you manually sync it.

There's more to it than that.

those details are irrelevant. the fact is that it's manual which means
it's a lot of extra work with the opportunity to screw it up.
i suspect whatever system you're using does not properly handle merges.

It does not, and I did run into a problem with that not too long ago.
It took some manual work to resolve it.

Post by nospam

Post by Keith Thompson

Post by nospam
automatically syncing means a new or changed entry is available on
other devices within seconds, no additional effort required.

I know what "automatically syncing" means.

then why not use it?

Post by Keith Thompson
You haven't said anything
about how to do that. (I use Ubuntu, Windows, and Android.)

what's to know? choose a password manager that offers automatic sync.
done.

I've spent *some* time looking into alternatives, but perhaps not
enough. The password manager I use uses a local file. Others I've
looked at store data "in the cloud", i.e., on someone else's computer.
I've decided *for myself* that I don't want to store my passwords in the
cloud, and that I'm willing to pay the price of more difficult local
updates.

some store it in the cloud, some store it on a local server. some do
either.

another option is set up a personal cloud hosted on your own hardware,
over which you have full control, which has many other benefits than
just password syncing.

in every case, it's encrypted, so even if someone did gain access to
the database, they won't get the actual passwords, at least not without
a shitload of effort trying to crack it (assuming you used a good
master passphrase).

keep in mind that any of your hardware is lost or stolen, someone will
have easy access to that database, no hacking of cloud servers
required.

nothing is 100% safe.

Post by Keith Thompson

Post by nospam

Post by Keith Thompson
For my situation, I've decided (so far) that automation would be more
effort than it's worth *for me*. I'm willing to change my mind if
presented with new information. If you have none to offer, that's fine.

what effort? download a new password manager app that offers syncing,
then export passwords from your existing password manager and import
them to the new one. it should take a minute or two.

And install it on all my devices, and learn how to use it -- plus
convincing myself that it's sufficiently secure. Much more than
"a minute or two".

true, but that's the easy part. download a bunch, try them out, put in
some random passwords and see which ones fit your workflow.

Post by Keith Thompson
Is there a password manager that supports automatic sync among Linux,
Android, and Windows *without* storing any of my information in the
cloud (i.e., on someone else's computer)? (It's possible that I hadn't
made it clear enough that I don't want to use cloud storage.)

there are several, each with different mixes of features, some with
better integration than others, and only you can decide which one fits
your needs.

[Keith Thompson]

[...]

Post by nospam

Post by Keith Thompson
Is there a password manager that supports automatic sync among Linux,
Android, and Windows *without* storing any of my information in the
cloud (i.e., on someone else's computer)? (It's possible that I hadn't
made it clear enough that I don't want to use cloud storage.)

there are several, each with different mixes of features, some with
better integration than others, and only you can decide which one fits
your needs.

Are you unwilling to give examples? Is there one that you use (or do
you use a cloud solution)?

I tried KeePass a while ago, and it doesn't do what I want. (One
feature of the Android version of PasswordSave that I like is that it
implements a virtual keyboard, so passwords don't have to go through the
system clipboard.) Someone here mentioned KeePassXC, which I might try,
but I don't see an Android version.

I just found a reference to something called Syncthing, which I'll also
look into; it's a continuous file synchronization program, not
specifically related to passwords.

[nospam]

Post by Keith Thompson

Post by nospam

Post by Keith Thompson
Is there a password manager that supports automatic sync among Linux,
Android, and Windows *without* storing any of my information in the
cloud (i.e., on someone else's computer)? (It's possible that I hadn't
made it clear enough that I don't want to use cloud storage.)

there are several, each with different mixes of features, some with
better integration than others, and only you can decide which one fits
your needs.

Are you unwilling to give examples? Is there one that you use (or do
you use a cloud solution)?

i use 1password and keep everything on my devices, however, it does
sync via the cloud. there is (was) a way to sync locally but that had
some limitations and i'm not sure if that's even still an option.

they also offer a cloud version (their servers) but that's not required.

it does look like they now have linux support but i don't know how good
that is. that's relatively recent.

Post by Keith Thompson
I tried KeePass a while ago, and it doesn't do what I want. (One
feature of the Android version of PasswordSave that I like is that it
implements a virtual keyboard, so passwords don't have to go through the
system clipboard.) Someone here mentioned KeePassXC, which I might try,
but I don't see an Android version.

1password has a background process which directly communicates with
browser extension, skipping the clipboard entirely.

some use the system clipboard which is then auto-erased moments later.

Post by Keith Thompson
I just found a reference to something called Syncthing, which I'll also
look into; it's a continuous file synchronization program, not
specifically related to passwords.

syncthing is good. also check out nextcloud, which can be installed on
a variety of hardware as well as in a docker container or even a
raspberry pi (although that's not exactly fast).

[Keith Thompson]

Post by nospam

Post by Keith Thompson

Post by nospam

Post by Keith Thompson
Is there a password manager that supports automatic sync among Linux,
Android, and Windows *without* storing any of my information in the
cloud (i.e., on someone else's computer)? (It's possible that I hadn't
made it clear enough that I don't want to use cloud storage.)

there are several, each with different mixes of features, some with
better integration than others, and only you can decide which one fits
your needs.

Are you unwilling to give examples? Is there one that you use (or do
you use a cloud solution)?

i use 1password and keep everything on my devices, however, it does
sync via the cloud. there is (was) a way to sync locally but that had
some limitations and i'm not sure if that's even still an option.
they also offer a cloud version (their servers) but that's not required.
it does look like they now have linux support but i don't know how good
that is. that's relatively recent.

Post by Keith Thompson
I tried KeePass a while ago, and it doesn't do what I want. (One
feature of the Android version of PasswordSave that I like is that it
implements a virtual keyboard, so passwords don't have to go through the
system clipboard.) Someone here mentioned KeePassXC, which I might try,
but I don't see an Android version.

1password has a background process which directly communicates with
browser extension, skipping the clipboard entirely.

When I tried KeePass on Android, I didn't find a way to copy a password
or other text from KeePass to another arbitrary application. Possibly I
didn't spend enough time exploring it. Something that *only* uses a
browser extension would not be useful to me.

Post by nospam
some use the system clipboard which is then auto-erased moments later.

Post by Keith Thompson
I just found a reference to something called Syncthing, which I'll also
look into; it's a continuous file synchronization program, not
specifically related to passwords.

syncthing is good. also check out nextcloud, which can be installed on
a variety of hardware as well as in a docker container or even a
raspberry pi (although that's not exactly fast).

Yes, I have a NextCloud instance, but I'm not sure I want to store (even
encrypted) passwords on it.

[Unbreakable Disease]

Post by Keith Thompson

Post by nospam

Post by Keith Thompson

Post by nospam

Post by Keith Thompson
Is there a password manager that supports automatic sync among Linux,
Android, and Windows *without* storing any of my information in the
cloud (i.e., on someone else's computer)? (It's possible that I hadn't
made it clear enough that I don't want to use cloud storage.)

there are several, each with different mixes of features, some with
better integration than others, and only you can decide which one fits
your needs.

