Getting started with LastPass password management

Published on 14th November 2011 01:52 PM

LastPass is a free password management utility that is not only easy to use but powerful and secure at the same time. It offers secure password generation, storage and automatic completion of password fields on all of your favourite web sites as well as form completion and many other features.As we at EduGeek take the security of our members’ accounts very seriously we have created this guide to help you keep them as secure as possible. Installation and configuration of LastPass will take you about 3 minutes and will provide you with a highly useful free tool you will be able to use wherever you are as well as on multiple operating systems and mobile platforms such as Android, iPhone, Blackberry and Windows Mobile (Premium feature).

Installation

1. Open a web browser and visit www.lastpass.com
2. Click on ‘Download LastPass’

3. Choose the client for your computer. The correct client should already be highlighted

4. Once downloaded double click the installation file to begin installing LastPass
At the first screen click ‘Next’

5. Check the options for all of the browsers you have installed then click ‘Next’

6. Allow LastPass to close any open browsers for you by clicking ‘Close Programs’

7. Click ‘I do not have a LastPass account, create one for me’ then click ‘Next’

8. Fill out your registration details and check all three boxes before clicking ‘Next’

9. Re-enter your LastPass password then click ‘Save’ *Please keep a note of your password as LastPass do not store it for you!*

10. If you want to have LastPass scan your computer for stored and cached passwords (recommended) check ‘Yes, let me choose which items I want to import into LastPass’ and click ‘Next’

11. You will then be presented with a list of passwords that have been found on your computer from any of the browsers you have installed. If you wish LastPass to store these leave them checked and click ‘Next’

12. LastPass will then give you the option to delete all of the unsecured passwords it has found. If you are happy to have LastPass store them for you check the ‘Remove all items’ option or one of the others if you wish to manually select some or all of the passwords you wish to keep on your computer

13. Installation and setup is complete. Select the options you wish LastPass to do and click ‘Next’

14. Open your web browser. Please note that you will have to manually authorise the installation of the LastPass add-on. If you see a message like those shown below please allow LastPass to install the browser add-on

15. Once your browser is opened, look for the LastPass icon at the top of your browser. If the icon is grey you are not currently logged on to LastPass. If it is red you are. LastPass should not be logged on the first time you open your browser after installation

16. Click the icon to open the logon dialog box and enter your password then click ‘Login’. Please note that if your computer or laptop has a fingerprint reader you may be invited to use this as your method of authenticating against LastPass instead of manually inputting your password. Follow the onscreen instructions to set this up

17. You will then be presented with the list of passwords (if any) that LastPass detected as part of the setup procedure in your browser which are now stored securely on your computer. Feel free to close this browser window

Using LastPass to Generate or Change Passwords

LastPass has the ability to generate, insert and store high strength passwords for you as well as detecting and automatically filling out password fields for you when either joining a new site requiring password access or changing an existing online password. This short tutorial will show you how to use this rather handy feature. In this example I have chosen to create an account on avforums.com. This method will work on any site requiring you to fill out a new password field.
Ensure LastPass is logged in (see steps 16-17 above)

1. On a website registration page once you click on the password field you will get a browser toolbar appear asking whether you would like LastPass to generate a secure password. Click ‘Generate’

2. Once you have clicked ‘Generate’ a box will appear with a random, secure password shown in the dropdown box. If you are not happy with this password you can click ‘Generate’ and a new password will be generated. If you click ‘Accept’ the password will then be entered into all relevant fields and stored in your password vault

This procedure also works when changing an existing password on web sites. Once you click on a box to enter a new password LastPass will open a browser bar asking whether you would like it to generate a password for you and the steps are identical to those shown in the previous example.

Other Features
To access the other features that LastPass has to offer such as automatic online form completion, credit/debit card details and many others simply click on the simply click on the LastPass Icon in your browser window.

Attached Files

homepage.jpg (14.8 KB, 157 views)

Categories:
Site News

27 Comments

EduTech - 14th November 2011, 03:24 PM
- Reply
I use this all the time myself, it is very good!! :-) I recommend it to a lot of people... (ZH introduced this to me a few months back)

James.

sonofsanta - 14th November 2011, 03:29 PM
- Reply
Was recommending this in a thread just the other day. Works brilliantly.

Top tips:
1) If forms aren't filling out correctly (e.g. your username is being put in the search box), right click in the username field, go down to the LastPass menu and choose autofill from there.
2) LastPass now works with Google Authenticator for free multi-factor authentication on any smartphone - more info at Google Authenticator « LastPass User Manual

CHR1S - 14th November 2011, 03:38 PM
- Reply
Thanks DB, does this not work with Chrome tho?

