How do you keep your e-book DRM passwords?

Bob Russell · 07-14-2008, 01:57 PM

In this modern world of computing, there are passwords everywhere. Even if you aren't a technology buff, you probably have many private PINs and passwords and account numbers. But if you are a tech geek, you may have hundreds of them. And with the so-called "strong" (i.e. the ones that have funny characters and make no sense, so their harder to break), the days of remembering your passwords are over.

If you buy protected software or encrypted e-books, you have yet more passwords in the form of registration and activation codes. Writing it all down on paper is not very secure. What to do?

One ideal solution for smartphone, pda and even desktop owners is to store your passwords in an encrypted password vault. I use eWallet, but there are many alternatives. eWallet makes tracking passwords (with a backup on my desktop) so easy that it's second nature, and I've almost forgotten the nightmarish feeling of not having passwords under control.

If you don't have your passwords protected and organized, give eWallet or another password vault a try. I sincerely believe that the day is coming when almost everyone will be doing this on their phones.

Check out the new eWallet 6.1. It's available for Windows Mobile, PalmOS, desktop PCs and even U3 flash drives. If you have an iPhone, a version is coming soon for you.

It's obvious by now, that I'm a fan of password vaults and Illiumsoft's eWallet in particular. As I've said before, there are a handful of programs that are essentials for pdas and smartphones, and this is one of them. If you haven't got a password vault, you owe it to yourself to get your passwords under control and protected.

Links:
New version announced at Illiumsoft blog
eWallet 6.1 Product Page

Related:
Pocket Tunes now available for Windows Mobile
What's on my Treo?

pilotbob · 07-14-2008, 02:03 PM

I agree a tool is essential. I use RoboForm on my PCs and 1Password on my Mac. They both allow for generating/remembering web site passwords. You can also add "secure notes/safe notes" for stuff that is non-web. I have my Sony ebook store password in it, etc.

I thought I tried them all, but I haven't tried eWallet.

My only problem is that Roboform and 1Password can't sync with each other. So, I have to add new passwords manually to one or the other.

I did find 1 that was fully cross platform, Windows/Mac/Linux but it didn't seem as good as either Roboform or 1Password so sync became less important than day to day. The cross platform one BTW I found is Password Vault for this interested. http://www.lavasoftware.com/passwordvault.html I think it is $15.

EDIT... you can use the free version of Roboform http://www.roboform.com/ it holds up to like 15 passwords and 15 safe notes.

BOb

talaivan · 07-14-2008, 02:37 PM

I use PasswordWallet on the Mac -- it is an excellent program.

awi · 07-14-2008, 03:13 PM

as far as my "paid for" ebooks are concerned, I de-DRM the ebook after buying to be able to read it on different devices.

vivaldirules · 07-14-2008, 03:29 PM

Lose your credit card and need to call them? What's the number you call or your account number? Need your wife's or kid's social security number? How about the name of your car insurance agent? What about the dozens of personal and work-related usernames and passwords that you have to have at your fingertips? I can't live without these accessible to me at all times and a database that is only available on-line or at a PC won't suffice. So I carry on my person at all times a tiny print-out of a Word document that contains all of these. The print-out is only a few square inches of paper with the smallest font that I can read and is folded up and placed between two small rectangles of refrigerator magnets and placed in my front pants pocket (i.e., not in my wallet). This keeps it practically unknown to other people, with me all the time, and practically waterproof. I update and print out the password-protected Word file as needed. Short of having this information laser imprinted on the inside of my cornea, I cannot come up with a more accessible and reliable scheme.

slayda · 07-14-2008, 03:59 PM

My Palm TX comes with such SW already on it. It syncs with my PC and I use it a lot.

helten · 07-14-2008, 04:06 PM

Personally I'm using KeePass for both Windows and my Windows Mobile device. It also works for Linux and other stuff (java, mac, palm...). Currently I have 229 password entries, so it's kind of nice to have an utility for handling it :-S It is highly recommendable, free/open source and can be found here: http://keepass.info/

pilotbob · 07-14-2008, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vivaldirules

This keeps it practically unknown to other people, with me all the time, and practically waterproof. I update and print out the password-protected Word file as needed. Short of having this information laser imprinted on the inside of my cornea, I cannot come up with a more accessible and reliable scheme.

Wow, so you must not have alot of data, or you have REALLY good eyes. I have 119 items in my password manager right now. I actually don't have any SSN's, CC numbers, etc, etc.

