vb app idea

[joltremari]

In my work and school I have many things I have to log in to with different user names and passwords. I was thinking of trying to make myself an app that runs hidden (in system tray) and assign shortcut keys to auto-paste certain user names and/or passwords into the forms. I am wondering if this is possible or too difficult to bother with it. Any hints, suggestions, or ideas are greatly appreciated.

JO

[RhinoBull]

I wouldn't recommend such thing - it's a good way for someone to get your stuff figurally speaking. I personally never use "Save Password" or "Remember Me On This Computer" options available in IE6. User name doesn't mean much without a password but on the other hand is already half way for someone to break through your security settings. Passwords are different however - don't store them, don't write them - memorize them all regardless.

[HellRaider]

Thry this. It will first check if 'ctrl' button has been pressed then it will check if you pressed the 'p' button after it. It will then delete the 'p' and add the word "password"

Private Declare Function GetAsyncKeyState Lib "user32" (ByVal vKey As Long) As Integer
Dim ctrlpress
 
Private Sub Form_Load()
Timer1.Interval = 100
End Sub
 
Private Sub Timer1_Timer()
    For Cnt = 32 To 300
        'Get the keystate of a specified key
        If GetAsyncKeyState(Cnt) <> 0 Then
            If Chr$(Cnt) = "¢" Then ctrlpress = 1 'ctrl has been pressed
            Exit For
        End If
    Next Cnt
    
    For Cnt = 32 To 300
        'Get the keystate of a specified key
        If GetAsyncKeyState(Cnt) <> 0 Then
            If Chr$(Cnt) = "P" And ctrlpress = 1 Then '  check if p has been pressed after
                SendKeys "{BKSP}"
                SendKeys "Password"
            End If
            Exit For
        End If
    Next Cnt
End Sub

hope it helps. I also agree with RhinoBull, as if your at school and it falls into the wrong hands then you've lost all.

[dglienna]

that's my problem. this year's resolution is to find a better way to secure passwords. it's one thing if you use only one machine, but if you are on different systems, then you should not have an app to remember them. whatever you do to get them could just as easily be used to get them without your presence. there are already tools out there (Norton) that do these things, except that they are not transportable. for critical sites, I always remember the passwords. it's pretty hard to remember 30 different passwords, though. there isn't really a good solution.

[joltremari]

Yeah, I understand what you're saying, but I would only use this feature on my laptop. I wouldn't use it anywhere else I just meant for my laptop in my apartment. It would just help me in that I wouldn't have to remember so many of them and I wouldn't have to write them down and take a chance on forgetting to throw it away or hide it, and I wouldn't have to use one of those "password" keeper programs, or something I'm going to have to open a program everytime I need one. If I had them set up with some shortcut keys it would be much easier.

[dglienna]

for your laptop, you could use Norton, which will supply username and password for many sites, once you've logged on. usually, though, you could just as easily have a txt file with them, or else, a program that has a list of sites, that automatically enters username and password. Passwords are a real hassle.

Then, you have to worry about the laptop itself. what if it gets stolen? then you're giving away your life, practically. I'll be glad when they giet fingerprint technology out in the mainstream. I'd rather carry around a USB reader if it would allow me to access passwords from anywhere.

[baja_yu]

I dont think there is a BULLET proof way of keeping your passwords from being stolen, not even remembering them (I don't mean that someone can read your mind, but maybe someone can torture you to get it). But seriously, I dont think anyone will do that for you email password

Maybe the best way (for now) is to have an encrypted file to hold a list of usernames and passwords...