Edit - you have to manually install the plugin (man im lazy today)

Admiral208 - 14th November 2011, 04:23 PM
- Reply
Sorry of this is a really obvious question/already answered, but if i install this on my machine and use it to generate a password for edugeek for example and then I want to log on to another machine without LastPass, can I still do that or do I need the software?

sonofsanta - 14th November 2011, 04:28 PM
- Reply
Originally Posted by Admiral208

Sorry of this is a really obvious question/already answered, but if i install this on my machine and use it to generate a password for edugeek for example and then I want to log on to another machine without LastPass, can I still do that or do I need the software?

You can always just go to the lastpass.com website and login to access your password vault, so you only need to install the plugin on machines you use regularly.

Dos_Box - 14th November 2011, 04:31 PM
- Reply
As long as you have the password (it is just a site password after all) you can use that to login. Go to Start-All Programs-LastPass-My LastPass Vault to show the save passwords list. Highlight Edugeek and click 'Edit' (on the right hand side). Once the pop-up box appears click 'Show (beneath password) to reveal your stored password.

CHR1S - 14th November 2011, 05:49 PM
- Reply
It even supports biometrics, I can swipe my finger to log in.... sweet :-)

pcstru - 14th November 2011, 05:57 PM
- Reply
So ... a site then stores ALL of my passwords. And this site is as secure as maybe ... Sony, Steam ... err edugeek?

I'd love something that makes using stronger passwords easier but I'm a little nervous of putting all the eggs from my golden geese in one basket which I'll then let some anon organisation look after.

Dos_Box - 14th November 2011, 07:03 PM
- Reply
It is trustworthy. Even they do not have access to your passwords because they are encrypted on their servers. Only you can see them. You also keep a copy on your local machine should their service become unavailable.

nephilim - 14th November 2011, 08:13 PM
- Reply
If I have this installed on more than 1 machine will my account transfer the data required to those machines? EG Home PC and Work Laptop (or to that effect)?

Dos_Box - 14th November 2011, 08:25 PM
- Reply
Yes it will. I installed it to a laptop this afternoon to check and it worked fine.

nephilim - 14th November 2011, 08:35 PM
- Reply
Sweet, will get it later then

Arthur - 14th November 2011, 08:35 PM
- Reply
Originally Posted by pcstru

And this site is as secure as maybe ... Sony, Steam ... err edugeek?

LastPass is much more secure than all of those websites.

As Dos_Box mentioned, your passwords are encrypted and salted locally before they are transferred to their servers. In addition to that, LastPass supports multi-factor authentication systems such as Google Authenticator and YubiKey, you can set auto-logoff timeouts for both the browser extensions and the website (ranging from 5 minutes to 2 weeks, or as soon as your browser is closed), and anyone attempting to login as you from an unrecognized computer would be denied access even if they knew your master password (similar to Steam Guard).

I have been using LastPass for several years now and currently have over 500 passwords stored in my account. I feel confident they will remain safe and secure, despite a possible hacking attempt earlier this year. The key is to choose a good master passphrase or password and use the additional security protections LastPass provide.

acrobson - 14th November 2011, 08:53 PM
- Reply
I've used KeePass and find it more re-assuring that my data is stored where I choose it to be by me and move it around manually. It too is available on most platforms like Lastpass.Everyone has there favorites though. That's IT for you!

markcuk - 14th November 2011, 08:57 PM
- Reply
and why are we suddenly pushing this? did someone leave a laptop lying around with access to the edugeek admin accounts? Just wondering thats all glad its back

acrobson - 14th November 2011, 09:03 PM
- Reply
Also, the LastPast Android app charges after a trial period too. Granted it does 'sync' all your accounts to each of your devices. Personally I prefer managing this myself.Just thought I'd mention it before people go and set up their LastPass account and passwords and find they can't access it on their Android platform after 14 days.Good to see Edugeek back though!

Arthur - 14th November 2011, 09:18 PM
- Reply
Originally Posted by acrobson

Personally I prefer managing this myself.

When you use numerous web browsers across multiple PCs, the alternatives start to become a major hassle. I originally started with 1Password, switched to KeePass, then RoboForm and finally settled on LastPass because it works with pretty much every operating system, browser and device currently available.

CHR1S - 14th November 2011, 09:22 PM
- Reply
Originally Posted by markcuk

and why are we suddenly pushing this? did someone leave a laptop lying around with access to the edugeek admin accounts? Just wondering thats all glad its back

I think its a gesture from EG admin for the hassle caused (the free premium accounts that is)

matt40k - 15th November 2011, 11:46 AM
- Reply
What's wrong with KeePass?

plexer - 15th November 2011, 12:27 PM
- Reply
Originally Posted by matt40k

What's wrong with KeePass?

Nobody said anything was wrong with any password storage services.

Maybe it should have been titled "Getting started with LastPass password management - other services are available"

Ben