But, you also have to type in each password each time you go to a web site. When I have to do that I usually get it wrong the first time. All my passwords are generated by Robo/1pass and are 15 characters upper/lower etc. I have a different password for each web site. Only a few web sites do I have a password that I know by heart, my gmail account and my citibank account in case I am at a PC without my software on it.

BOb

vivaldirules · 07-14-2008, 04:17 PM

I have about 120 lines of info with each line containing an average of four pieces of info or about 200 pairs of usernames and passwords. If I have to change one, a pencil does great to mark on the back until I can update and print it out again. I know it's low tech and if I ever lost it I'd be in trouble. But it doesn't have my name or SS# on it so I'm not sure how useful it would be to someone else if they did get a hold of it. And I don't have to worry about what to do if I lose my Palm (or whatever) or don't have it with me.

radleyp · 07-14-2008, 04:18 PM

I have used ewallet, but for years now (first on my Palms, and now on my MotoQ) I have used SplashID, which has a desktop component. I agree with you that we all should have passwords in an encrypted form on both handheld and desktop. Either of these programs works very well.

vido · 07-14-2008, 05:44 PM

I use only DRM-free files (my e-book is an iLiad).

Barcey · 07-14-2008, 06:16 PM

I use yellow sticky notes stuck to my monitor. Luckily nobody can read me writing.

I use a similar product on my PDA to store passwords. I hate the idea of one stop hacking for all my passwords but it's a necessary evil with the number of passwords to (not) remember.

RickyMaveety · 07-14-2008, 06:44 PM

I use roboform, which I like because I can keep a version of it on a USB key, and take it with me when I travel. No matter whose computer I am using, all I have to do is plug in the key and it types in the necessary password and other information at each site I visit ... without leaving tracks behind on the computer.

msundman · 07-14-2008, 07:03 PM

I never, ever buy anything with DRM.

Snassek · 07-14-2008, 10:49 PM

I have been using Password Safe for many years and have always been happy with it. Plus it is free.

07-14-2008, 01:57 PM	#1
Bob Russell Recovering Gadget Addict Posts: 5,381 Karma: 676161 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Device: iPad	How do you keep your e-book DRM passwords? In this modern world of computing, there are passwords everywhere. Even if you aren't a technology buff, you probably have many private PINs and passwords and account numbers. But if you are a tech geek, you may have hundreds of them. And with the so-called "strong" (i.e. the ones that have funny characters and make no sense, so their harder to break), the days of remembering your passwords are over. If you buy protected software or encrypted e-books, you have yet more passwords in the form of registration and activation codes. Writing it all down on paper is not very secure. What to do? One ideal solution for smartphone, pda and even desktop owners is to store your passwords in an encrypted password vault. I use eWallet, but there are many alternatives. eWallet makes tracking passwords (with a backup on my desktop) so easy that it's second nature, and I've almost forgotten the nightmarish feeling of not having passwords under control. If you don't have your passwords protected and organized, give eWallet or another password vault a try. I sincerely believe that the day is coming when almost everyone will be doing this on their phones. Check out the new eWallet 6.1. It's available for Windows Mobile, PalmOS, desktop PCs and even U3 flash drives. If you have an iPhone, a version is coming soon for you. It's obvious by now, that I'm a fan of password vaults and Illiumsoft's eWallet in particular. As I've said before, there are a handful of programs that are essentials for pdas and smartphones, and this is one of them. If you haven't got a password vault, you owe it to yourself to get your passwords under control and protected. Links: New version announced at Illiumsoft blog eWallet 6.1 Product Page Related: Pocket Tunes now available for Windows Mobile What's on my Treo?

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07-14-2008, 02:03 PM	#2
pilotbob Grand Sorcerer Posts: 19,832 Karma: 11844413 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Tampa, FL USA Device: Kindle Touch	I agree a tool is essential. I use RoboForm on my PCs and 1Password on my Mac. They both allow for generating/remembering web site passwords. You can also add "secure notes/safe notes" for stuff that is non-web. I have my Sony ebook store password in it, etc. I thought I tried them all, but I haven't tried eWallet. My only problem is that Roboform and 1Password can't sync with each other. So, I have to add new passwords manually to one or the other. I did find 1 that was fully cross platform, Windows/Mac/Linux but it didn't seem as good as either Roboform or 1Password so sync became less important than day to day. The cross platform one BTW I found is Password Vault for this interested. http://www.lavasoftware.com/passwordvault.html I think it is $15. EDIT... you can use the free version of Roboform http://www.roboform.com/ it holds up to like 15 passwords and 15 safe notes. BOb

07-14-2008, 02:37 PM	#3
talaivan Groupie Posts: 190 Karma: 4710362 Join Date: Oct 2007 Device: Sony prs-505	I use PasswordWallet on the Mac -- it is an excellent program.

