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If you’re an Internet junkie (who isn’t), then you will find Roboform indispensable. It’s the kind of utility that grows on you, and over time you’ll come to realize just how much easier and safer your online surfing experience can be by using this browser toolbar plug-in.

Pass on the Cookies and Windows Auto-Fill

First, a word on Cookies and Windows’ Auto-fill feature: both are used to capture and maintain information entered into form fields, to make your life easier the next time you come to that particular form on that particular page. Nice. But inherently unsafe. 123 Technology’s recommendation: don’t ever choose the ‘remember my password’ choice on a web site where you’ve just entered your username and password. This goes straight to a cookie (a text file), where a very simple and crackable encryption algorithm is applied. It’s unsafe. Don’t do it. Consider yourself warned : )

As far as Windows auto-fill, it’s unclear just where Windows stores this information. Scary. Instead…

Passcards

Roboform saves what it calls ‘Passcards,’ which are something like browser bookmarks on steroids. A passcard stores not only the URL, or web site location, but also login information such as username and password. When you click on a Passcard from the Roboform toolbar in your browser, it automatically:

1. Goes to the website
2. Enters your field information, such as username and password in the appropriate field
3. Hits the Enter key for you, so that you are automatically signed on

Do a lot of Google searching? How about being able to auto search on pre-saved search keywords or phrases? You can save a particular word or phrase that you enter in the Google search field as a Passcard. Then, select the Passcard, and steps 1,2, and 3, above, will happen automatically.

You can also create and save a Windows shortcut to any Passcard you want. So, if there is a site or a few sites that you access very frequently, you just need to double-click the shortcut. That will open your browser automatically, and then perform steps 1, 2, and 3, above.

Personal Profiles and Web Forms.

Roboform lets you create and store personal profiles containing information such as your Name, Mailing Addresses, Phone Numbers, Email Addresses, Instant Messaging Account Information, Business Information, Bank Account data, Credit Cards information, and more. Enter as much or as little as you like. You can then use your Personal Profile to automatically fill in web forms. You can on-the-fly select from multiple addresses, multiple credit cards, and so on, to choose what data to enter in a form.

Safenotes

You can also create sticky-notes style files containing any secret text data for just about anything. These are also encrypted and protected by Roboform (see below about Passwords and Encryption).

Password Generator

Added Bonus Feature: Do you want to create a password that is actually secure, instead of using your standard password ‘fluffy67′? The Roboform toolbar has a Password Generator, which will generate a randomized passwords with all the criteria you request (such as length, whether it needs to include uppercase, lowercase, numbers, etc.). Then you can copy and paste the strong password, and save it in a Passcard. Never use the same password twice, and get safe by throwing away your old standards.

Master Password and Encryption

All Roboform files and data, and access to them, can be protected from prying eyes (or fingers) with a Master Password that you can set. All files are encrypted with a virtually uncrackable, worldwide standard encryption algorithm.

IMPORTANT NOTE: YOU MUST REMEMBER YOUR MASTER PASSWORD. IF YOU FORGET THAT, THEN YOUR ALL YOUR ROBOFORM DATA WILL BE LOST TO YOU (OR ANYONE ELSE) FOREVER!

Backup and Restore

You MUST backup your Roboform data. If a lightning bolt hits your computer and your hard disk is destroyed, your Roboform data will be gone, too. If you’ve stored username/password information on hundreds of sites like me, you’ll know what pain and panic really feel like.

Roboform has a rudimentary Backup capability which really just copies your data from its home folder to another folder of your choice. We strongly recommend that you periodically print out your entire Roboform data and save the hardcopy in a very safe place, away from your computer.

But Wait! There’s More!

Of course; there’s always more. But we can’t spend any more time or space on this gem of a utility. Download yourself a copy (free for up to 20 saved passcards) and read the manual. I know you don’t read manuals. Read this one. You’ll be amazed at all the other features.

Enjoy!