Are you unwilling to give examples? Is there one that you use (or do
you use a cloud solution)?

i use 1password and keep everything on my devices, however, it does
sync via the cloud. there is (was) a way to sync locally but that had
some limitations and i'm not sure if that's even still an option.
they also offer a cloud version (their servers) but that's not required.
it does look like they now have linux support but i don't know how good
that is. that's relatively recent.

Post by Keith Thompson
I tried KeePass a while ago, and it doesn't do what I want. (One
feature of the Android version of PasswordSave that I like is that it
implements a virtual keyboard, so passwords don't have to go through the
system clipboard.) Someone here mentioned KeePassXC, which I might try,
but I don't see an Android version.

1password has a background process which directly communicates with
browser extension, skipping the clipboard entirely.

When I tried KeePass on Android, I didn't find a way to copy a password
or other text from KeePass to another arbitrary application. Possibly I
didn't spend enough time exploring it. Something that *only* uses a
browser extension would not be useful to me.

Post by nospam
some use the system clipboard which is then auto-erased moments later.

Post by Keith Thompson
I just found a reference to something called Syncthing, which I'll also
look into; it's a continuous file synchronization program, not
specifically related to passwords.

syncthing is good. also check out nextcloud, which can be installed on
a variety of hardware as well as in a docker container or even a
raspberry pi (although that's not exactly fast).

Yes, I have a NextCloud instance, but I'm not sure I want to store (even
encrypted) passwords on it.

You can use Syncthing if you are paranoid. That would probably be the
best compromise between usability and security.

If you are even more paranoid, you can keep manually syncing, but keep
in mind that once you get malware or somebody takes a physical control
over your device, you are pwned anyway no matter how much security
measures you take.

[Rich]

Post by Keith Thompson
[...]

Post by nospam

Post by Keith Thompson
Is there a password manager that supports automatic sync among Linux,
Android, and Windows *without* storing any of my information in the
cloud (i.e., on someone else's computer)? (It's possible that I hadn't
made it clear enough that I don't want to use cloud storage.)

there are several, each with different mixes of features, some with
better integration than others, and only you can decide which one fits
your needs.

Are you unwilling to give examples? Is there one that you use (or do
you use a cloud solution)?
I tried KeePass a while ago, and it doesn't do what I want. (One
feature of the Android version of PasswordSave that I like is that it
implements a virtual keyboard, so passwords don't have to go through the
system clipboard.) Someone here mentioned KeePassXC, which I might try,
but I don't see an Android version.
I just found a reference to something called Syncthing, which I'll also
look into; it's a continuous file synchronization program, not
specifically related to passwords.

You mentioned password-gorilla in an earlier message. It contains a
"merge" feature that somewhat reduces the burden in manually
maintaining sync across devices.

[Scott Alfter]

Post by Keith Thompson
I tried KeePass a while ago, and it doesn't do what I want. (One
feature of the Android version of PasswordSave that I like is that it
implements a virtual keyboard, so passwords don't have to go through the
system clipboard.)

Keepass2Android does that. It interoperates just fine with KeePass, which I
run on Windows and Linux (it's a .NET binary, so it runs fine on both).

_/_
/ v \ Scott Alfter (remove the obvious to send mail)
(IIGS( https://alfter.us/ Top-posting!
\_^_/ >What's the most annoying thing on Usenet?

[Lewis]

Post by Keith Thompson
[...]

Post by nospam

Post by Keith Thompson
Is there a password manager that supports automatic sync among Linux,
Android, and Windows *without* storing any of my information in the
cloud (i.e., on someone else's computer)? (It's possible that I hadn't
made it clear enough that I don't want to use cloud storage.)

there are several, each with different mixes of features, some with
better integration than others, and only you can decide which one fits
your needs.

Are you unwilling to give examples? Is there one that you use (or do
you use a cloud solution)?

Examples have been given. You see to think that using a system that you
yourself admit is inferior and prone to failure is somehow a virtue, so
you are unlikely to care about other solutions and that holds up since
you have ignored the other solutions offered.

Post by Keith Thompson
I tried KeePass a while ago, and it doesn't do what I want.

Has anyone mentioned KeePass? I know I haven;ts since I have never used
it, and I don't recall anyone else mentioning it in this thread. I do
not recall that Keepass does syncing, you hae to sync the database
yourself.

Post by Keith Thompson
but I don't see an Android version.

If you are trusting Android to store your password files you should have
no issue with FAR more secure and tested cloud storage.

Post by Keith Thompson
I just found a reference to something called Syncthing, which I'll also
look into; it's a continuous file synchronization program, not
specifically related to passwords.

If it cannot manage merges, it is useless for password management.

[Keith Thompson]

Post by Lewis

Post by Keith Thompson
[...]

Post by nospam

Post by Keith Thompson
Is there a password manager that supports automatic sync among Linux,
Android, and Windows *without* storing any of my information in the
cloud (i.e., on someone else's computer)? (It's possible that I hadn't
made it clear enough that I don't want to use cloud storage.)

there are several, each with different mixes of features, some with
better integration than others, and only you can decide which one fits
your needs.

Are you unwilling to give examples? Is there one that you use (or do
you use a cloud solution)?

Examples have been given. You see to think that using a system that you
yourself admit is inferior and prone to failure is somehow a virtue, so
you are unlikely to care about other solutions and that holds up since
you have ignored the other solutions offered.

I don't believe anything I've written here could reasonably be read to
imply that I think the system I use is "somehow a virtue". It works for
me. I'm more than willing to consider better ideas.

I've had occasional problems with the setup I use. Those problems have
not included a loss of information and are not likely to.

Post by Lewis

Post by Keith Thompson
I tried KeePass a while ago, and it doesn't do what I want.

Has anyone mentioned KeePass? I know I haven;ts since I have never used
it, and I don't recall anyone else mentioning it in this thread. I do
not recall that Keepass does syncing, you hae to sync the database
yourself.

Yes, I mentioned KeePass. Am I not allowed to mention something that
wasn't mentioned before?

Post by Lewis

Post by Keith Thompson
but I don't see an Android version.

If you are trusting Android to store your password files you should have
no issue with FAR more secure and tested cloud storage.

Opinion noted.

"Cloud storage" is not a single thing that is "secure and tested". It's
likely that some of the cloud storage solutions are sufficiently secure,
but I haven't been using cloud storage and am hesitant to start, since,
as I've said several times, my current system works for me.

Post by Lewis

Post by Keith Thompson
I just found a reference to something called Syncthing, which I'll also
look into; it's a continuous file synchronization program, not
specifically related to passwords.

If it cannot manage merges, it is useless for password management.

I have not found that to be the case.

Perhaps you could offer advice rather than just shooting down ideas you
don't like.

[Lewis]

Post by Keith Thompson
[...]

