Online Password Manager
An online password manager is a website that securely stores login details. They are a web-based version of more conventional desktop-based password manager.
The advantages of online password managers over desktop-based versions are portability (they can generally be used on any computer with a web browser and a network connection, without having to install software), and a reduced risk of losing passwords through theft from or damage to a single PC - also the same risk is present for the server that is used to store the users passwords on. In both cases this risk can be prevented by ensuring secure backups are taken.
The major disadvantages of online password managers are the requirements that you trust the hosting site and a keylogger is not on the computer you’re using. With servers and the cloud being a focus of cyber attacks, how one authenticates into the online service and that the passwords stored there are encrypted with a user defined key are just as important. Again, users tend to circumvent security for convenience. Another important factor is whether one or two way encryption is used.
There are mixed solutions. Some online password management systems like FortNotes or MoiParoli distribute their source code. It can be checked and installed separately.
The use of a web-based password manager is an alternative to single sign-on techniques, such as OpenID or Microsoft's Windows Live ID scheme (formerly Passport), or may serve as a stop-gap measure pending adoption of a better method.
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