Logio Secure Password Organizer protects your passwords the hard way

A standalone device that safely manages all your passwords isn't exactly the worst of ideas, but the folks from Atek sure seem to have done their best to make it seem like one, at least if Wired's hands-on of the device is any indication. As you can see above, this one is a 1980s pocket calculator-style device, and requires that you enter all your passwords (up to 200 of 'em) cellphone-style using the apparently less-than-responsive keypad, which Wired describes as an exercise in frustration. On the upside, you do get a stylish faux-leather case with the device and, of course, a lanyard to ensure that you always have the device when you need it. $30 and it's yours.

[ack154 @ Jan 26th 2009 4:11PM]

That just LOOKS confusing as hell. I can't imagine trying to type in more than 2 or 3 passwords. How hard would it have been to throw a little qwerty on there?

[Samboini @ Jan 26th 2009 5:48PM]

My fingerprint reader works fine; luckily my bones are made of titanium so if the Tryads get me, my data is still safe.

[ChrisTheFeral @ Jan 26th 2009 8:55PM]

I believe the firefox has one for free.

[OneLove @ Jan 27th 2009 1:16PM]

I write all my passwords on the inside of my underwear.

[zioncat @ Jan 26th 2009 4:11PM]

lol so your passwords are protected by a password

[allannguyen @ Jan 26th 2009 4:12PM]

what if you forget the password for it?

[UnixSystemsEngineer @ Jan 26th 2009 5:10PM]

The files are *inside the password device*!!

[Andrew @ Jan 26th 2009 4:16PM]

I'll stick with discreet post-it notes, thanks.

[KAIKAI @ Jan 26th 2009 5:03PM]

yup bright yellow
"discreet" postit note xD

[7egend @ Jan 26th 2009 8:17PM]

People just think they are for useless information taken during phone calls. If the US military would use Post-It notes instead of Zunes for secret military files we wouldn't have any problems.

[KarlW @ Jan 27th 2009 12:20AM]

Write them in the form of a riddle.

"My first in in blue, but not in shoe..."

[sethmo @ Jan 26th 2009 4:17PM]

So I would still have to have a spreadsheet or have them manually written down as a backup as if that things batteries died or I dropped it, there goes all my passwords lol. No thanks, I will just remember them in my head, seems more trusting.

[KAIKAI @ Jan 26th 2009 5:10PM]

here *tosses you my tinfoil hat* :)

[Adam @ Jan 26th 2009 4:22PM]

seems alot of work for something that could be saved on your pda, a piece of paper, scratching into a table with a key.

[Anderson Peeples @ Jan 26th 2009 4:22PM]

My Blackberry has a password keeper (and a faux leather case)...and I still don't really use the password keeper. Guess I'll save my $30.

[Why should I have all the fun? @ Jan 26th 2009 7:48PM]

For those with Win Mobile there are a variety of programs that do this including eWallet from ilium. Much better than hauling around this silly thing.

[Chino B @ Jan 26th 2009 4:27PM]

I think my brain cells can handle passwords. I'll stick with my brain.

[ED @ Jan 26th 2009 4:59PM]

That's what I use.

MY brain, I mean, not yours.

[HunterXI @ Jan 26th 2009 5:43PM]

@Chino I was about to say.

[AMiSH PiRATE @ Jan 26th 2009 4:28PM]

I'd feel safer using george lopez's birthday as my pin number.

[Samboini @ Jan 26th 2009 5:47PM]

Where do you live again?

[Evil Closet Monkey @ Jan 26th 2009 4:32PM]

1Password (www.1password.com) is my password management software of choice. The client is Mac only, but they have a web portal that allows you to backup your passwords and then access them from anywhere. Worst case, I only need to remember 2 passwords. Only need 1 password to unlock the encryption if I'm on one of my Macs; plus the login password to the website (yes, they are different) if I'm on a different computer.

There is a built in strong password generator as well. If you wanted, you could generate a 20+ character string a garbage for each site you visit and not have to remember any of them.

... just don't forget those 2 important ones!

[Nate @ Jan 26th 2009 4:37PM]

Password Tote is a great Windows-based alternative - controldev.com for a trial.

[Jonathan @ Jan 26th 2009 4:54PM]

I like SplashID for my Palm. Hope they come out with a WebOS version!