Post by Lewis

Post by Keith Thompson
I use PasswordSafe https://pwsafe.org/ .
It's a Windows application with clones available for Android, iOS, and Mac.
There's a Linux version, available as "passwordsafe" in the Ubuntu repos
(and presumably others), but I haven't gotten it to work.
password-gorilla is a Linux application that uses the same file format
and should be available in the package repos for most distributions.
Keeping the database synchronized across devices is left as an exercise.

And that means you end up with not having the password you need unless
you limit your use of the Internet to a single machine.

Not if I replicate the encrypted database across the machines I use.

Yes, because you are perfect and will ALWAYS sync on EVERY change.

Not going to happen. You will forget and you will will be caught out
without some recent change or update because you are NOT perfect. Sorry,
but those are just facts.

Post by Keith Thompson
I understand that that could open a potential security hole if
I'm not sufficiently careful. But if I *am* sufficiently careful,
my database doesn't exist on anyone else's server.

Whopdie doo. That doesn’t make it more secure, you know, just more
obscure, more fragile, more prone to failure, and more likely that you
do not have the information you need when you need it.

[Unbreakable Disease]

Post by Lewis

Post by Keith Thompson
[...]

Post by Lewis

Post by Keith Thompson
I use PasswordSafe https://pwsafe.org/ .
It's a Windows application with clones available for Android, iOS, and Mac.
There's a Linux version, available as "passwordsafe" in the Ubuntu repos
(and presumably others), but I haven't gotten it to work.
password-gorilla is a Linux application that uses the same file format
and should be available in the package repos for most distributions.
Keeping the database synchronized across devices is left as an exercise.

And that means you end up with not having the password you need unless
you limit your use of the Internet to a single machine.

Not if I replicate the encrypted database across the machines I use.

Yes, because you are perfect and will ALWAYS sync on EVERY change.
Not going to happen. You will forget and you will will be caught out
without some recent change or update because you are NOT perfect. Sorry,
but those are just facts.

Post by Keith Thompson
I understand that that could open a potential security hole if
I'm not sufficiently careful. But if I *am* sufficiently careful,
my database doesn't exist on anyone else's server.

Whopdie doo. That doesn’t make it more secure, you know, just more
obscure, more fragile, more prone to failure, and more likely that you
do not have the information you need when you need it.

Well, the biggest security hole is most of the time an user itself.
You'd be better off syncing your password manager file through the cloud.

[Otto J. Makela]

Post by Wade Garrett
I'd like to use a password manager but I'm not comfortable with that
data being on some server somewhere- allegedly encrypted or not.
If there's one that keeps the data just on the local machine, I'd be
interested.

I believe the classic "pass" (based on pgp) is available on various Unix
implementations, including MacOS.

https://www.passwordstore.org/

[Bob Eager]

Post by Otto J. Makela

Post by Wade Garrett
I'd like to use a password manager but I'm not comfortable with that
data being on some server somewhere- allegedly encrypted or not.
If there's one that keeps the data just on the local machine, I'd be
interested.

I believe the classic "pass" (based on pgp) is available on various Unix
implementations, including MacOS.
https://www.passwordstore.org/

Indeed. I use it all the time. And it would be easy to do automatic
replication to anything that supported a shell.

[Lewis]

Post by Bob Eager

Post by Otto J. Makela

Post by Wade Garrett
I'd like to use a password manager but I'm not comfortable with that
data being on some server somewhere- allegedly encrypted or not.
If there's one that keeps the data just on the local machine, I'd be
interested.

I believe the classic "pass" (based on pgp) is available on various Unix
implementations, including MacOS.
https://www.passwordstore.org/

Indeed. I use it all the time. And it would be easy to do automatic
replication to anything that supported a shell.

I find this works well if I don't happen to have 1Password available
(like on a remote machine, for example)

uuidgen| sha256sum| cut -c -24

(or any number from 16 on up to 64, though i do not need a 64 hex digit
password, ever.)

But I add those passwords to my password manager immediately, of course.

[Bob Eager]

Post by Lewis

Post by Bob Eager

Post by Otto J. Makela

Post by Wade Garrett
I'd like to use a password manager but I'm not comfortable with that
data being on some server somewhere- allegedly encrypted or not.
If there's one that keeps the data just on the local machine, I'd be
interested.

I believe the classic "pass" (based on pgp) is available on various
Unix implementations, including MacOS.
https://www.passwordstore.org/

Indeed. I use it all the time. And it would be easy to do automatic
replication to anything that supported a shell.

I find this works well if I don't happen to have 1Password available
(like on a remote machine, for example)
uuidgen| sha256sum| cut -c -24
(or any number from 16 on up to 64, though i do not need a 64 hex digit
password, ever.)
But I add those passwords to my password manager immediately, of course.

Mine, in that situation, is:

dd if=/dev/random count=1 bs=16 2>/dev/null | b64encode - | \
sed -e 's/=*$//' -e '/^begin/d' -e '/^$/d'

[Lewis]

Post by Bob Eager

Post by Lewis

Post by Bob Eager

Post by Otto J. Makela

Post by Wade Garrett
I'd like to use a password manager but I'm not comfortable with that
data being on some server somewhere- allegedly encrypted or not.
If there's one that keeps the data just on the local machine, I'd be
interested.

I believe the classic "pass" (based on pgp) is available on various
Unix implementations, including MacOS.
https://www.passwordstore.org/

Indeed. I use it all the time. And it would be easy to do automatic
replication to anything that supported a shell.

I find this works well if I don't happen to have 1Password available
(like on a remote machine, for example)
uuidgen| sha256sum| cut -c -24
(or any number from 16 on up to 64, though i do not need a 64 hex digit
password, ever.)
But I add those passwords to my password manager immediately, of course.

dd if=/dev/random count=1 bs=16 2>/dev/null | b64encode - | \
sed -e 's/=*$//' -e '/^begin/d' -e '/^$/d'

There's no "b64encode" on my macOS.

[Bob Eager]

Post by Lewis

Post by Bob Eager

Post by Lewis

Post by Bob Eager

Post by Otto J. Makela

Post by Wade Garrett
I'd like to use a password manager but I'm not comfortable with
that data being on some server somewhere- allegedly encrypted or
not.
If there's one that keeps the data just on the local machine, I'd
be interested.

I believe the classic "pass" (based on pgp) is available on various
Unix implementations, including MacOS.
https://www.passwordstore.org/

Indeed. I use it all the time. And it would be easy to do automatic
replication to anything that supported a shell.

I find this works well if I don't happen to have 1Password available
(like on a remote machine, for example)
uuidgen| sha256sum| cut -c -24
(or any number from 16 on up to 64, though i do not need a 64 hex
digit password, ever.)
But I add those passwords to my password manager immediately, of course.

dd if=/dev/random count=1 bs=16 2>/dev/null | b64encode - | \
sed -e 's/=*$//' -e '/^begin/d' -e '/^$/d'

There's no "b64encode" on my macOS.

