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'PasswordBox': Versatile, free password manager

Marc Saltzman
Special for USA TODAY
PasswordBox.

Chances are there are dozens of passwords you need to remember on a regular basis — for online banking, your favorite store, webmail provider, company site, cloud storage solution and social media services, to name a few.

You don't want to use the same password for everything — that's like handing over the keys to your entire digital life if someone discovers your info. So you're encouraged to use different passwords for all your online activities.

Problem is, how are you going to remember them all?

Winner of the 2014 CES Mobile App Showdown, PasswordBox is a free app that can help you easily create, store and recall passwords.

And that's just the beginning of this powerful, versatile app.

Available for iPhone, iPad and Android devices, along with Windows and Macs, PasswordBox first requires you to set up a free account. All that's required is your name, email address and a "master" password to enter your digital locker. It takes less than a minute to set up. Once you're inside, you'll see logos for some of the most popular brands on the web, including Facebook, Gmail, PayPal, Amazon, Dropbox, Netflix, eBay, Yahoo, Reddit, and so on.

Once you tap one, such as Facebook, you'll be prompted to enter your username and password once, and now it's stored here for good. In fact, you can tap the logo to launch and log into Facebook on your default web browser — or inside the PasswordBox browser built into the app.

The app automatically saves your logins while you browse; passwords are encrypted with Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and AES-256, the strongest grade of encryption available (banks use 128- or 256-bit encryption).

If your favorite site isn't listed, you can tap "Add Custom" and then type in the site you want to add, such as your mobile phone provider, favorite newspaper, online game or company website. Interestingly, PasswordBox will find and import the logo of the site for you.

For each website password you keep, you can choose to require the master password or a PIN code for two-step authentication. You can also make notes for each password, if you like, and view and edit the password (such as if you decide to change it).

But what about all the other passwords you keep that aren't tied to a website? PasswordBox also has a section dubbed Wallet, which lets you add other information you want to keep private, such as credit card info, ATM bank cards, driver's licenses, passports, social security number and memberships.

Another section is called Safe Notes — for secured letters, notes and other info you want to keep for your eyes only.

There's also a Password Generator area which can generate a random password for you based on criteria you set, such as password length, and if you want numbers, symbols and capitals. Tap the icon to copy the password to Clipboard.

Finally, one of the most unique features of PasswordBox is called Legacy Locker. This optional feature allows you to share your passwords with a trusted family member or friend to help manage what happens to social accounts (such as Facebook) in case anything happens to you. The person — the digital beneficiary, if you will — will receive an email that asks them to accept your invitation. Then, in case of death, for example, the person you chose to access your private information will receive it once they send a death certificate to PasswordBox. A video on how Legacy Locker works is available at passwordbox.com/legacylocker.

PasswordBox is free to use for up to 25 passwords, but storing any more than that costs $1.99 per month or $11.99 per year, renewed annually. If you refer five people who sign up for a service, you'll get a lifetime membership.

This app is one of the rare few that not only gets it right, but goes above and beyond by including many smart features. Especially considering the core functionality is absolutely free, it is a "must have" app in the digital age.

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