Free Software to Keep Your Passwords and Taskbar in Order

Despite the increasingly pretty interfaces, using a computer can be hard work these days. With dozens of passwords to manage, it can be easy to make mistakes. Sure, the laid back, casual user might just use the same password for every site, write it down on a post-it note, and stick it to her monitor. Yikes! The rest of us uptight, security conscious nerds know better. But despite our best efforts, human memory can only be saturated with so much semi-nonsensical information; when combined with the fact that longer and more complex passwords are better, this presents a problem.

That's where KeePass comes in. With KeePass, you can store passwords for websites, bank accounts, and your gym locker all in one super secure spot. Most modern web browsers may store passwords, but this program does it better and, most importantly, more safely. Plus, it won't be nearly as much of a hassle to keep your passwords with you when you switch computers-or browsers. Depending on which version you pick, you can even keep them with you on a Flash drive. It's available for free for PC, Mac, or Linux, provided you choose the portable installation package (which comes recommended). Oh, it can generate random passwords for you too, so that's one less thing to worry about.

Grab KeePass here: http://keepass.info/download.html

This second program may not be essential for your security, but it's just as vital for your sanity. Well, at least if you have a compulsive need to control all aspects of your desktop like I do. The Windows taskbar has plenty of functionality to it, but one thing that is sorely missing is the ability to rearrange-or "shuffle"-the entries for your open programs. Besides the irritating lack of desktop control this creates, it is also quite practical to be able to manage where on your taskbar frequently used programs are sitting; it will likely increase productivity in the long run. After all, with the rapidly expanding availability of RAM, there is little reason close a program if you will be using it again soon.

Taskbar Shuffle alleviates the frustration. It simply lets you drag and drop to rearrange taskbar entries and even system tray icons, if that floats your boat. It is also lightweight, so it won't hog up more than its share of your resources. This is actually going to be a feature in Windows 7, so maybe it's not so strange to want to be able to dance the taskbar shuffle.

Visit the author's site or, if you're feeling lazy, get the latest version directly with this link (for Windows Vista/XP/2000/NT/95/98): http://nerdcave.webs.com/downloads/ts2.5_setup.exe