Sorry if this sounds harsh, and yes it doesn’t help you now.
Moral of the story:
Never let a tool do something for you that you should do (or replicate) yourself.

Tips
Once in a while fresh install of windows (restore points and such like never worked)
Only install essential, used all the time apps or games, never leave things installed you don’t need.
Back up regularly, to multiple different external devices which you control (you can add web backup to that but don’t rely on it).
Install things to folders not under windows control eg: c:/myprograms
Do disk cleanups once in a while
Use decent AV software (Avila has been ok, but there is another thread on this)
Malware bytes is good to run once in a while
Avoid sync’ing, do this yourself, export bookmarks to html from Firefox then add to your backups. Tools for this lead you into lazy practices which are out of your control
Avoid downloading porn
Tthe internet is a terrible evil malicious network and should be distrusted and treated with extreme caution including software which uses it (clientware is one that immediately jumps out, however browsers also) nothing should connect to or use it without your express consent each time (max privacy settings, firewalls, clear cache on exit, boxed application, noscript plugin et .)
Windows auto update is a real pain, however still a recommendation, it’s a play off between security and usability. If you can, one machine for the internet, one for other stuff.
And once again, backup, backup, backup, backup offsite, and then back all that up. If in doubt buy another hard drive and backup again, otherwise prepare to lose everything. Forget buying a new graphics card and spend the money buying hard drives, it’s far better in the long run

Truly sorry to hear that, it honestly sounds like a nightmare. I had a few accounts to games and sites be lost to the ether because of thinking my browser would save them forever, only to have to migrate to another computer/update a browser and lose saved passwords. I started using a password manager a few years back and it's been helpful. It doesn't help you recover what you've already lost but if you feel this might ever happen again, try using one. You can always write down on a piece of paper somewhere your password manager password as well, just in case something happens with that too

Erm, who exactly? I keep the house locked up and have a firesafe for my valuable documents. Password managers might be good right up until your storage crashes (if stored locally) and then you might be screwed if you've failed to make a backup.

Pen and paper is at least 100% secure from digital attempts to steal your credentials. If you leave your physical records out in the open that's your mistake if someone breaks in physically.

In Firefox, does anything show up in Tools -> Options -> Privacy & Security -> Saved Logins -> Show Passwords?

Use Keepass and then you have to remember only one password (the master password)

I strongly advise avoiding system restore at all times and to turn the damn thing OFF.

One does not simply rely on devil's stuff:) like Windows. For important things always have a real notebook and a pen and write down site logins, emails you used to register and passwords. You've gone through a flood right? So what's the chance of it happening again? The notebook should be safe as long as you keep it away from dogs that love to chew things.

I strongly advise to make a Passwords.txt File and store it on a USB key AND and external HDD for when disaster strikes!

I agree with this, it's a good offline password manager.
(only annoyance: you need a plugin to enable an effin' dedicated email field..)

System Restore saved me the PITA to reinstall and reconfig the OS and my 100+ programs various times.
I'm using Win7 with a script to create points more frequently tho.
It's absurd that Win10 disabled it..

And someone who wants access to all your accounts needs to crack only one password..

All options have flaws. Not everyone has the space for a safe that cannot be carried, that is fireproof (even that has it's limits, dependant on the amount of time is in the flames for and how hot they get.) And that is also highly secure from someone cracking it.

Your biggest flaw is the fact you assume they are safe in your fireproof safe, when there is also the factor of how good or bad your passwords are, and no they are not entirely protected from digital theft if someone has put a keylogger on your system.

I have over 30+ accounts, would you be walking back and forth between your PC and your safe to get that notepad out every 5 mins? simply because you don't remember the really long random password you have for said account?
Like i said there are already flaws in your own setup, that would be a serious inconvenience without really being that much safer.



But i see alot of you like to live in la la land so i won't bother.

Make sure it's strong enough ;)

You do realise how hard that is, right?


The single password could be easy 30 characters?, both lower and upper case, numbers AND special characters. Not only that, anyone with half a brain would use a key file aswell, and both that and the password would be required for access.

Not only that, you could simply have one keypass database holding the password for your main keypass database (with all your passwords) that also requires another keyfile.

And no, you won't be testing x amount of passwords a second because it could take 5+ seconds for a single password to be tested if you set it up securely. To be honest you could be talking years to crack it, and it would be easier to actually brute force the database, which again could take years.

Hell go ask them folks over on their site, it's an opensource software too, they know far more than me on the subject.


That setup is still easier than a notepad in a fireproof safe, thats installed in your tornado bunker under the house, because atleast you can have a backup thats within your reach, and if it ever gets stolen, you can log in to your alternative backup and simply change all the passwords.. you'll have over a year to do it.



You don't see the big picture, which seems to be pretty normal around here.

What you don't see is the countless ways a vulnerability (which are a dime a dozen) in the software you use could leak the master password. I think that's much more likely than my house burning down.

a nightmare for sure. it brings home how much we are tied to the internet for all aspects of our lives, from billing, medical results, appts with vendors, shopping, entertainment, correspondence.... its everywhere, not being able to access it can be horrible.

i feel the earlier suggestion to take it to someone to see if they can find your info and repair is a good one. that way its off your shoulders and you can get some emotional distance from this as you seem quite distraught.


in my case i keep a journal of my passwds but they are embedded amongst reams of gaming data, notes and scribbles. a casual glance most would think its trash and move on. they are also coded in a way, short hand for sites , email accts etc. best i can do. i use it often. spouse uses a coded spreadsheet stored on his pc, but like you could lose it if dies.

im ready for biometrics to take over the passwd and id verification due to the hassle, no matter the privacy concern