A Review of LastPass - Free Password Management

Written by: Pranav Thadeshwar • Edited by: Bill Bunter
Updated May 6, 2010 • Related Guides: Internet Explorer | Mozilla Firefox | Multiple Computers

Do you use multiple computers across various locations? Tired of remembering various randomly-generated passwords for all your websites? Need a secure place to store all your passwords and keep them easily accessible? I might have an answer, and it's called LastPass.

Introduction

LastPass is free password management application which ties into your web browser and offers a host of very useful features. In keeping with the theme of all new web-based applications these days, the application is linked to a cloud which will store your passwords in encrypted form. This will allow you to use multiple computers around the house or the World and have a synchronised password-database. Let's check out its features!

Installation & Interface
Rating

The Installation screen is non-standard and contains big red-colored buttons and graphics. But since you only have to go through this step once on each computer, it's easy to let it slide for the functionality it offers. The interface is in the form of a browser plugin which is available for Mozilla Firefox and Internet Explorer, and a web-based management interface if you're on an untrusted system or cannot install plugins/extensions on that computer.

The interface offers a lot of choices for seemingly minor things. For people who want to just setup-and-go, this can get a bit frustrating. For people who love to configure each option according to their needs, this is heaven. For example, you have an option to set the timeout after which the clipboard will be cleared. It's one of those things which can go either way, and your mileage will definitely vary.

Features
Rating

Here is the feature list advertised by the LastPass people:

One Master Password
Automatic Form Filling
One Click Login
Secured Data
Multiple Browser Synchronization
Secure Notes
Share Logins with Friends
Import Data from Various Sources
Export Data to Various Formats
Backup & Restore Data
Secure Password Generation
Universal Access through Browser Plugins and Web-Interface
LastPass Pocket for Portable Storage
OnScreen Keyboard to thwart Keyloggers
One-Time Passwords
Multiple Identities

The ability to have a synchronized password database across computers is a very useful thing to have. Add to that, the password database will never leave your computer unencrypted. This means that the database uploaded to LastPass' servers for synchronization is already encrypted and there is no danger of anyone sniffing the transfer in between and getting your passwords. Automatic form-filling is a bonus but always be aware that you're handing out your personal data to a third-party, and while the company/group might have the best of intentions, it's not too smart to trust anyone with securing your personal data safely.

Showing page 1 of 2

12next »

Toah Jun 1, 2010 6:35 PM

LastPass

There is portable version on LastPass'es homepage,and a pocket version for offline storing of the passwords. (can be used with usb stick)

Jeremy Bost Apr 13, 2010 11:37 AM

Re: Xmarks vs LastPass?

I don't use Xmarks, (only LastPass) so my info on it is from their site and reviews.

Xmarks looks like it is targeted more for bookmarks, with password syncing as an aside. It seems to me that it syncs passwords stored in Firefox. Those passwords are often more vulnerable—I recall reading something which showed how you could take Firefox's passwords without even knowing the master password.

Xmarks: Syncs your passwords between PCs using Firefox.

LastPass: Password and profile management, easy password saving and auto-filling, syncs with the LastPass plugins for IE, Firefox, Chrome, and the bookmarklet in Opera. Has one-time use passwords to keep in your wallet in case you visit a public PC which might have a keylogger. One-screen keyboard. USB drive authentication. Grid factor authentication.

I would use Xmarks for bookmarks, and LastPass for passwords. Can't really compare too well, in this stage. I heard that LastPass was considering storing bookmarks too, and Xmarks may be branching into the password realm. But at the moment, they are both mostly different.

~Jeremy

Andrew Bliven Apr 9, 2010 2:42 PM

Xmarks vs LastPass?

The Xmarks plugin for Firefox also manages passwords in an encrypted store on central server. Do you have any opinion as to the relative merits of Xmarks and LastPass? As a consumer of free software it's hard to know how much to trust these apps since even erudite blogs like yours are at root little better than hearsay. --Andy

Jeremy Bost Apr 7, 2010 10:23 AM

LastPass Is Very Good

I really like LP, enough to buy the premium. :-) (BTW, the premium doesn't have much more to offer. I just got it to support them.)

I encourage all to use it.

A Review of LastPass - Free Password Management

Introduction

Installation & InterfaceRating

FeaturesRating

Comments

Installation & Interface
Rating

Features
Rating