Using LastPass without plugin?

[Bhav]

Hey, so I've started using LastPass and I'm in the process of updating passwords to randomly generated ones.

This is fine when I'm using my own computer, as the plugin is installed so all I need to remember is my master password.

But what's the solution if I'm using a different computer and can't install the plugin? (e.g. public computer, friend's computer etc)

[+BudMan MVC]

just access the lastpass website and you can access all your passwords.

you could also store passwords on thumbdrive, etc.

http://helpdesk.lastpass.com/lastpass-portable/

[Bhav]

  On 27/03/2011 at 17:33, BudMan said:

just access the lastpass website and you can access all your passwords.

you could also store passwords on thumbdrive, etc.

http://helpdesk.lastpass.com/lastpass-portable/

Ah great, thanks very much!

[xWhiplash]

How secure is LastPass? I have been wanting to do something like that for a while now but I am worried about it security wise. Is it safe to use?

[+BudMan MVC]

https://lastpass.com/support_faqs.php

AES utilizing 256-bit keys.AES-256 is accepted by the US Government for protecting TOP SECRET data. AES is implemented in JavaScript for the LastPass.com website, and in C++ for speed in the Internet Explorer and Firefox plug-ins. This is important because your sensitive data is always encrypted and decrypted locally on your computer before being synchronized. Your master password never leaves your computer and your key never leaves your computer. No one at LastPass (or anywhere else) can decrypt your data without you giving up your password (we will never ask you for it). Your key is created by taking a SHA-256 hash of your password. When you login, we make a hash of your username concatenated with your password, and that hash is what's sent to verify if you can download your encrypted data.

Your LastPass Master password and encryption key generated from it never leaves your computer - so you are the only person who can decrypt your data

[xWhiplash]

So when you log in to it on a public computer without the plugin, are the passwords displayed in plain text? How does it work on public machines?

[+BudMan MVC]

passwords are never "displayed" in clear text. Unless you go into the interface and say show.

You can copy the usernames and passwords from the website from a public computer, or you could use a complete portable solution with say firefox on a usb and lastpass on the usb as well.

[Bhav]

  On 28/03/2011 at 16:40, xWhiplash said:

So when you log in to it on a public computer without the plugin, are the passwords displayed in plain text? How does it work on public machines?

Yeah you're able to copy + paste without revealing the passwords themselves, though you can 'show' if you want (which is a little too easy to click for my liking, but it's ok)

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

  On 27/03/2011 at 17:30, Bhav said:

Hey, so I've started using LastPass and I'm in the process of updating passwords to randomly generated ones.

This is fine when I'm using my own computer, as the plugin is installed so all I need to remember is my master password.

But what's the solution if I'm using a different computer and can't install the plugin? (e.g. public computer, friend's computer etc)

Ohhh interesting, didn't know it did this.

I'll have to go have a look at it, I assume there is a firefox extension? Yes I know pretty lame thing to ask when it takes a minute to look up, but I'm heading out in 5.

[Bhav]

  On 28/03/2011 at 17:20, Audioboxer said:

Ohhh interesting, didn't know it did this.

I'll have to go have a look at it, I assume there is a firefox extension? Yes I know pretty lame thing to ask when it takes a minute to look up, but I'm heading out in 5.

Yeah if you just download the exe off the website, you can install plugins for Firefox, IE and Chrome in one go.

And the plugin itself has the random generator, with which you can specify number of characters, upper/lower case, numbers etc.

It usually detects that you're changing passwords too, so a little bar drops down offering to fill your current password and generate a new one. Pretty clever really.

There are lots of LastPass guides/tips you might want to google for, as they give a good idea of all its nifty features.

[xWhiplash]

  On 28/03/2011 at 17:17, Bhav said:

Yeah you're able to copy + paste without revealing the passwords themselves, though you can 'show' if you want (which is a little too easy to click for my liking, but it's ok)

What if you paste it into word, what appears?

[Bhav]

Hmm...maybe I'm wrong, looks like copy + pasting without revealing doesn't work, it just pastes the masked dots.

So yeah this seems like a bit of a weakness.

On the one hand, you can log into your lastpass account anywhere, create a bookmarklet and that will let you log into wherever you need.

On the other hand, if you log into your lastpass account, you can easily reveal your password by clicking "show"...which obviously shouldn't really be so simple.

I guess that's why the master password needs to be extremely strong.

(The bookmarklet also works on Android)

Edit: Oh! When you log into the lastpass website, you can just double click on the site you want to log into. So no need to go anywhere near revealing the password. You just double click, it takes you to the site and tries to log in.

http://forums.lastpass.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=114&start=0

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

  On 28/03/2011 at 17:57, Bhav said:

Hmm...maybe I'm wrong, looks like copy + pasting without revealing doesn't work, it just pastes the masked dots.

So yeah this seems like a bit of a weakness.

On the one hand, you can log into your lastpass account anywhere, create a bookmarklet and that will let you log into wherever you need.

On the other hand, if you log into your lastpass account, you can easily reveal your password by clicking "show"...which obviously shouldn't really be so simple.

I guess that's why the master password needs to be extremely strong.