07-14-2008, 03:13 PM	#4
awi Enthusiast Posts: 28 Karma: 98 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Amsterdam Device: 2x Irex Iliad V2, DR1000s & DR800sg	as far as my "paid for" ebooks are concerned, I de-DRM the ebook after buying to be able to read it on different devices.

07-14-2008, 03:29 PM	#5
vivaldirules When's Doughnut Day? Posts: 10,059 Karma: 13675475 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Houston, TX, US Device: Sony PRS-505, iPad	Lose your credit card and need to call them? What's the number you call or your account number? Need your wife's or kid's social security number? How about the name of your car insurance agent? What about the dozens of personal and work-related usernames and passwords that you have to have at your fingertips? I can't live without these accessible to me at all times and a database that is only available on-line or at a PC won't suffice. So I carry on my person at all times a tiny print-out of a Word document that contains all of these. The print-out is only a few square inches of paper with the smallest font that I can read and is folded up and placed between two small rectangles of refrigerator magnets and placed in my front pants pocket (i.e., not in my wallet). This keeps it practically unknown to other people, with me all the time, and practically waterproof. I update and print out the password-protected Word file as needed. Short of having this information laser imprinted on the inside of my cornea, I cannot come up with a more accessible and reliable scheme.

07-14-2008, 03:59 PM	#6
slayda Retired & reading more! Posts: 2,764 Karma: 1884247 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: North Alabama, USA Device: Kindle 1, iPad Air 2, iPhone 6S+, Kobo Aura One	My Palm TX comes with such SW already on it. It syncs with my PC and I use it a lot.

07-14-2008, 04:06 PM	#7
helten Member Posts: 17 Karma: 52 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Denmark Device: None	Personally I'm using KeePass for both Windows and my Windows Mobile device. It also works for Linux and other stuff (java, mac, palm...). Currently I have 229 password entries, so it's kind of nice to have an utility for handling it :-S It is highly recommendable, free/open source and can be found here: http://keepass.info/

07-14-2008, 04:17 PM	#9
vivaldirules When's Doughnut Day? Posts: 10,059 Karma: 13675475 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Houston, TX, US Device: Sony PRS-505, iPad	I have about 120 lines of info with each line containing an average of four pieces of info or about 200 pairs of usernames and passwords. If I have to change one, a pencil does great to mark on the back until I can update and print it out again. I know it's low tech and if I ever lost it I'd be in trouble. But it doesn't have my name or SS# on it so I'm not sure how useful it would be to someone else if they did get a hold of it. And I don't have to worry about what to do if I lose my Palm (or whatever) or don't have it with me.

07-14-2008, 04:18 PM	#10
radleyp Evangelist Posts: 499 Karma: 20623 Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: North Salem & NYC, NY Device: Kindle Global, iphone4, ipad	I have used ewallet, but for years now (first on my Palms, and now on my MotoQ) I have used SplashID, which has a desktop component. I agree with you that we all should have passwords in an encrypted form on both handheld and desktop. Either of these programs works very well.

07-14-2008, 05:44 PM	#11
vido Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2008 Device: iLiad	I use only DRM-free files (my e-book is an iLiad).

07-14-2008, 06:16 PM	#12
Barcey Wizard Posts: 1,531 Karma: 8059866 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Canada Device: Kobo H2O / Aura HD / Glo / iPad3	I use yellow sticky notes stuck to my monitor. Luckily nobody can read me writing. I use a similar product on my PDA to store passwords. I hate the idea of one stop hacking for all my passwords but it's a necessary evil with the number of passwords to (not) remember.

07-14-2008, 06:44 PM	#13
RickyMaveety Holy S**T!!! Posts: 5,213 Karma: 108401 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: San Diego, California!! Device: Kindle and iPad	I use roboform, which I like because I can keep a version of it on a USB key, and take it with me when I travel. No matter whose computer I am using, all I have to do is plug in the key and it types in the necessary password and other information at each site I visit ... without leaving tracks behind on the computer.

07-14-2008, 07:03 PM	#14
msundman Zealot Posts: 103 Karma: 269 Join Date: Aug 2006 Device: FBReader on Android	I never, ever buy anything with DRM.

07-14-2008, 10:49 PM	#15
Snassek Connoisseur Posts: 58 Karma: 61 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Covington, KY US Device: Sony eReader	I have been using Password Safe for many years and have always been happy with it. Plus it is free.