Passwords Fast, as the name implies, promises to let you access your passwords for several different online sites quickly and easily. It’s a handheld device that securely stores your passwords and other sensitive data. So is this something you should grab?
Overview
More and more sites require you to register with them before they’ll let you at their core features and functions. It can be quite the task trying to keep track of them all, and most people resort to using the same password again and again for all of the sites. This is not recommended because it makes things very easy for a hacker in case any one of the sites you use is compromised. All they will have to do is try the same password at all of the most popular sites.
The Claim
The makers of Passwords Fast claim that you won’t have to remember all of the passwords for all of the sites you frequent, and that it can come up with unique and hard to guess passwords with special characters, the kind that are recommended when you’re signing up at a site.
The Hype
They have an infomercial for this that shows people exaggerating the problem of too many passwords, and hyping up the benefits of using the gadget. They even show a girl on her bed with stuffed animals holding a Passwords Fast, but they don’t show any sort of laptop computer or smartphone, implying that she is somehow using the device to access her accounts without the use of a computer or phone. They are clever enough to not show someone struggling to transfer the passwords from Passwords “Fast” to their computer or phone.
The Commitment
They try to make this seem like you’re spending less time with your passwords, but we’re proposing that you’d actually spend the same amount of time, and potentially more time, than using other methods. The way they could fix this is if they were able to add wireless connectivity either through Bluetooth or with WiFi. Keeping it manual is so 1990’s, and most people simply won’t tolerate having to take a step backwards in order to try to fix their password problems.
Evaluation
Passwords Fast represents a step backward in the wireless and synced world we live in. And while the name hints at it making things faster, it is actually a much slower option than using the password vault options available online. They try to scare users away by saying these password apps can be hacked, but your Passwords Fast device can be lost or stolen, and what do you do then? Even if the encryption is top-notch, the process of retrieving all of your lost passwords is going to be a pain in the you-know-what.
The real solution: Password manager applications and extensions for web browsers and smartphones exist, and make it very easy to fix the problem of remembering your passwords, coming up with strong passwords, as well as different passwords for each site. It might seem a little daunting to rely on any one means of storing all of your passwords for you, and it takes a bit of time getting used to it. But once you see how much time you end up saving, it will make a believer out of you.
Final Passwords Fast Review
Of course the Passwords Fast gadget works as far as storing passwords goes, but there are some inherent flaws that make this just as cumbersome and potentially problematic as whatever system you’re currently using. We’re giving this the Thumbs Down as far as something that you’d want to use daily as a password manager. See our recommendation below for a better fix. As far as a tiny gadget to have around to store important data like bank account numbers, or to have a main vault for your passwords as a backup, this gets our Solid Try rating.
Our Recommendation
We’ve been successfully using LastPass for several years now, with no hacking problems to speak of. This is an extension for all major web browsers that will do all of the things that Passwords Fast does, but it will enter your passwords for you automatically, so it’s actually, um, fast. You only have to remember you one master password, and the extension does the rest.
I am age 69 and IT director for a small company of 150 employees and would be lost without it. I have about 70 personal and work related passwords I keep and still adding as is needed. I use this jewel on a daily basis. I have a second one in a safe in case the first gets lost or is stolen. I do wish it had the full complement of special characters but it has enough to get by. I also have removed the battery to prove its worth in retention. In today’s world it is the best security one can buy, but remember, It only works if you use it and don’t lose it.
This product is exactly what I needed. Everything in one place but secure. A lot easier than what I have been using. Recommend it to everyone.
I received the “passwordFAST” today and tried to input just two sites with passwords. The first one entered but the second one didn’t work because the forward/space key would,’t work. There must be a defect in the device. As of now I cannot find out how to get it replaced. There is another problem in the design in that entering any key takes pressing it just right and it may take several times to get it right causing many back spaces and deletes to get it done. Very hard to use. They need to make it more user friendly….very cheaply made and thus only rates less than 1 star.
I am 78 years old and have a brain problem that attacks my memory. Password Fast was a bit hard for me to add passwords. However once added it is a relief not to have the mess of passwords; forgetting and having new ones approved by my Banks etc. This makes my life lot easier and I recommend it to everyone who hates passwords. I tried a thumb drive but I lost it and had to go through the nightmare of changing all my password for “just in case.”
