Password Safe is an Open Source (free) tool that allows you to have a different password for all the different programs and websites that you deal with, without actually having to remember all those usernames and passwords. Password Safe runs on PCs under Windows (95/98/NT/2000/XP).

I currently have 83 passwords stored in my database, and growing.

The entire application and database is about 2.5M, so it easily fits on any thumb drive (aren’t we all carrying thumb drives these days?). Like other password applications, you only need to remember one password; the password that opens the database…so you are the one who determines how safe the database is (do you use a password to open the database that is a common dictionary word? or do you use a password that might be more random: pM07aA5?)

With a click of the mouse, you can have Password Manager create random passwords for you (any length), browse to a specific URL, copy the username to the clipboard, copy the password to a clipboard, or even autotype the userId/password into the proper fields. You decide how you want to set it up.

I personally use the paid version of RoboForm, which encrypts your passwords, credit card info, bank account info, etc., on the HDD of your PC. It also can be loaded onto a USB flash memory stick (again encrypted) to be used on other PC’s.