[mitchsc]

Why do some sites allow you to remember your usernale and password, and others don't?

This is true for IE7 and Firefox.

I have my browser configured to remember these, but some sites just don't.

I've noticed that they tend to be sites with sensitive info such as banking logins, which makes sense.

Is there anyway to force the browser to remember this info?

Thanks...

[ScottGem]

No. When a site allows you to remember a username and/or password, it places a cookie on your PC with that information. When you return to the site, it looks for that cookie and fills in the info. So if the site doesn't program to create and read the cookie, it won't allow for remembering the info.

[mitchsc]

I see. Thanks...

[Bill-K]

There is an add-on available to Firefox users called Lazarus. It remembers text and certain 'forms' that are filled in. I have used it for banking log-ins, and have also recovered half-written emails, forum posts and messages that had been lost due to a crash, or to me pressing the wrong button!!

[mitchsc]

Thanks Bill-K,

I would love to have Firefox remember all my user-names and passwords. I can't keep track of them.

Is the add-on self explanatory?

I'm just new to Firefox. Been using IE forever. It got so slow, I switched, and love it (Firefox that is).

I've done one add-on for a toolbar. I don't even remember exactly how I did it now.

Firefox does seem a bit quirky sometimes. Like this site for instance. In IE7, I could stay logged in. With Firefox, even though the site remembers my password, I have to click on my user-name every time I open the site.

Am finding that with other sites as well, like gmail.

In IE7, I could stay logged in there as well.

But man, the speed of Firefox is unbelievable. It's worth it.

Bill, can you give me any instructions on where to get the add-on, how to install it, and how to use it. How do you tell Firefox or Lazarus what you want it to remember?

Greatly appreciated...

mitchsc

[Bill-K]

I had similar problems with IE, and just like you, Mitch, I started using Firefox. I also get 'logged' off occasionally, and have to log back in again - but it's no big deal (as long as I remember by username & password, or course!! ) I'm no techie myself, so I can't cope with too many bells & whistles, and I need my stuff to be fairly simple. I downloaded a number of Firefox add-ons, but I think they began to slow it down, so I just kept Lazarus. I don't like having too many toolbars, as they eventually decrease your useable screen-size - but that's just my own preference.

I don't know how Lazarus works but it seems to save everything you print in a secure temporary file somewhere. For security reasons, you need to set up a password to use it (sorry!! ) - but that stops other users from gaining your log-in details, or whatever. It just works away in the background un-noticed, but if you lose a piece of text you've just been entering - due to a glitch, or a wrong key-press, etc. then you simply go back to the blank area (or 'form') in which you were typing, then right-click. Lazarus then lists the most recent items you were typing, and literally 'brings them back from the dead.' You just choose which one you want.

Likewise with log-ins - it remembers the place you were logging in to, and you just right-click - and it remembers your username & password! Sometimes, it doesn't, though, so DO NOT become too dependent on it!! I personally suggest you manually type in your regular log-ins whenever you can, so they stay fresh in your memory, and just use lazarus for the little-used log-ins.

Another back-up I also created was a text file, which simply holds all these log-in details in alphabetical order. I just added to it whenever I logged in somewhere - takes 10-20 seconds, that's all. BUT - and this is VERY IMPORTANT - do NOT store this on your computer. Keep it on a floppy disk, a re-writable CD or DVD, or a SD card or memory stick - or even just print it out. That way - if your PC gets hacked into, the hackers won't find all your passwords.

I'll get back to you here ASAP with a link for Lazarus, if I can.

[Bill-K]

OK. Mitch. Here are 3 links. Let me know if they don't work for you. The first one is the main Mozilla page:-

Mozilla | Firefox web browser & Thunderbird email client

There are loads of add-ons, and you can get to them by clicking the 'Add-Ons' tab at the top of that page - or you can use the link below to go there:-

https://addons.mozilla.org

To save you searching for it, this link takes you straight to Lazarus. Tell him Bill sent you!!

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/6984

I hope I've helped!!

[morgaine300]

I personal wouldn't want the sensitive passwords stored anywhere on my computer. Even if that program needs a password to work.

Why not simply write down your passwords? I've got like two pages full on them just on a piece of paper. If there's anyone around whom you don't want into that, hide it somewhere or something.

[Bill-K]

I have to admit, Morgaine, that your method is the most secure. Lazarus is good for recovering lost text - but perhaps using it for log-ins is a bit risky. As an aside - but still on-topic, I feel - when our login details are 'remembered' by a site, are they actually only held by that site - or are they stored on our PC as 'cookies'??

