Software Review: Roboform
RoboForm is one of the most recognizable password managers on the market, and I use it every single day.
How's that for an objective intro?
RoboForm saves your passwords in what are called PassCards.
Using these, once you start to access a webpage with an associated PassCard, RoboForm will automatically log you into that site.
In addition, RoboForm can collect personal and sensitive
information from you and store it. This feature is called
Identities by RoboForm. Later, when forms online call for
the stored information, RoboForm will fill it out for you.
Installing RoboForm takes a few minutes, but was rather
quick.
During the install process you must create a master password. This password is what protects the PassCards as well as Identities and SafeNotes. It is important that it be both long with a mix of characters and easy to remember.
If you lose this password, it cannot be recovered. Only
you will know this password. Once you get the hang of using
RoboForm, this is also the last password you will need to
remember.
After about two minutes, the install process is complete,
and your browser will open to a page with information and
tutorials for RoboForm.
Using RoboForm
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The easiest way to use RoboForm is to go to a portal or website that requires a login and enter the information as normal, thus creating a PassCard.
You can also use RoboForm to generate strong passwords as
well during account creation on any website.
The password generation is honestly of greater value than
the password management and form filling powers of RoboForm.
If the site you’re registering with can deal with the
special characters during account creation, the generator on
RoboForm creates passwords that would ruin the day of anyone
who attempted to crack them.
The bookmark function is great as well. You can take any of
the PassCards and send them to the desktop, where they will
act as a shortcut for a website or web-based application.
Once accessed, they launch the browser and login.
Form filling, thanks to Identities, takes all the trouble
out of applications, registrations, and other information
gathering processes online. Within the Identities section,
you can house any type of data.
Most of the kitchen sink is included in the Identities section, but if there is data that doesn’t have a default form, you can create custom fields. The only limit to this type of storage and collection of personal and sensitive information is trust.
If you can trust RoboForm to secure it, and get past that
hurdle, then it’s a great addition. However, some people are
going to be hesitant about storing routing and account
numbers for their bank as well as the bank’s SWIFT
information.
It should be noted that there are alternative products for
password management available, completely free of charge no
less, but not all of them are equal.
RoboForm is a life saver for me because I have at least 25 or 30 different websites I log into every day. It's nice to not have to try and remember that many usernames and passwords but just be able to browse easily.
To be clear, this is one of those rare tools that will add value, save you time and allow you to be more productive.
I strongly endorse Roboform.