The QVC number of passwordsFAST is L43711
I was initially excited about this product because I have a personal connection to the family who invented it. This turned out to be nothing more than a pocket calculator sized filing cabinet. I assumed I would be able to somehow integrate this to a laptop or tablet for quick and easy access, nope. I’m not sure how ‘fast’ applies. This takes far too many touches to get to your password, extract your data, key it where you need it, put calculator back and bam, 5 minutes later you’re in. It’s a crash and burn for me. Might have been okay 10-12 years ago but technology has left this in the dust. I’ve hyperlinked my data on an excel sheet and loaded to a thumb drive. No hacking possibilities, thumbdrive in MUCH easier to carry and I just click ONCE and I’m there!
i have been eagerly awaiting my password fast for some time now. i just received an email to say due to an overwhelming response, they have cancelled my order because they cannot fill the demand! i dont understand, if it is so popular, why arent the manufacturers just producing more? i’m upset that the company just assumed i wouldnt wait any longer, which i would have! The only conclusion i can come to is that they have made plenty of money from the sales and now they are not bothered to produce more for us consumers! I placed my order thru As Seen on TV, it was buy one get one free, the second one was going to my sister! I also cannot find it on QVC website now, so if anyone out there knows if more of these devices will be made, or where else i can find them i would really appreciate the info.
Your ‘review’ is quite harsh and bias. It seems you are focused on selling another product. I believe this is a great gadget. No worries about anything being accessed via the internet or even from a computer. I would use this and it wouldn’t be a bother at all, I mean how much time can it take to type something? My account numbers and passwords are on my computer in a password protected file with a VERY long password. Which is fine but what if my hard drive crashes, what if my computer get stolen, what if? I certainly don’t want to print it out where it could be found. If something did happen to my computer, having this would be fantastic and no dependency on the internet or a computer.
Whether or not this is a good device is not really the argument, it is about what type of computer user you are.
This is a great device for anyone who writes their passwords in a notebook next to their computer or (even worse) has a spreadsheet on their desktop holding all the passwords. This device is infinitely better than either of these approaches. Notebooks are easily stolen or copied and spreadsheets (even with passwords) are easily copied and cracked.
If you are they type of person that keeps it all in their head or are comfortable with browser-based password managers, the product is not for you.
I have not yet purchased this item, but I do see a problem that concerns me. A description of what this little device does is EMBLAZENED on the face of the device. It doesn’t take much for one to figure you only need once password to open the files & the BONANZA of information one would have if successful. I would never carry that in my purse anyway, but I would deface the name on the product & make it appear relatively old & benign. Most of the passwords that I may not remember are ones I probably only use once a month or less, so, I don’t find the idea of it all that inconvenient. I think the product is overpriced given the simple technology of the item. However, the fact that it is offline makes me feel more secure. I don’t trust the security of anything that is online or in the clouds. I guess, I am showing my age.
Is it possible to print out a passwords list from Passwords Fast? If so, a paper copy could be kept in a Safe Deposit Box at the bank, which would eliminate the scary consequences of losing the Passwords Fast device. It would prevent the possibility of a spreadsheet list on a hackable device.
Too bad the reviewers haven’t updated their review to mention that LastPass just got hacked last week! Maybe having your passwords as part of the “wireless and synced world we live in” is actually a negative rather than a positive.
Good to know that it needs a password to be accessed! However, I would be afraid that I would lose it (happens often to me) and then someone hacks into it and gets all my passwords. Especially if I had credit card account passwords, my Paypal password, email, etc., they would be able to access just about anything and have access to all my sensitive info. I see how this can come in handy, and be a very useful device, but I still think the safest place for passwords is in your head. I do like that it allows you to make complicated, pretty random passwords without having to remember them, but then, if you lose it, you’ve lost those complicated passwords and probably aren’t likely to remember them on your own.
I own this product and absolutely LOVE IT! The person who wrote the review doesn’t understand what the product is or does. It does NOT connect to the internet. It does NOT generate special passwwords nor does it advertise that way. It’s a stand alone device you can carry ANYWHERE that simply holds all your passwords securely. All it does it take the place of sticky notes and excel spreadsheets where most people have their passwords which is highly unsecure. Once you’ve stored all your passwords (the user creates them) then all you have to remember is the one password to get into the device. For example, the other day I had to fill out my benefits enrollment online. It had been 3 months since I logged into the site. I simply turned on my passwordsfast and found the username and password to the site and then physically typed in the password for my benefits and then turned off my passwordsfast. It’s that simple. I use my passwordsfast ALL the time! I would highly recommend this product to anyone.
I’d definitely not want to use this on a daily basis, but it would be nice to use it to store my passwords offline. I forget the passwords for my wireless router, website accounts, and others time to time and it really sucks when you lose the paper you jot down the passwords on. This is definitely harder to lose than a piece of paper, so it could work for my use.