This column will presuppose you have your browser set up to automatically save your websites’ passwords. Some people do not but many do save their passwords in their browser so they can very quickly log into websites. I use it in Google Chrome but you can do the same thing in all of the major browsers.
One day you may want to see what your password but you cannot due to the asterisks. You know, the, "********" that appears in the password text box. If you want to see the password in full text you can download special software to do that but it is just as easy to use your browser.
They are all similarly accessed expect for the newer Microsoft Edge browser. However, from what I understand not many people us Edge in the real world.
Do view your passwords using Chrome click the "hamburger" (three stacked horizontal lines) in the upper right corner. Next, "Settings." In the search box at the top type, "passwords" then scroll to the bottom and click, "Manage passwords." From the Search Passwords box type the site you are looking for and as you type the site will appear. Click on the site and then on the right then click, "Show." You may have to enter your computer’s login password depending on your settings. There you go, you can see your password in Google Chrome.
For Firefox it is similar. Click the same, hamburger, then Options, next Security and finally click, "Saved logins" at the bottom. Finally follow the similar search process, click the site in the list and at the bottom click, "Show Passwords." After you say yes to the, "Are you sure…" question you have your password.
The older versions of Microsoft Internet Explorer are very similar so I bet you can figure them out. But the later versions and Edge are of course different to reveal passwords. Thanks MS for that headache!
For newer versions of MSIE and EDGE, click on Start button, type "Control Panel", then User Accounts and select your account if you have more than one on the computer. Once on your account page, on the left click, "Manage your credentials" and if not select click on the Web Credentials button. On that page you will see a list of your Web Passwords. Click the right edge of the one you want to see and you will see the word, "Show" at the bottom of the page. Done.
This is an easy way to check your passwords.
PLEASE KEEP IN MIND it is easy for you and it is easy for bad guys too. Make sure you lock your computer with a complicated password, lock your computer when you are in a coffee shop and you walk away (use Windows key + L). Always be very careful and extremely circumspect with your computer, phones, tablets, etc.