Sorry - it's a FreeBSD command, equivalent to uuencode -m (which you may
or may not have). I like the general idea of using /dev/random, though.

[Wade Garrett]

Post by Otto J. Makela

Post by Wade Garrett
I'd like to use a password manager but I'm not comfortable with that
data being on some server somewhere- allegedly encrypted or not.
If there's one that keeps the data just on the local machine, I'd be
interested.

I believe the classic "pass" (based on pgp) is available on various Unix
implementations, including MacOS.
https://www.passwordstore.org/

Thanks- but use/setup looks a bit above my pay grade :-)

[Alan Browne]

Post by Wade Garrett

Post by Unbreakable Disease
My 50-year old brain isn't capable of memorizing that many passwords
anymore, so I use KeePassXC. I keep basically everything here
including my financial passwords and credit card data, with the
exception of passwords that I would have to remember anyway (full-disk
encryption, login, primary e-mail passwords, etc.)
Overall, it's much easier to remember and much harder to forget 10
complicated passwords that you use everyday than 100+ simple passwords
you use every month or even less.
I can't speak about Windows version of KeePass, because with the
exception of playing games not available on Macintosh, I haven't used
one since Windows 95 days.

I'd like to use a password manager but I'm not comfortable with that
data being on some server somewhere- allegedly encrypted or not.

256 bit AES encryption not good enough for you?

Post by Wade Garrett
If there's one that keeps the data just on the local machine, I'd be
interested.

1Password has that option as well as using a local server.

Post by Wade Garrett
I keep a spreadsheet with my PWs on my FileVault-encrypted iMac hard
drive and copy/paste to logins that need to stay secure- financial,
vendors, healthcare, etc.

Not very secure. Of course it's your house and that has some security.

But far better to use a manager - even if only on your machine.

Post by Wade Garrett
I always log out before leaving the house.

My computer does that for me ... well, might be a few minutes after I
leave...

[Keith Thompson]

[...]

Post by Alan Browne

Post by Wade Garrett
I'd like to use a password manager but I'm not comfortable with that
data being on some server somewhere- allegedly encrypted or not.

256 bit AES encryption not good enough for you?

The weak link is not the encryption algorithm, but the key used to
decrypt the data.

[...]

[nospam]

Post by Keith Thompson

Post by Alan Browne

Post by Wade Garrett
I'd like to use a password manager but I'm not comfortable with that
data being on some server somewhere- allegedly encrypted or not.

256 bit AES encryption not good enough for you?

The weak link is not the encryption algorithm, but the key used to
decrypt the data.

that's up to you to choose something complex.

hint: don't use 'password123'

[Lewis]

Post by Keith Thompson
[...]

Post by Alan Browne

Post by Wade Garrett
I'd like to use a password manager but I'm not comfortable with that
data being on some server somewhere- allegedly encrypted or not.

256 bit AES encryption not good enough for you?

The weak link is not the encryption algorithm, but the key used to
decrypt the data.

Which the user chooses.

Have you done any actual research into this or have you just read
know-nothing clickbait shit?

[Keith Thompson]

Post by Lewis

Post by Keith Thompson
[...]

Post by Alan Browne

Post by Wade Garrett
I'd like to use a password manager but I'm not comfortable with that
data being on some server somewhere- allegedly encrypted or not.

256 bit AES encryption not good enough for you?

The weak link is not the encryption algorithm, but the key used to
decrypt the data.

Which the user chooses.

Yes, of course.

Post by Lewis
Have you done any actual research into this or have you just read
know-nothing clickbait shit?

Be less rude. If I'm wrong, say so and tell us what's right.

[Richard Kettlewell]

Post by Keith Thompson
[...]

Post by Alan Browne

Post by Wade Garrett
I'd like to use a password manager but I'm not comfortable with that
data being on some server somewhere- allegedly encrypted or not.

256 bit AES encryption not good enough for you?

The weak link is not the encryption algorithm, but the key used to
decrypt the data.

There’s lots of possible weak links.

- The key may be stored insecurely.
- If the key is derived from a password then the user may choose a weak
password.
- It’s easy to make a bad choice of KDF.
- The choice of cipher mode matters.
- For some cipher modes, how you choose the parameters matters.
- Some ciphers (including AES) are prone to side channels.

How much each of these matters is situational, but “256 bit AES
encryption” is not a complete description and may indeed not be good
enough, depending on the missing details.

[Lewis]

Post by Richard Kettlewell

Post by Keith Thompson
[...]

Post by Alan Browne

Post by Wade Garrett
I'd like to use a password manager but I'm not comfortable with that
data being on some server somewhere- allegedly encrypted or not.

256 bit AES encryption not good enough for you?

The weak link is not the encryption algorithm, but the key used to
decrypt the data.

There’s lots of possible weak links.
- The key may be stored insecurely.

The key is not stored at all. The key is the password that that the user
selects.

Post by Richard Kettlewell
- If the key is derived from a password then the user may choose a weak
password.

Nothing anyone can do about that.

Post by Richard Kettlewell
- It’s easy to make a bad choice of KDF.
- The choice of cipher mode matters.

Which is why these tools are audited by third parties and you should
only use tools that have been audited.

Post by Richard Kettlewell
- For some cipher modes, how you choose the parameters matters.

Ibid.

Post by Richard Kettlewell
- Some ciphers (including AES) are prone to side channels.

Ibid.

Post by Richard Kettlewell
How much each of these matters is situational, but “256 bit AES
encryption” is not a complete description and may indeed not be good
enough, depending on the missing details.

Ibid.

[Alan Browne]

Post by Keith Thompson
[...]

Post by Alan Browne

Post by Wade Garrett
I'd like to use a password manager but I'm not comfortable with that
data being on some server somewhere- allegedly encrypted or not.

256 bit AES encryption not good enough for you?

The weak link is not the encryption algorithm, but the key used to
decrypt the data.

First off there is a difference between a "key" and a "password".

If the password is "a", the key will still be extremely strong at 256
bits and would look completely different to the key for password "b".
Of course that is not a recommendation.

As to passwords, it's trivial to make strong and easy to remember
passwords with a few misspelled words, mixed case, some symbols and digits.

[Keith Thompson]

Post by Alan Browne

Post by Keith Thompson
[...]

Post by Alan Browne

Post by Wade Garrett
I'd like to use a password manager but I'm not comfortable with that
data being on some server somewhere- allegedly encrypted or not.

256 bit AES encryption not good enough for you?

The weak link is not the encryption algorithm, but the key used to
decrypt the data.

First off there is a difference between a "key" and a "password".

Sure (but sometimes they can be the same, right?).

Post by Alan Browne
If the password is "a", the key will still be extremely strong at 256
bits and would look completely different to the key for password "b".
Of course that is not a recommendation.

Are you talking about a key being algorithmically derived from the
password? If the string "a" is all the information you need to unlock
an encrypted file, then an attacker is going to be able to unlock it,
whether it first has to be translated to a 256-bit key or not. (Or I'm
missing something.)