[morgaine300]

Well, I'm always right, didn't you know that?:p

I don't have anything remember passwords for me, and I have no clue. (It just gives me the willies to have anything remembering my passwords. I never turn that setting on.) But ScottGem says it's cookies and I pretty well trust him.

I use Firefox. That Lazarus -- I guess that has nothing to do with the game, right? -- sounds like it would come in handy for when I lose an email that I spent an hour on...

[Bill-K]

Well, I'm always right, didn't you know that?:p
LOL - I am now that much the wiser, good sir !!! Pleased to meet you !!!
I don't have anything remember passwords for me, and I have no clue. (It just gives me the willies to have anything remembering my passwords. I never turn that setting on.) But ScottGem says it's cookies and I pretty well trust him.
My short-term memory is NFG (stress, booze or just old age), so I can't hold it all in my head anymore. I envy you your cerebral retention !!! Now, if I've got this right, then cookies are actually stored on MY PC, aren't they ? That being so, then couldn't a hacker steal my cookies from the jar, and then use them to log in as me ?
I use Firefox. That Lazarus -- I guess that has nothing to do with the game, right? -- sounds like it would come in handy for when I lose an email that I spent an hour on...
Never played the game (I'm tooooo slooooow for that stuff) - but Lazarus was a character from the Christian New Testament who - if I recall correctly (it WAS 2,000 years ago !!!) was brought back from the dead by Jesus. Hence the analogy with 'dead' text. I think that, really, the 'lost email that you spent an hour on' is the real purpose behind Lazarus. Storing login details is just a side effect. Click the 3rd link and give it a try, Morgaine.

..

[mitchsc]

Well, thank you all.

I too have a list of passwords and usernames in a text file. I guess I'm just getting lazy.

I like the auto complete feature on most of my logins, so I think I shall give Lazarus a try.

Was reading about it last night on Mozilla and it sounds pretty cool. Got a 5 star rating from users.

I use CCleaner every day to clean junk and temp files off my PC. I wonder if it will erase the data stored in Lazarus??

Does anyone know if Lazarus has a time limit as to how long it will store data? If it stores indefinitely, you could end up with a lot of duplicate info on HD.

Of course if it auto deletes in a short period (if designed to recover from crashes, etc), then it may not work for my logins that I don't visit too often. And of course those are precisely the ones I can never remember...

Thanks as well Bill for the links.

MSC

[ScottGem]

I too have a list of passwords and usernames in a text file. I guess I'm just getting lazy.

This is even less secure. Anyone with access to your PC (even remotely) can access this info.

I do use FireFox, but not Lazarus. Whenever I log in to a site Firefox asks if it wants to have the login info remembered. Generally I say yes (except for banking and other financial sites).

For this to happen, the passwords HAVE to be stored somewhere on your system. They are probably stored in an encrypted file somewhere that identifies the site, and the login info. This is not a cookie but is similar. When you go to a site, Firefox detects the URL and searches in this file to see if login info is stored. With a cookie, only the site that set the cookie can read it.

[mitchsc]

SG-

I guess it is pretty stupid of me to save passwords in a text file. The security issue just never occurred to me.

I'm of to delete...

Thanks again.

[Bill-K]

I'm of to delete...

Like I said, if you save that file on a little memory stick (just a cheap one will do), it is kept off your PC, but can be accessed very quickly, and updated easily. Unplug the stick when you log off, though!!

I don't know how Lazarus works, but I guess it must store stuff somewhere on your PC in a temporary folder. I guess there is a time-limit, in which case your less-frequently used logins will probably be 'forgotten' by it. It's probably best to just use it for emergency text retrieval only, and use an external memory stick (or whatever) for login details.

[ScottGem]

I would not recommend using a flash drive for permanent storage. I've seem Flash drives go bad too many times.

What you can do is save the file as a ZIP file with a password. So if you lose the flash drive you have a backup.

[Bill-K]

Thanks for the warning about flash drives, ScottGem. I like the idea of a passworded ZIP file as a backup - so simple!! I'm off to do one right now

[mitchsc]

SG,

You bring up an interesting point about flash memory that I have been wondering about (sorry this is slightly off topic, but quick).

I've been looking at the new camcorders that use built in flash memory in place of tape or hard drive.

If Flash is unreliable, would you recommend staying away from these products?

BTW, most have the ability to plug in external flash memory cards as well, so I guess if the internal flash mem failed, you could replace it externally. But I wouldn't want to go through that and waste the money.

Any thoughts would be appreciated...

[ScottGem]

I've not had the same problem with memory cards as with flash drives.

[mitchsc]

Well, here is another opportunity for me to learn something.

What is the difference? I thought they were the same thing?