Most secure option: WebBrowserPassView can't retrieve passwords that are encrypted with a master password, though. If third-party utilities like this can recover the data, malware running under your user account might also be able to access the data.

Because of this, it's easy for your passwords to be revealed with tools such as Nirsoft's WebBrowserPassView. Both IE and Chrome, however, use your computer login password as the cipher for the encrypted data. Internet Explorer is more secure because it doesn't let you view saved passwords, and it also doesn't sync your data across computers. In Chrome, for example, you (or anyone who hacks into your computer) can just go to the browser's settings and click on the show button in the preferences tab to reveal any saved password. Security weaknesses: The biggest problem with saving your passwords in your browser is that it's not hard for someone who gains access to your computer to also access all your passwords. If the browser has a feature to sync your data between your computers and other devices, the information is saved in its encrypted format to an online account (e.g., Google if you're using Chrome or your Firefox Sync account on Mozilla). How they work: Browsers store your passwords in encrypted databases or registry entries stored locally on your computer. This is convenient, because you don't have to download or set up another app, but it's not the most secure or robust option. IE, Chrome, Firefox, and other browsers can save your logins and basic information for automatic form-filling. Let's take a look at these tools and how they stack up against each other in terms of security. There are many to choose from, though, including your browser's built-in password saving feature.

Password managers are all designed to take the pain out of remembering hundreds of unique passwords-a necessity if you want to minimize your security risks. Your Clever Password Tricks Aren't Protecting You from Today's Hackers

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