Password Safe

Password Safe

Password Safe is a strong contender in a large field of similar applications. The irritation of its obtuse interface is lessened by the inclusion of a thorough Help file and a healthy stable of features.

The arrangement of the icons on the toolbars and lack of text under the icons meant having to hunt for the right tools. However, after wading through the interface, the various functions all seemed well conceived and well executed. The capability to install in “portable mode” proved to be an extremely useful feature. Password creation is also another strong point, with the capability to tailor the creation feature. When adding a new entry, the password “strength” check could be more aggressive, instead of waiting until final submission of the entry, but at least the program let users continue even if the password they’ve entered is deemed “weak.” The inclusion of a KeePass database import function is a plus for users of that software, and though there is no KeePass export, there are various other import and export formats available.

During use, the program was responsive and did not crash, and all the features we tested performed as expected. The installer (in desktop mode) placed an icon on the desktop without asking, and uninstalling the program left some items behind in the install directory. Database encryption and the portable-mode installation option make this a fine choice for managing all your various passwords.