Any user, when actively working on the Internet, accumulates many passwords from various sites, mail clients, shops and pages on social networks. It is almost impossible to remember all of them – some servers generate codes themselves, consisting of complex combinations. To make it easier for users, browsers offer services for remembering and transferring passwords, but this is not secure, because your information may fall into the wrong hands. Then the LastPass plugin comes to the rescue: what it is and how to use it, we will tell you further.
Working with the LastPass password manager.
What is LastPass
The LastPass extension is built into the browser and serves as a password manager : it helps to sort them, save and secure them. It uses the cloud for storage, so even if a PC, tablet or phone falls into the wrong hands, it won’t have any credential information. Passwords are encoded using the Randall system, which has never been successfully attacked by hackers, and programmers believe they can be trusted. The app is built for multiple platforms and is free, but has advanced features for $ 3 a month.
Capabilities
Depending on which version of the program you choose: paid or free, a set of functionality is provided. Possibilities of the first:
- Safe storage of passwords: you can add, change, delete, sort, customize their use.
- Access from any device: the application can be synchronized on a PC , phone, tablet and used with comfort.
- The ability to share passwords with another person, set up sharing.
- Automatic filling of forms for entering a password – it is enough to save it in the system once.
- Strong password generator: the application will compose and remember it.
- “Protected records” option: allows you to store the data of bank cards and payment systems without the risk of losing them.
- Password strength check, reminder that it’s time to change the code.
- Multi-factor authentication: For security, you can request additional verification of your identity before entering the site.
The premium version provides advanced features:
- Sending passwords to be shared with multiple people.
- “Emergency access” option in case of force majeure situations.
- Technical support without waiting.
- 1 GB of cloud storage .
Installing an extension
Installing the extension is easy: just go to the developer’s official website from the device on which the installation is planned. The system will automatically recognize which distribution you need. You will also have to register and remember the password for your LastPass account. Be careful – this is the only code that is important to know by heart in order to access all the rest.
Transferring passwords to the manager
The application has another interesting feature – automatic password transfer. It is very convenient to use it so that you do not have to enter data manually.
- Open the extension menu and options: More options – Advanced – Import – Other.
- Select where you want to copy passwords from.
If you need, on the contrary, to export everything available from LastPass, then there is such a function too – you will receive a document with a collection of information.
Adding a site
To replenish the list with a new code for an account on the site, you need to do the following:
- Specify the site address.
- Call it whatever you like, as long as you understand.
- Select a category for placement.
- Enter login and password.
- Provide an explanatory annotation (optional).
There are also advanced options at the bottom, check the boxes if you need them:
- re-enter password;
- automatic logon;
- to cancel the autocomplete.
The site will appear in the general list. In the future, you can perform various actions with him:
- change all filled fields;
- delete;
- open access to others;
- create a backup ;
- transfer to another category;
- copy data;
- copy the website address;
- go on the website.
If you accidentally deleted an item from the list, you can restore it by clicking More options – Advanced – Deleted items.
Filling out forms
On some resources, for example, in online stores, it may be required not only to enter a login / password, but also to fill out an entire questionnaire: indicating the name, surname, mailing address, passport data, e-mail, phone number, age and gender. If you fill out a similar form in LastPass (Add Form Fill tab), then in the future in the fields on any sites this information will appear automatically.
Share password
To transfer the password to the person who uses the account with you, you need to open the Share An Item section and enter the recipient’s e-mail in the line, and then click the “Share” button. You will receive a confirmation letter by email, and your friend will receive a link. If you go to it, you will see a message: “You have been given a password from such and such an account, do you want to accept it?” After that, the code can be used to sign in.
security check
You can check the strength of all your passwords using the corresponding function. The service will analyze and show you:
- how easy or difficult they are to break;
- are there any that are used on different sites and pose a risk of data loss;
- outdated, which you have not used for a long time.
Through the button “Open site” you can immediately change the code and save it again.
Password generator
The application can come up with a strong password for you: just specify the required parameters. If you want to remember it, then ask for a “pronounceable password” – it will be easier to understand, but at the same time difficult to break. Also, the generator will solve the problem with codes for “demanding” sites that insist on a certain number of characters, various combinations of numbers and letters, case change, etc.
Configuring Authentication
To further protect the login to a site, you can configure multi-level verification. To do this, you can use either the LastPass Authenticator mobile app or receive a code via SMS. In the first case, you need to enable two-factor authentication in the browser, then go to the Play Market or AppStore and download the application. The browser will offer a QR code, it needs to be scanned from a smartphone for the application to sync with the plugin, and then a number that needs to be entered into both the PC and the phone. You can also select “Set up SMS” and specify the phone number to which the confirmation codes will be sent. Both methods can be used simultaneously, working on a site where data protection is extremely important, for example, in an electronic wallet.
LastPass on Mobile
For smartphones and tablets, there is an application of the same name that works under one account with the PC version and is capable of storing passwords from various installed software. The interface here is slightly different, given the specifics of mobile software, but it’s easy to figure it out.
Removing an extension
Now let’s talk about how to uninstall LastPass if you no longer need it:
- First, make sure you have all the passwords stored in it. It is best to use the export function right away and get a file with your information.
- The PC plug-in is removed in the standard way, through the “Control Panel” – “Add or Remove Programs”.
- The mobile application is also removed as usual: by dragging the shortcut to the trash.
