Filed under: Internet, Security, Browsers
LastPass now handles logins and form filling in any browser
Since I started using LastPass, it's become one of my top three Firefox addons. Yesterday, the development team released a new feature that allows you to securely access your passwords even if you're not using the Firefox or IE plugins.
LastPass can now work from a bookmarklet - great news for users of Opera, Google Chrome, Kmeleon, or virtually any browser on any platform that supports Javascript. It even works on your iPhone or iPod Touch.
To install the bookmarklet, log in at LastPass.com and look for the icon on the left side of your control panel. Click it, and an overlay appears with three links: LastPass Login, Fill (for passwords), and Fill Forms. Just drag them to your bookmark toolbar and you're set.
Joe Siegrist of LastPass offered a rundown of how the process works:
LastPass can now work from a bookmarklet - great news for users of Opera, Google Chrome, Kmeleon, or virtually any browser on any platform that supports Javascript. It even works on your iPhone or iPod Touch.
To install the bookmarklet, log in at LastPass.com and look for the icon on the left side of your control panel. Click it, and an overlay appears with three links: LastPass Login, Fill (for passwords), and Fill Forms. Just drag them to your bookmark toolbar and you're set.
Joe Siegrist of LastPass offered a rundown of how the process works:
"Your bookmarklets have a random number embedded in them that is generated locally using JavaScript, and then that number is embedded into the bookmarklet's code (also with Javascript). A hash is then created of that (which is also salted with your username) and sent to LastPass as a way to grab an encrypted copy of your key (encrypted with the locally created random number).While it's not action footage, the gallery will show you what steps to go through. Getting the bookmarklets on your iPod or iPhone requires adding them on your desktop and then performing a sync.
Your actual key can then be decrypted from a login session with LastPass.com + the local 256-bit random number. This allows LastPass to offer [bookmarklet] functionality while staying true to the privacy statement of never having access to your sensitive data."
The LastPass addon is a free download and works on Windows, Mac, and Linux. You don't need it to use the bookmarklets, though - just register for an account and use the web management page to add login and form filler information.
All my saved logins from years of browsing with Firefox can now be easily (and securely) accessed in Chrome, Opera, and on my iPod with a simple little button.
LastPass rocks.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Megarain said 11:54AM on 1-20-2009
Gah! I hate syncing to my desktop. I don't use IE, I use Firefox. But I only want some Firefox bookmarks. But it doesn't matter, does it. I'm not allowed any anyways.
Reply
Joe Siegrist said 1:44PM on 1-20-2009
The syncing is nearly invisible to you generally and is a complete non-factor when using the Bookmarklets -- though I'm not sure you're commenting about LastPass.
Alex M said 11:56AM on 1-20-2009
That looks pretty good. I've been using PassPack for a while, but I think I'll have to try this out.
Thanks!
Reply
Erik said 11:59AM on 1-20-2009
LP has been kicking ass and taking names since its release. This is a must-have application/service - it is superior to any of the competition and continues to be improved upon. I can't wait to see what other tricks the LP team has up its sleeve.
Get it now!
Reply
Ghoti said 11:59AM on 1-20-2009
Sure, it's free now, but realistically, how long could they give it away like that? I could totally see them going the way of other companies that offered free stuff, then said something like, "we hate to do this, but we are going to be forced to start charging a monthly fee for this service."
That said, it's a cool idea, and the service looks pretty good.
Reply
Lee Mathews said 12:01PM on 1-20-2009
I expect you'll see a reply to this from Joe. He's usually pretty active here once a post goes up!
Joe Siegrist said 1:40PM on 1-20-2009
Ghoti - we've promised publicly not to pull the rug out from under our users like this -- we've benefited from the feedback of our beta users -- they've helped and continue to help us make a great product.
At some point we may need to change our licensing terms, but if we were forced to go that route, that would impact new users.
Joe
Ghoti said 4:21PM on 1-20-2009
Joe - Thanks for the information. I'll certainly check out your site, looks very useful. My statement was specifically because I have seen what I described happen many times in the past. I truly hope that you are able to keep this free for those using it now into the future.
Wojtek said 3:17AM on 1-21-2009
I would be more cautious about giving my private data ( especially passwords) to some strange people. I know it's convenient to have all passwords in all places where we can use web browser but is it secure, I doubt it. I prefer to store my data locally in some secure application like KeePass or TrueCrypt which give more security to my data.
Reply
Joe Siegrist said 1:42PM on 1-20-2009
You're not trusting us with passwords, you're trusting LastPass with encrypted data. And we're not that strange!
Feel free to learn about the technology and decide for yourself:
https://lastpass.com/technology.php
Trusting TrueCrypt has always been difficult for me since the author(s) are anonymous.
Joe
Wojtek said 3:50AM on 1-21-2009
@Joe
Thank you for the link. I think that time will tell if storing the passwords in this manner is a good idea.
Lee Mathews said 1:42PM on 1-20-2009
BTW, this is wicked awesome on the iPod touch.
Reply
Joe Siegrist said 1:53PM on 1-20-2009
We've very happy with how well the iPhone and iPod touch are working -- we're going to have to make a native app for them sooner rather than later so you don't have to sync your bookmarklets over.
hpearce said 2:34PM on 1-20-2009
Certainly doesn't work with Opera for me !
Reply
Lee Mathews said 2:54PM on 1-20-2009
Just tested it in Opera 9.63, and it's working just fine. I added it to a normal bookmark folder and tried it on Ping.fm, no problemo!
Joe Siegrist said 3:11PM on 1-20-2009
Not only does it work in opera -- it works on Opera Mini, which is a lot tougher. If you want to send an email to support@LastPass.com we'd be happy to help you with the issue.
Howard Pearce said 9:27AM on 1-21-2009
OK, does not seem to work in Opera 10
Elliott said 11:01PM on 1-20-2009
1Password has done this as well. I have a bookmarklet in my Safari/iPod bookmarks and it contains my login information. When I want to access a site, I hit the bookmarklet and it will ask me for my password and then fill the fields. I use both 1Password and Lastpass to have access to my login info.
However, this is pretty cool. A good and free service gets even better. Yet another reason to recommend it to friends.
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Jon said 4:05AM on 1-21-2009
I like LastPass (for firefox) and use it to encrypt/synchronise my passwords. It'd be great if the context-menu additions were optional; I don't think they're necessary because of the toolbar button. It'd also be nice if the notifications were optional too.
Reply
Joe Siegrist said 5:12PM on 1-21-2009
The notifications are optional (see Preferences), as are where they're placed (top or bottom).
As far as the context menus are you talking about the right click on the page or the one on the LastPass button?