Post by Alan Browne
As to passwords, it's trivial to make strong and easy to remember
passwords with a few misspelled words, mixed case, some symbols and digits.

Sure. It's also easy for a password to leak in any of a number of ways.

[Jolly Roger]

Post by Unbreakable Disease
My 50-year old brain isn't capable of memorizing that many passwords
anymore, so I use KeePassXC. I keep basically everything here
including my financial passwords and credit card data, with the
exception of passwords that I would have to remember anyway (full-disk
encryption, login, primary e-mail passwords, etc.)
Overall, it's much easier to remember and much harder to forget 10
complicated passwords that you use everyday than 100+ simple passwords
you use every month or even less.
I can't speak about Windows version of KeePass, because with the
exception of playing games not available on Macintosh, I haven't used
one since Windows 95 days.

I don't see anything wrong with using Apple's built-in Keychain password
manager. The only drawback it has is that it's Apple-only, and that has
never been a reason not to use it for me. Most of my family uses it and
is happy with it.

The iCloud Keychain service is optional and seamlessly synchronizes your
password database between all of your Apple devices. It is also highly
encrypted using end-to-end encryption so that it cannot be accessed by
anyone but you.

Others here will recommend cross-platform solutions, but if you have no
need for synchronizing your password database to other platforms,
Apple's built-in Keychain is quite a secure and capable solution, and
it's integrated with all of Apple's operating systems by default.

[Unbreakable Disease]

Post by Jolly Roger

Post by Unbreakable Disease
My 50-year old brain isn't capable of memorizing that many passwords
anymore, so I use KeePassXC. I keep basically everything here
including my financial passwords and credit card data, with the
exception of passwords that I would have to remember anyway (full-disk
encryption, login, primary e-mail passwords, etc.)
Overall, it's much easier to remember and much harder to forget 10
complicated passwords that you use everyday than 100+ simple passwords
you use every month or even less.
I can't speak about Windows version of KeePass, because with the
exception of playing games not available on Macintosh, I haven't used
one since Windows 95 days.

I don't see anything wrong with using Apple's built-in Keychain password
manager. The only drawback it has is that it's Apple-only, and that has
never been a reason not to use it for me. Most of my family uses it and
is happy with it.
The iCloud Keychain service is optional and seamlessly synchronizes your
password database between all of your Apple devices. It is also highly
encrypted using end-to-end encryption so that it cannot be accessed by
anyone but you.
Others here will recommend cross-platform solutions, but if you have no
need for synchronizing your password database to other platforms,
Apple's built-in Keychain is quite a secure and capable solution, and
it's integrated with all of Apple's operating systems by default.

I need to use my database on both Mac OS and Linux, so I use KeePassXC.
And what if you are left with the Keychain file and Apple goes south?
How you will migrate to KeePassXC? Your file is going to be nothing more
than useless junk, so at least call Apple or e-mail Tim Cook directly at
***@apple.com to allow to export Keychain data to other password
managers. I doubt that Apple will listen to us, but trying is better
than simply giving up.

[Jolly Roger]

Post by Unbreakable Disease

Post by Jolly Roger

Post by Unbreakable Disease
My 50-year old brain isn't capable of memorizing that many passwords
anymore, so I use KeePassXC. I keep basically everything here
including my financial passwords and credit card data, with the
exception of passwords that I would have to remember anyway
(full-disk encryption, login, primary e-mail passwords, etc.)
Overall, it's much easier to remember and much harder to forget 10
complicated passwords that you use everyday than 100+ simple
passwords you use every month or even less.
I can't speak about Windows version of KeePass, because with the
exception of playing games not available on Macintosh, I haven't
used one since Windows 95 days.

I don't see anything wrong with using Apple's built-in Keychain
password manager. The only drawback it has is that it's Apple-only,
and that has never been a reason not to use it for me. Most of my
family uses it and is happy with it.
The iCloud Keychain service is optional and seamlessly synchronizes
your password database between all of your Apple devices. It is also
highly encrypted using end-to-end encryption so that it cannot be
accessed by anyone but you.
Others here will recommend cross-platform solutions, but if you have
no need for synchronizing your password database to other platforms,
Apple's built-in Keychain is quite a secure and capable solution, and
it's integrated with all of Apple's operating systems by default.

I need to use my database on both Mac OS and Linux, so I use
KeePassXC.

And I don't need to use my password database on Linux, so I use
Keychain. With Keychain. I have all of my passwords with me on my iPhone
at all times anyway. WHen I need a password on my Linux, Windows, etc
systems, I can just pick up my phone and there it is. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

We can go back and forth like this all day if it suits you, but I don't
really see the point.

Post by Unbreakable Disease
And what if you are left with the Keychain file and Apple goes south?

Apple isn't going South anytime soon. That's a pipe dream.

Post by Unbreakable Disease
How you will migrate to KeePassXC?

In your hypothetical scenario, I'd have moved my passwords out of
Keychain and into something better long before Apple goes South.

Post by Unbreakable Disease
Your file is going to be nothing more than useless junk

I mean, as long as we are daydreaming, the same could be said if
KeePassXC mysteriously went South overnight.

Back here in the real world, though, things don't just vanish overnight,
and we have plenty of notice before such things happen, giving us ample
time to move to something better. Such is the way with natural
obsolescence - it tends to happen rather slowly.

Post by Unbreakable Disease
so at least call Apple or e-mail Tim Cook directly at
managers. I doubt that Apple will listen to us, but trying is better
than simply giving up.

What are you going on about? Get a grip, my dude.

It's great that you have the option of using KeePass. Am I afforded the
option of *not* using it in your world, or is that absolutely not
allowed?

[Oregonian Haruspex]

I use an old electronic organizer to store my passwords, and I keep a
printed hard copy locked in my safe. I don’t trust anything more
technological than that combination.

[%]

Post by Oregonian Haruspex
I use an old electronic organizer to store my passwords, and I keep a
printed hard copy locked in my safe. I don’t trust anything more
technological than that combination.

i don't use anything i have no passwords

[Unbreakable Disease]

Post by %

Post by Oregonian Haruspex
I use an old electronic organizer to store my passwords, and I keep a
printed hard copy locked in my safe. I don’t trust anything more
technological than that combination.

i don't use anything i have no passwords

Because you instead use your DNA to log in to your accounts.

[Alan Browne]

Post by Unbreakable Disease
My 50-year old brain isn't capable of memorizing that many passwords
anymore, so I use KeePassXC. I keep basically everything here including
my financial passwords and credit card data, with the exception of
passwords that I would have to remember anyway (full-disk encryption,
login, primary e-mail passwords, etc.)
Overall, it's much easier to remember and much harder to forget 10
complicated passwords that you use everyday than 100+ simple passwords
you use every month or even less.
I can't speak about Windows version of KeePass, because with the
exception of playing games not available on Macintosh, I haven't used
one since Windows 95 days.

I use 1Password. Be careful of the option you select. They are leaning
towards "rent" model which I despise.

