Password Depot Professional Review – Indispensable to Hardcore PC Users

excellent
key review info
application features
  • Advanced password manager
  • (9 more, see all...)

Password managers are must-have tools for users who frequently juggle numerous email accounts and other sensitive information, since it gets difficult to remember different and complex keys made from uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols.

Some of these programs are quite impressive in their feature set, for example when it comes to an auto-complete system that automatically fills information when surfing the web.

Password Depot Professional is an advanced utility that contains a database protected by a master password, which can be populated with various password file lists, each of them containing their own set of entries with account information and secret keys. However, it is not free to use.

License type and trial limitations

The trial edition can be tested for 30 days, and during this time, only 20 keywords are allowed per file. In order to lift this limitation and continue using Password Depot Professional after the 30 days are up, users can purchase the full edition for $39.92 / €29.95.

Installation and interface

The setup process is pretty fast and uncomplicated. Apart from the core files needed to run Password Depot, the tool wants to install some optional components, namely add-ons for Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome, along with a virtual keyboard for safely entering passkeys without worrying about any installed keyloggers designed to steal them.

What's more, the app is capable of integrating a new entry into the Windows Explorer context menu. Any of these modules can be excluded from setup. It can also be asked to run by default at every system startup until further notice. Plus, if an older edition of Password Depot Professional exists on the computer, the new one can import the old settings, depending on the user's preferences.

The interface is user-friendly and familiar to those who have worked with Microsoft Office 2013, since Password Depot adopts the same flat look and well-organized layout.

How to create a new password list file

The Password Depot database has to be filled with at least one password list file before working with it. It can be put together by filling out some information, such as file format (Password Depot file – .PSW8 or Portable Password File – .PSWX), list file name and description, in addition to the authentication mode (master password, key file, or both). A virtual keyboard may be brought up to the screen to safely enter and confirm the key without worrying about any installed keyloggers.

Generate secure passwords and key files

A very strong password made out of lowercase and uppercase letters together with numbers and symbols must be assigned to the file, otherwise the application does not permit users to proceed any further.

It comes to their aid with a complex master password generator and provides an example on how to remember a complicated key. Based on an easy-to-remember phrase of at least 8 words defined by the user, the tool generates a password using the initial letters of every word in the phrase to build a new string via the Leet Conversion Table. This table may be consulted in another tab, and its entries may be edited.

Specify settings for the new password file
Specify settings for the new password file

Similarly, Password Depot is able to generate a key file based on random data. Once the password list file is created, this can be accessed by entering the master password. The program informs users that they will not be able to retrieve information if they forget this key.

How to create new entries

From this point on, the password list file can be populated with multiple entries. It is necessary to indicate an account's description, user name, icon, password and confirmation, priority, whether the key is secured or not, category, expiration date, and comments.

After a URL is set, it can be associated with other web addresses. Furthermore, users can open a local file by inserting command-line parameters, choose the preferred web browser, enable the automatic completion of the sequence and set a keyboard combination to trigger it, add custom fields and transaction account numbers (TANs), attach as many files as needed, as well as record version changes in the history or leave it unchanged.

Manage entries and information

These properties can be later edited, and entries can be removed from the list or duplicated. The user name, password, URL, TAN or custom fields can be copied to the Clipboard with one click by opening an entry's right-click menu in the main window, but the content is available in the Clipboard for only 60 seconds (out of security reasons), which is plenty of time to paste it into another environment.

Edit, delete and duplicate entries
Edit, delete and duplicate entries

Moreover, users can open URLs in the web browser, edit categories, activate auto-complete mode on the spot in any other application, build partial passwords from numbers and copy them to the Clipboard, create shell links, print data, or add entries to a favorites list for quick access. A search function is available too. Entries can be sorted by various criteria such as description, password, modification or expiration date, or importance, in ascending or descending order.

Other important tools

Two files can be synchronized so both of them can have the same content. Plus, the database can be exported while external files can be encrypted, decrypted and safely erased. It is also possible to analyze the current file to estimate the strength, quality and crack time of the password, clean up keys by taking into account the date of expiration, attachment size, custom icon, history and last accessed date. Password Depot can be installed or upgraded on portable media too.

Another noteworthy feature is represented by Password Depot's ability to collapse the main window to create a small horizontal frame (i.e. top bar) that stays on top of other windows. This way, users can seamlessly access its tools and copy information while carrying on with their normal activity on the computer. Moreover, the application can be sent to the system tray area to become non-intrusive.

Program preferences

As far as app configuration is concerned, users can change the UI theme and language, configure hotkeys for restoring/minimizing and top bar/minimizing the main window, adjust the auto-complete delay, close the password file and lock the program automatically on various events (e.g. computer is idle, the session changes, the program is minimized), as well as customize the top bar position, appearance and other aspects, among may others.

Settings can be reset to default.


The Good

The application is compatible with all popular Windows editions from XP to 8/8.1 (both 32- and 64-bit architecture types). It worked smoothly in our tests, without hanging, crashing or popping up error messages.

It supports multiple UI languages and includes help documentation for less experienced users.

Users can create databases protected by a master password that are filled with multiple lists and entries. They can resort to a secure password and key file generator, organize entries into multiple groups, temporarily copy information to the Clipboard, use an auto-complete form while navigating the web, synchronize files, collapse the main window into a top bar, encrypt files, as well as analyze and clean up passwords.

The Bad

Sometimes it takes a while to execute commands. Although CPU usage is minimal, RAM consumption is significant at times.

It's not very intuitive for less experienced users.

The Truth

Taking its advanced features and settings into consideration, Password Depot Professional is clearly designed for professionals, as the name hints at. It proves to be reliable and secure, indispensable to hardcore PC users.

user interface 4
features 5
ease of use 2
pricing / value 4


final rating 5
Editor's review
excellent
 
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Password Depot Professional (21 Images)

Populate the password file list with entriesWelcome to Password DepotSpecify settings for the new password fileGenerate random and secure passwordsConsult and edit the Leetspeak Conversion Table
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