(The bookmarklet also works on Android)

Edit: Oh! When you log into the lastpass website, you can just double click on the site you want to log into. So no need to go anywhere near revealing the password. You just double click, it takes you to the site and tries to log in.

http://forums.lastpass.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=114&start=0

Awesome! I'm just back and was doing a bit of reading and it's good to see it'll be easy to use sites on other people's computers. I was a bit apprehensive to use generated passwords as there is NO chance I'm remembering them :laugh:

[Bhav]

  On 28/03/2011 at 18:05, Audioboxer said:

Awesome! I'm just back and was going a bit of reading and it's good to see it'll be easy to use sites on other people's computers. I was a bit apprehensive to use generated passwords as there is NO chance I'm remembering them :laugh:

Yeah precisely, that was my apprehension too. But actually my using of firefox has changed very little because everything is just saved in a very similar way to the built-in password manager. The make-or-break will be whether or not it works smoothly when I'm using a different computer...which I'll test properly later.

[TangoEight]

  On 27/03/2011 at 17:33, BudMan said:

just access the lastpass website and you can access all your passwords.

you could also store passwords on thumbdrive, etc.

http://helpdesk.lastpass.com/lastpass-portable/

Have been using lastpass for a while now but never knew about this thanks :D

[Bhav]

Ah damit.

So just went onto my brother's computer, which doesn't have the plugin installed.

Logged into lastpass.com, tried double clicking on a site in my list of logins, and it just opens up that entry and offers to show the password.

I guess that'll get the job done, but it's not ideal. So the most appropriate solution will be to use a bookmarklet (or the portable usb thing, which is too much hassle imo)

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

  On 28/03/2011 at 18:08, Bhav said:

Yeah precisely, that was my apprehension too. But actually my using of firefox has changed very little because everything is just saved in a very similar way to the built-in password manager. The make-or-break will be whether or not it works smoothly when I'm using a different computer...which I'll test properly later.

When you're on another computer without lastpass and you login to your vault, double clicking or clicking visit URL does NOT automatically enter the password. You have to manually copy it which means clicking show.

edit: Just noticed your post above :p

[Bhav]

Yeah, think I might post on the official forums, see if they have a solution (or at the very least, highlight that it's something they should look into).

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

  On 28/03/2011 at 18:47, Bhav said:

Yeah, think I might post on the official forums, see if they have a solution (or at the very least, highlight that it's something they should look into).

Bookmarklets does the trick, the only thing is if you leave it as a bookmark on someones PC can they not just have a field trip with your passwords? Guess you just have to remember to log out of lastpass.com.

[Bhav]

  On 28/03/2011 at 18:51, Audioboxer said:

Bookmarklets does the trick, the only thing is if you leave it as a bookmark on someones PC can they not just have a field trip with your passwords? Guess you just have to remember to log out of lastpass.com.

Yeah you need to log out. Again, not ideal.

It really would be the best solution if you could just double click!

Anyway, will see what they say over there.

http://forums.lastpass.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=65639

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

  On 28/03/2011 at 18:56, Bhav said:

Yeah you need to log out. Again, not ideal.

It really would be the best solution if you could just double click!

Anyway, will see what they say over there.

http://forums.lastpass.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=65639

Look forward to seeing if there's any other solutions. I don't think they'll be able to get it working from double clicking - I think that only works for us as the plugin is installed. Don't think there will be a way to inject your username/password on a vanilla setup, hence why they have the bookmarklet option.

[Bhav]

Hmm yeah you're probably right there...I'm guessing it's the whole local encryption/plugin combo.

Gah, well I guess the bookmarklet is workable in most situations I'm likely to come across...and perhaps a relatively small price to pay for security.

While I was reading up on this, it kinda dawned on me how poor my password set up was. I mean, if one crappy website/forum I'd signed up to revealed my email address and password, anyone would have access to my amazon, play.com, paypal etc. Would be a *slight* disaster :unsure:

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

  On 28/03/2011 at 19:03, Bhav said:

Hmm yeah you're probably right there...I'm guessing it's the whole local encryption/plugin combo.

Gah, well I guess the bookmarklet is workable in most situations I'm likely to come across...and perhaps a relatively small price to pay for security.

While I was reading up on this, it kinda dawned on me how poor my password set up was. I mean, if one crappy website/forum I'd signed up to revealed my email address and password, anyone would have access to my amazon, play.com, paypal etc. Would be a *slight* disaster :unsure:

Same I used the same password for nearly everything, with a little bit of variation on some sites.

I guess the scare with lastpass though is if anyone gets THAT password you're royally ****ed :p

[+BudMan MVC]

you can always recover the password, and since you would be using the password prob daily, if not multiple times a day - if you forget it you clearly are severely mentally challenged ;) And prob wouldn't know the difference between a computer and a etch-a-sketch anyway ;)

http://helpdesk.lastpass.com/account-recovery/

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

  On 28/03/2011 at 19:49, BudMan said:

you can always recover the password, and since you would be using the password prob daily, if not multiple times a day - if you forget it you clearly are severely mentally challenged ;) And prob wouldn't know the difference between a computer and a etch-a-sketch anyway ;)

http://helpdesk.lastpass.com/account-recovery/

Me? I wasn't talking about forgetting my password, I meant if someone found it out :p