You can keep the encrypted master file on iCloud or Dropbox so it's
available to all of your devices. Avoid the 'rent' model if possible.

[Unbreakable Disease]

Post by Unbreakable Disease
My 50-year old brain isn't capable of memorizing that many passwords
anymore, so I use KeePassXC. I keep basically everything here
including my financial passwords and credit card data, with the
exception of passwords that I would have to remember anyway (full-disk
encryption, login, primary e-mail passwords, etc.)
Overall, it's much easier to remember and much harder to forget 10
complicated passwords that you use everyday than 100+ simple passwords
you use every month or even less.
I can't speak about Windows version of KeePass, because with the
exception of playing games not available on Macintosh, I haven't used
one since Windows 95 days.

I use 1Password.  Be careful of the option you select.  They are leaning
towards "rent" model which I despise.
You can keep the encrypted master file on iCloud or Dropbox so it's
available to all of your devices.  Avoid the 'rent' model if possible.

You can use any FOSS password manager. For me, anything that is not FOSS
is automatically suspicious (including 1Password). I don't trust
proprietary software and try to reduce its usage to minimum.

[Alan Browne]

Post by Unbreakable Disease

Post by Alan Browne
You can keep the encrypted master file on iCloud or Dropbox so it's
available to all of your devices.  Avoid the 'rent' model if possible.

You can use any FOSS password manager. For me, anything that is not FOSS
is automatically suspicious (including 1Password). I don't trust
proprietary software and try to reduce its usage to minimum.

1Password has proven itself over time. I like companies that pay
employees to do things right when it's a critical component.

Free? You get what you pay for. So unless it's a wildly widespread and
popular package with many people maintaining it, it tends to crud.

The Gimp refers.

[Unbreakable Disease]

Post by Unbreakable Disease

Post by Alan Browne
You can keep the encrypted master file on iCloud or Dropbox so it's
available to all of your devices.  Avoid the 'rent' model if possible.

You can use any FOSS password manager. For me, anything that is not
FOSS is automatically suspicious (including 1Password). I don't trust
proprietary software and try to reduce its usage to minimum.

1Password has proven itself over time.  I like companies that pay
employees to do things right when it's a critical component.
Free?  You get what you pay for.  So unless it's a wildly widespread and
popular package with many people maintaining it, it tends to crud.
The Gimp refers.

Well, I like free software. It's not always of the same quality as
commercial software, but at least its security can be tested by many
experts in the industry easily as anyone has access to the source code.
Anyone can read and edit it... understanding and making it work not so much.

[Dreamer In Colore]

On Mon, 12 Jul 2021 09:53:00 +0000, Unbreakable Disease

Post by Unbreakable Disease
My 50-year old brain isn't capable of memorizing that many passwords
anymore, so I use KeePassXC. I keep basically everything here including
my financial passwords and credit card data, with the exception of
passwords that I would have to remember anyway (full-disk encryption,
login, primary e-mail passwords, etc.)
Overall, it's much easier to remember and much harder to forget 10
complicated passwords that you use everyday than 100+ simple passwords
you use every month or even less.
I can't speak about Windows version of KeePass, because with the
exception of playing games not available on Macintosh, I haven't used
one since Windows 95 days.

For what it's worth, I like LastPass. I'm not crazy about the fact
that I can't use it on multiple devices without having to pay for it,
but I can't begrudge the software developers over there the right to
earn a living.

The best strengths in current password technology are in passphrases:

https://useapassphrase.com

There's some great stats in there, such as the amount of time it takes
to crack common spatial word passwords such as "qwerty" or "aaaaaa"...
10 milliseconds.

Or how long it takes to crack a password that's a date like
"03261981"... 2.213 seconds.

However, if you use a sequence of four randomly chosen words like
"mergers decade labeled manager", it'll take 6 million centuries to
crack.

So.

I've converted all my passwords to sequences of four to six words; and
I have an email account at a provider that I've never used to send
email to anyone, or to use as the id for any website. There, I have a
draft of an email saved that holds the information.

I now only need to remember one password, and I can get to everything.
As for the remote chance that the email provider will cease to exist,
I made backup accounts with other major providers, because paranoia.

I don't use email apps to access my password storage account; and I
use Tor to get to it for the sake of anonymity. I'd be fairly
impressed if someone got through that level of security, and it's
probably overkill, but why take the risk?

While I'm at it... does everyone know about

https://haveibeenpwned.com

You can put your email address in there, and see if it's been involved
in any large-scale thefts. It's got records going back years, and I
was fairly shocked to see that my wife's account had been hacked years
ago.
--
Cheers,
Dreamer
AA 2306

"The fact that a believer is happier than a skeptic is no
more to the point than the fact that a drunken man is
happier than a sober one. The happiness of credulity is a
cheap and dangerous quality of happiness, and by no means
a necessity of life."

George Bernard Shaw
Androcles and the Lion

[Keith Thompson]

Post by Dreamer In Colore
On Mon, 12 Jul 2021 09:53:00 +0000, Unbreakable Disease

Post by Unbreakable Disease
My 50-year old brain isn't capable of memorizing that many passwords
anymore, so I use KeePassXC. I keep basically everything here including
my financial passwords and credit card data, with the exception of
passwords that I would have to remember anyway (full-disk encryption,
login, primary e-mail passwords, etc.)
Overall, it's much easier to remember and much harder to forget 10
complicated passwords that you use everyday than 100+ simple passwords
you use every month or even less.
I can't speak about Windows version of KeePass, because with the
exception of playing games not available on Macintosh, I haven't used
one since Windows 95 days.

For what it's worth, I like LastPass. I'm not crazy about the fact
that I can't use it on multiple devices without having to pay for it,
but I can't begrudge the software developers over there the right to
earn a living.
https://useapassphrase.com
There's some great stats in there, such as the amount of time it takes
to crack common spatial word passwords such as "qwerty" or "aaaaaa"...
10 milliseconds.
Or how long it takes to crack a password that's a date like
"03261981"... 2.213 seconds.
However, if you use a sequence of four randomly chosen words like
"mergers decade labeled manager", it'll take 6 million centuries to
crack.
So.
I've converted all my passwords to sequences of four to six words; and
I have an email account at a provider that I've never used to send
email to anyone, or to use as the id for any website. There, I have a
draft of an email saved that holds the information.
I now only need to remember one password, and I can get to everything.
As for the remote chance that the email provider will cease to exist,
I made backup accounts with other major providers, because paranoia.
I don't use email apps to access my password storage account; and I
use Tor to get to it for the sake of anonymity. I'd be fairly
impressed if someone got through that level of security, and it's
probably overkill, but why take the risk?
While I'm at it... does everyone know about
https://haveibeenpwned.com
You can put your email address in there, and see if it's been involved
in any large-scale thefts. It's got records going back years, and I
was fairly shocked to see that my wife's account had been hacked years
ago.

