Tech Tips: Using Password Management

September 24, 2019

Do you use LastPass? If not, you should start using it. Duke provides a password management app called LastPass at no charge to all students, faculty and staff - it is safe and is one of the best information security tools you can use. Here's all you need to know...

What is LastPass?

LastPass is an easy-to-use tool – approved by the Duke Health Information Security Office - that stores all of your UserIDs and passwords into a “vault”, available from each of your devices.  You can use this tool on every website that requires you to login.  Here are some of the features:

  • Generate secure, random passwords – having a unique, strong and easily remembered password for every site is hard.  LastPass will generate strong passwords for you, then type them in for you so you won’t have to remember them. 

  • Safe automatic form-fill – LastPass allows you to create multiple profiles that will automatically fill in a form for you when you are purchasing or registering online.  It’s a much safer alternative to the browser-based form-fill add-ins.

  • Digital Wallet – Keep all of your sensitive information in a secure and accessible place.  For example, your WiFi network login, a PIN code, a copy of your insurance card, etc.

  • Share a password – Do you co-pay bills, manage a joint checking account or some other function that requires a shared password?  Use LastPass to securely share a section of your password vault with a spouse or parent.

How do I get it?

LastPass is available from the Duke University Office of Information Technology (OIT) website. Follow these instructions to download and begin using it.

  • Click here to go to the OIT Software Licensing website

  • Select the Search For Software option

  • Login with your NetID and password

  • In the Search terms to the left, type LastPass in the box and press the magnifying glass

  • Select the icon, add it to your cart, then checkout

How do I use it?

OIT provides a nice set of videos to introduce LastPass to you, available through LinkedIn Learning.  These videos are short, concise and well-produced.  Select the one(s) that interest you most, starting with Section 1 – Getting Started with LastPass.  The time investment you make in watching these short videos will pay off by the enhanced security it provides, plus it will eliminate the frustration surrounding trying to remember all of those passwords.

Extra Credit

Would you like to learn more about LastPass?  Click here to go to the LastPass OIT website, and click here to visit their corporate website.  Duke University offers information on a wide variety of topics related to IT Security.  Click here to learn more about how to protect yourself online.s.

Here’s our Tech Tip of the Week –

Ever want to record your screen to demonstrate a process as a part of a PowerPoint presentation?  It’s easy – simply do this:

  • Open a new slide in your PowerPoint deck;

  • On the Insert tab, press Screen Recording;

  • Now, PowerPoint minimizes and will display a control panel;

  • Click Select Area, then click and drag to select the area you would like to record;

  • Now, click Record and after a 3-second countdown, PowerPoint will record your screen;

  • When you’re finished, want to pause,  move your cursor to the top of your screen. The control panel will reappear and you can press Pause. When you’re finished, press Windows Key+Shift+Q.

  • Your screen recording will now appear in PowerPoint.

It’s easy.  If you’d like, you can edit the video to trim the start and stop for a more professional look.

Have any questions about this or other tech used at DUSON?

As always, if you have any technical questions or problems, please contact your IT Service Desk at 919-684-9200, or email to citdl@mc.duke.edu.

 

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