One good thing of web applications is the ability to access them from any Internet enabled computer. However logging in to online services from public computers such as those found in internet cafes and libraries could expose your online credentials to keyloggers.

To some, keystroke logging could appear as a remote threat, but it’s not and it can be easily achieved by both hardware and software means. Hardware key loggers can be easily bought from legitimate vendors, while writing software applications for keylogging is trivial, and like any computer program software keyloggers can be distributed as a trojan horse or as part of a virus.

How to defeat keyloggers? How can I safely access my online accounts without revealing usernames and passwords to keyloggers?

There are several approaches: anti-spywares to detect them, firewalls to prevent transmission over the net of the stolen data, on-screen keyboards and several others. All of them provide only a partial protections and often require administrator rights. Not very useful on public computers.

Clipperz password manager now offers an optimal solutions: one-time passphrases combined with one-click logins!

A one-time passphrase works like a regular Clipperz passphrase, but it can be used only once. If the same passphrase is used again at a later stage in a login attempt it will be rejected and the login process will fail.

Suppose you are on vacation, but you need to check your webmail and bank accounts for some important work stuff. There is a nice internet cafe just in front of your hotel. You sit at one of the several computers available. The place is crowded, you notice fe people peering over your shoulders, moreover the Windows XP workstation you grabbed looks really suspicious: pop-ups everywhere, weird programs running in background, bulgy keyboard connectors, …

It’s a keylogging ambush, but you know a smooth and secure path out of it!

1. Login to your Clipperz account using a one-time passaphrase.
2. Click on the webmail direct login. Click on your bank direct login.
3. Enjoy your exclusive online safety!

To learn more about using one-time passphrases in Clipperz, see this page.