I use a couple of programs I wrote to generate random passwords and
passphrases:

https://github.com/Keith-S-Thompson/random-passwords

It's two Perl scripts. gen-password generates random passwords with
specified criteria, and gen-passphrase generates xkcd-style random word
sequences using the system dictionary or a specified one.

[Bob Eager]

Post by Keith Thompson
I use a couple of programs I wrote to generate random passwords and
https://github.com/Keith-S-Thompson/random-passwords
It's two Perl scripts. gen-password generates random passwords with
specified criteria, and gen-passphrase generates xkcd-style random word
sequences using the system dictionary or a specified one.

I use dicewords and a set of casino dice.

[Ben Bacarisse]

Post by Bob Eager

Post by Keith Thompson
I use a couple of programs I wrote to generate random passwords and
https://github.com/Keith-S-Thompson/random-passwords
It's two Perl scripts. gen-password generates random passwords with
specified criteria, and gen-passphrase generates xkcd-style random word
sequences using the system dictionary or a specified one.

I use dicewords and a set of casino dice.

What do you do when the password is restricted as is so often the case?

[Bob Eager]

Post by Ben Bacarisse

Post by Bob Eager

Post by Keith Thompson
I use a couple of programs I wrote to generate random passwords and
https://github.com/Keith-S-Thompson/random-passwords
It's two Perl scripts. gen-password generates random passwords with
specified criteria, and gen-passphrase generates xkcd-style random
word sequences using the system dictionary or a specified one.

I use dicewords and a set of casino dice.

What do you do when the password is restricted as is so often the case?

It provides a basis to which I add stuff.

Jitsi does similar when choosing a random 'room' name, although I haven't
looked at the code.

[rtr]

On Mon, 12 Jul 2021 09:53:00 +0000

Post by Unbreakable Disease
My 50-year old brain isn't capable of memorizing that many passwords
anymore, so I use KeePassXC. I keep basically everything here
including my financial passwords and credit card data, with the
exception of passwords that I would have to remember anyway
(full-disk encryption, login, primary e-mail passwords, etc.)
Overall, it's much easier to remember and much harder to forget 10
complicated passwords that you use everyday than 100+ simple
passwords you use every month or even less.
I can't speak about Windows version of KeePass, because with the
exception of playing games not available on Macintosh, I haven't used
one since Windows 95 days.

I use Pass, which is a command-line only password manager using git and
gpg. It's good and lightweight.

[Bob Eager]

On Mon, 12 Jul 2021 09:53:00 +0000 Unbreakable Disease

Post by Unbreakable Disease
My 50-year old brain isn't capable of memorizing that many passwords
anymore, so I use KeePassXC. I keep basically everything here including
my financial passwords and credit card data, with the exception of
passwords that I would have to remember anyway (full-disk encryption,
login, primary e-mail passwords, etc.)
Overall, it's much easier to remember and much harder to forget 10
complicated passwords that you use everyday than 100+ simple passwords
you use every month or even less.
I can't speak about Windows version of KeePass, because with the
exception of playing games not available on Macintosh, I haven't used
one since Windows 95 days.

I use Pass, which is a command-line only password manager using git and
gpg. It's good and lightweight.

Yes, me too. It works well.

[Otto J. Makela]

Post by rtr
I use Pass, which is a command-line only password manager using git
and gpg. It's good and lightweight.

I also use it, though gpg is a bit clunky it helps me trust the cryptosystem.

[rtr]

On Sun, 28 Nov 2021 14:16:49 +0200

Post by Otto J. Makela

Post by rtr
I use Pass, which is a command-line only password manager using git
and gpg. It's good and lightweight.

I also use it, though gpg is a bit clunky it helps me trust the cryptosystem.

GPG is indeed a bit clunky and non-user friendly. It's really secure
but the complexity required to set it up makes it unapproachable.

It's only recently that I've gotten around maintaining a proper gpg key
setup when I was sorting out my password situation and looking at what
you can do with it it's certainly a waste that not all people are aware
or can even use this with ease.

[The Real Bev]

Post by Otto J. Makela

Post by rtr
I use Pass, which is a command-line only password manager using git
and gpg. It's good and lightweight.

I also use it, though gpg is a bit clunky it helps me trust the cryptosystem.

No. I have a text file for when browsers and email forget.

I'm increasingly annoyed by the 'security' features required by various
financial businesses. I don't want texts sent to my phone EVER -- email
is just fine. I don't want to have to respond to a text message on my
phone BEFORE I can accomplish a transaction on my computer. This shit
takes time. MY time.

[Anssi Saari]

Post by rtr
I use Pass, which is a command-line only password manager using git and
gpg. It's good and lightweight.

I haven't used pass but now that I looked into it, it seems it could
work for me too. I currently used Keepass with sftp access to the
password database and it works, for my current platforms which are
Linux, Android and Windows. Looks like pass could also work for my use
case.

[Matti Haveri]

Post by Unbreakable Disease
KeePassXC

I used KeePassX 0.4.4 works up to OS X 10.11 and then, after some
testing, settled to KeePassXC.

I use the same .kdbx file at work with a KeePass Windows standalone
version and it works great.

I have advocated KeePass to the rest of the family and some use it and
some don't preferring the iCloud keychain which also seems to work OK
with less hassle.

[The Real Bev]

Post by Matti Haveri

Post by Unbreakable Disease
KeePassXC

I used KeePassX 0.4.4 works up to OS X 10.11 and then, after some
testing, settled to KeePassXC.
I use the same .kdbx file at work with a KeePass Windows standalone
version and it works great.

Does it put a text file containing the passwords on your computer or are
you completely reliant on the thing ALWAYS working forever?

Post by Matti Haveri
I have advocated KeePass to the rest of the family and some use it and
some don't preferring the iCloud keychain which also seems to work OK
with less hassle.

[Dan Purgert]

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA512

["Followup-To:" header set to comp.misc.]

Post by The Real Bev
Does it put a text file containing the passwords on your computer or are
you completely reliant on the thing ALWAYS working forever?

No. You're reliant on the software continuing to work -- the "database"
file is encrypted.

Equivalent of being reliant on say gpg continuing to work to decrypt a
text file or something.


-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----

iQIzBAEBCgAdFiEE3asj+xn6fYUcweBnbWVw5UznKGAFAmH+ygkACgkQbWVw5Uzn
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o8y0IO8ASee2RW7Mk7TOtLcWaAWouz5cer20ZuYLH45LdxFRfEU=
=8bNb
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

[Matti Haveri]

Post by The Real Bev
Does it put a text file containing the passwords on your computer or are
you completely reliant on the thing ALWAYS working forever?

I have a master .kdbx file and occasionally copy it to my other accounts
via sneaker net (iOS devices, Windows at work, various macOS test clones
virtual machines etc). So if for some reason the master does not work
(never happened yet), I can revert to those somewhat older backups. Or
if also that fails, I can revert to macOS Keychain.