[MyFirstMoniker @ Jan 26th 2009 5:38PM]

I also recommend SplashID. I have had it for both Symbian and Windows Mobile.

[Herbie555 @ Jan 26th 2009 7:21PM]

Count me among the happy SplashId users. SplashId + Blackberry means I always have ALL my passwords (and a qwerty keyboard), which means I'm not afraid to use STRONG passwords (like the auto-generated kind that are impossible to remember).

[Philippe @ Jan 26th 2009 7:43PM]

PasswordMaker for FireFox is absolutely great. One of the must-have extensions!

[Beanie @ Jan 27th 2009 12:50AM]

1Password's iPhone app is great. Sadly, they are discontinuing the 1password website. At least that's what they had on the site a month or so ago.

[Connor @ Jan 26th 2009 4:37PM]

I totally want one.

Just kidding.

[Uncontrol @ Jan 26th 2009 4:47PM]

this is really really dumb

[Like_A_Glove @ Jan 27th 2009 12:41AM]

Agreed, and it is useless to me since there is no "Alt" key on it, which is required for me to type special characters.

[chriswheat @ Jan 26th 2009 6:34PM]

Given that this is clearly designed for the elderly or less than technically savvy, I find the following note from the manufacturers website slightly ironic.

"The buttons on the Logio are relatively small. As with any small electronic device, if you have arthritis in your hands and/or fingers, you may experience some difficulty in operating the buttons. The buttons have no tactile feedback, so if you are hearing impaired, you may also have trouble hearing the audible button feedback. Since the Logio LCD display is not backlit, if you are visually impaired, you may have some difficulty in viewing the screen. If you are not comfortable with the "multi-tap" method of character input commonly found on cell phones, you may find inputting information into the Logio to be difficult."

[gberry323 @ Jan 26th 2009 9:11PM]

I just see this leaking out to some sap, then someone else has the nuclear arming codes.

[adam.plante @ Jan 26th 2009 9:19PM]

This kinda defeats the purpose of having unique passwords for services. Someone never took IT Security. Companies spend a fortune trying to educate employees that it is just dumb to record passwords. Well when some guy downtown buys a big screen TV with your paypal account you will wish you could remember a password.

[joe 1-pack @ Jan 26th 2009 11:36PM]

I have way to many passwords to remember them all. However, this device would not work. Opps, it slipped out of my pocket as I lean over. If that doesn't kill it. How about someone helps to pick it up...step...crack...oops, sorry.
Then its time for my best Kirk imitation. Looking up, arms spread wide..NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Yep, I have better things to spend thirty dollars on.

[Slysolomon00 @ Jan 26th 2009 11:31PM]

I just downloaded an Iphone app that does the same thing. it's called mSecure, It might cost like 2 bucks but it's pretty sweet with a good UI

[Dimitri @ Jan 27th 2009 1:57AM]

Idiots. Why not just use ONE simple password for everything? I use 1234567890 for everything. And because it's 10 digits, it's nearly impossible to break. Billion to one! I'm a genius.

[rcarm @ Jan 27th 2009 4:32AM]

Crapgadget

[DaKrisht @ Jan 27th 2009 7:25AM]

Hahahaha... that could be the stupidest thing I've seen all year... Engadget, let's burn or destroy one of these in youtube video or something?

LOL

http://www.atomicsub.net

[cscwebman @ Jan 27th 2009 1:13PM]

Atek - no, clearly it is Btek at best. My single questions about this POS is - will it liquify?

[Caldanster @ Jan 27th 2009 4:12PM]

I'm going to go against the grain here and say this is actually an idea that has some merits. Every day we are hearing about previously unknown security vulnerabilities in browsers, operating systems, etc. So I don't dare store my passwords in a browser or on my computer lest they be stolen by some smart hacker on the other side of the world. Therefore I think having passwords stored OFFLINE but in some secure way (i.e., NOT on post-it notes) makes sense.

[gnuchu @ Jan 29th 2009 5:02AM]

I'm firmly in the 'this is a good idea' camp here. May well be executed. It should also have an autogenerate ability.

[aditya @ Mar 20th 2009 9:58AM]

nice one.
securing password tips on - http://www.easytipsandtricks.com/default.php?page=creating-strong-passwords