There are many websites where you are required to register an account though you aren’t at this MacHouse weblog. The number of websites on the Internet is increasing exponentially. So one major problem that you and I may be facing is how to manage all accounts comprehensively.

From time to time, we mention a Mac shareware title called PasswordMaster. It allows you to store accounts quite effectively. We like it a lot. A problem is that this shareware title is no longer updated. So Intel Mac users won’t be able to use it natively.

Let me spend a few minutes showing how PasswordMaster works. If you want to add an account, first, click on the Add button at the bottom. Then enter a service name, username, password, and URL. (See Screenshot 01.) If necessary, you can write under Notes additional information like an e-mail address used to register an account. If you are finished, then click on the Save button.

Screenshot 01

Screenshot 02

Screenshot 03

PasswordMaster lets you enter a URL under Website. And if you click on the button to the right (See Screenshot 02.), the default web browser will open and forward you to the URL you have entered. (See Screenshot 03.) That’s quite neat.

Now, as shown in Screenshot 04, I have quite a number of accounts stored with PasswordMaster. It would be nice if I could classify these accounts into several categories. In this way, it would be easier to find a particular account quickly.

Screenshot 04

Screenshot 05

Anyway, for some reason, if you have to back up password data, simply go to Backup Data under Tools. Then PasswordMaster will export a folder containing three files. (See Screenshot 05.) The application itself is replaceable. So, next time, whether or you have reinstalled PasswordMaster or are using the same copy, all you have to do is to choose Restore Data.

So are there alternatives to PasswordMaster? I wasn’t really looking for one. But yesterday I ran into a freeware title called sharedsecrets from ELKOSOFT Software in Germany. So let me show you how sharedsecrets works hereafter.  Continue reading →