[gtr]

On Jul 12, 2021 at 1:53:00 AM PDT, "Unbreakable Disease"

Post by Unbreakable Disease
My 50-year old brain isn't capable of memorizing that many passwords
anymore, so I use KeePassXC. I keep basically everything here including
my financial passwords and credit card data, with the exception of
passwords that I would have to remember anyway (full-disk encryption,
login, primary e-mail passwords, etc.)
Overall, it's much easier to remember and much harder to forget 10
complicated passwords that you use everyday than 100+ simple passwords
you use every month or even less.
I can't speak about Windows version of KeePass, because with the
exception of playing games not available on Macintosh, I haven't used
one since Windows 95 days.

I have the older version (non-subscription) of 1Password, but also make use of
the keychain password manager and the manager built-in to Safari (I use Safari
on both the mac and the ipad/iphone).

Only lately, when I'm offered a complex "strong password" of jibberish, I take
it. That's working well too.

But I also use a variation on the same password: I selected two capitalized
words (for instance ArchBasket with a few numbers, 245, then the first two
letters of the intended website, for instance AMazon. Then I use this same
password everywhere, with the exception of those last two letters.
ArchBasket245am, for Powell's books: ArchBasket245po.

It's easy to remember.

[Siri Cruise]

Post by gtr
But I also use a variation on the same password: I selected two capitalized

merde d'oie.

[The Real Bev]

Post by Siri Cruise

Post by gtr
But I also use a variation on the same password: I selected two capitalized

merde d'oie.

The American version would be merde de cheval or possibly merde de
poulet, depending on the nature of the merde.

[Siri Cruise]

Post by The Real Bev

Post by Siri Cruise

Post by gtr
But I also use a variation on the same password: I selected two capitalized

merde d'oie.

The American version would be merde de cheval or possibly merde de
poulet, depending on the nature of the merde.

Or the Fountainhead. One of Toohey's disciples uses it in faux
brave nonconformist fashion pretending he is so brave saying
birdshit evem though nobody undrstsnds him to be outrwaged. this
contrasts to Roark who would just say burdsghit without nrrding
to outrage or shock.

[El Kabong]

Post by gtr
On Jul 12, 2021 at 1:53:00 AM PDT, "Unbreakable Disease"

Post by Unbreakable Disease
My 50-year old brain isn't capable of memorizing that many passwords
anymore, so I use KeePassXC. I keep basically everything here including
my financial passwords and credit card data, with the exception of
passwords that I would have to remember anyway (full-disk encryption,
login, primary e-mail passwords, etc.)
Overall, it's much easier to remember and much harder to forget 10
complicated passwords that you use everyday than 100+ simple passwords
you use every month or even less.
I can't speak about Windows version of KeePass, because with the
exception of playing games not available on Macintosh, I haven't used
one since Windows 95 days.

I have the older version (non-subscription) of 1Password, but also make use of
the keychain password manager and the manager built-in to Safari (I use Safari
on both the mac and the ipad/iphone).
Only lately, when I'm offered a complex "strong password" of jibberish, I take
it. That's working well too.
But I also use a variation on the same password: I selected two capitalized
words (for instance ArchBasket with a few numbers, 245, then the first two
letters of the intended website, for instance AMazon. Then I use this same
password everywhere, with the exception of those last two letters.
ArchBasket245am, for Powell's books: ArchBasket245po.
It's easy to remember.

With the latter system, if someone ever found out your
Powell's password (say, a rogue Powell admin), they might
easily guess your amazon & other passwords from that.

Also, if you should occasionally change a password, what
are you going to change it to? Your system doesn't allow
a lot of variation.

(i keep passwords in an encrypted excel file. Excel
always works, and it's safe for cloud storage.)

[gtr]

Post by El Kabong

Post by gtr
On Jul 12, 2021 at 1:53:00 AM PDT, "Unbreakable Disease"

Post by Unbreakable Disease
My 50-year old brain isn't capable of memorizing that many passwords
anymore, so I use KeePassXC. I keep basically everything here including
my financial passwords and credit card data, with the exception of
passwords that I would have to remember anyway (full-disk encryption,
login, primary e-mail passwords, etc.)
Overall, it's much easier to remember and much harder to forget 10
complicated passwords that you use everyday than 100+ simple passwords
you use every month or even less.
I can't speak about Windows version of KeePass, because with the
exception of playing games not available on Macintosh, I haven't used
one since Windows 95 days.

I have the older version (non-subscription) of 1Password, but also make use of
the keychain password manager and the manager built-in to Safari (I use Safari
on both the mac and the ipad/iphone).
Only lately, when I'm offered a complex "strong password" of jibberish, I take
it. That's working well too.
But I also use a variation on the same password: I selected two capitalized
words (for instance ArchBasket with a few numbers, 245, then the first two
letters of the intended website, for instance AMazon. Then I use this same
password everywhere, with the exception of those last two letters.
ArchBasket245am, for Powell's books: ArchBasket245po.
It's easy to remember.

With the latter system, if someone ever found out your
Powell's password (say, a rogue Powell admin), they might
easily guess your amazon & other passwords from that.

I don't think it's a significant risk. But there is no system that is free of
risk. I usually ask myself, who can I imagine would crack the code? A rogue
Powell's employee? Okay. What would their nefarious plan be? Ordering
something from Amazon and diverting it to their home? Okay.

Most of the time I go through any of these .001% possibiities, I'm rarely
intimidated by it. I just can't imagine someone would pick me to highjack for
idle felony purchases via Amazon.

Post by El Kabong
Also, if you should occasionally change a password, what
are you going to change it to? Your system doesn't allow
a lot of variation.

My system allows for more than the two words I've indicated. ArchBasket245, if
a system demands a change becomes BasketClub356, then ClubDragon467. See the
nature of the changes?

Over the years its changed in other ways too. So various passwords adhere to
different rules as they morph through life. Still--I've got a 75% chance of
guessing right the first time, and 100% chance by the third try. It's good
enough for me.

Post by El Kabong
(i keep passwords in an encrypted excel file. Excel
always works, and it's safe for cloud storage.)

But of course this system has the potential for problems, though they may
become more and more rare.

[gtr]

On Jul 12, 2021 at 1:53:00 AM PDT, "Unbreakable Disease"

Post by Unbreakable Disease
My 50-year old brain isn't capable of memorizing that many passwords
anymore, so I use KeePassXC. I keep basically everything here including
my financial passwords and credit card data, with the exception of
passwords that I would have to remember anyway (full-disk encryption,
login, primary e-mail passwords, etc.)
Overall, it's much easier to remember and much harder to forget 10
complicated passwords that you use everyday than 100+ simple passwords
you use every month or even less.
I can't speak about Windows version of KeePass, because with the
exception of playing games not available on Macintosh, I haven't used
one since Windows 95 days.

I'm really glad this topic came up. I'm sorting through the drek of old
users/passwords in Safari's stash, and Firefox's and 1Password v6 which I now
realize hasn't been working in Safari, but has in Firefox. It's a total mess.
I think I'll spend a few days trying to sort it out...