Passwords: Recover Lost Passwords with Free Tools

0atwong • 10th Jun 2008 • Conversation Pieces

Passwords: Recover Lost Passwords with Free Tools
ACCESS DENIED. Those two bone-chilling words are the last thing you want to see when youre trying to log into a system or open a file, but theyre not necessarily a dead end. Several free tools can help you find lost passwords you cant remember or that your computer has saved but obscured. Lets take a look at a few free remedies for lost password panic when youre trying to log onto a computer, network, or just figure out whats behind that string of asterisks.

Before we start, two things: First, use the information and utilities below to recover your own passwords, or to help out your desperate relative or co-worker with their consent—not to snoop in other peoples stuff. Second, to avoid these last-resort password recovery utilities forever, use an encrypted database to keep track of your passwords.