Firefox software security device 2006 May 28 22:02
Posted by diamond in : Random , 6 commentsFirefox, by default, will offer to remember usernames/passwords etc for sites. I find this to be a very useful feature. However, i’m not all that happy about leaving such potentially sensitive material lying around unencrypted. So, when i found the following option, i was able to sleep much happier at night.
The software security device in firefox allows you to set a master password which is used to encrypt the passwords it stores on your hard drive. Once you set it, you’ll be prompted for the master password the first time firefox needs to access the data that session (though, annoyingly, i think this has been changed to being asked immediately on startup in the most recent releases).
To set the master password go to tools -> options -> advanced -> security -> security devices -> software security device -> change password.
*Update*
Thanks to mikael for pointing out there’s a much easier way to set it these days.
- On windows: tools -> options -> privacy -> passwords -> set master password
- On linux: edit -> preferences -> privacy -> passwords -> set master password
- On osx: firefox -> preferences -> privacy -> passwords -> set master password
No, i don’t understand why the windows and linux layouts are different. Osx at least has a decent reason for differing.
