There are many password management facilities out there, but not all have the flexibility of LastPass 1.70.1 because this is one of the few to make use of the cloud in order to give you superior access to your various essential login details for whatever services you use most frequently. The basic version of LastPass can be downloaded free of charge and if you like it you might consider upgrading to the premium edition, but there is no requirement that you do so if you are happy with the standard tools.
LastPass is ostensibly a browser add-on and it doffs its hat to this fact when you install it for the first time by giving you the option to just augment your browser of choice. However, it is sensible to choose the universal install option, as this will make it available in Chrome, Firefox and of course good old Internet Explorer, so there will be no need to worry when you switch browsers about losing out on LastPass functionality.
You will need to create an account with LastPass when you first install, as this will get you access to the list of login details which you store on the service. After your account is ready the software will request that it is allowed to take all of your passwords from your PC and place them securely on cloud servers which have full high-end encryption. Interestingly, once this process is complete, it will ask you whether or not it should delete your passwords, which are still stored on your PC. This is an option which you can choose if you want total security, but it does mean that LastPass will really have a tight grip on your life from that point onwards, so it might be worth trying the software before you make this commitment. In time you will come to appreciate that this is probably a good course of action.
LastPass adds an icon to your browser's tool bar coloured in either grey or red. When it is red it shows that you are signed into your LastPass account. If this status is identified, you will be able to view all of your passwords on a spreadsheet-style interface just by clicking the icon. Login details can be organised by their type into different folders and the program lets you know when you last accessed a particular password, along with giving you the option to edit entries or delete them entirely.
The main changes that upgrading to the premium version of LastPass will instigate are the availability of the mobile version of the software, along with the blocking of adverts from the service. For most the free edition will be perfectly functional but if you have a smartphone and require regular access to your passwords, then upgrading might be an option.
While the browser plugins will work while you are at home, thanks to LastPass' cloud capabilities, you can see your passwords from any PC with net access via its website. It even helps you to avoid keyloggers by creating an onscreen keyboard when you edit your passwords. In all it is very secure, performs well and should be eminently useful to the right person.