We know. Keeping all those website passwords straight is a pain. Many avoid that pain by using the same weak and lame password for every website — trustNo1 is 25 on the list of dumb passwords, according to one piece on Cnet.com. Topping the list is 123456 with password coming in a close second.

You know you’re at risk when you use weak or repetitive passwords, but what is the alternative? What about a password like qry86jheYgcfFQ? Also, what if you could have a different and similarly complex password for every website you log on to — AND without keeping a notebook or text file to keep them up to date? Your need a password manager application, and it should work with any web browser.

1Password by AgileBits is your ticket to password tracking Nirvana. Download the Mac version for the App Store and let the software take over the headache of password security and administration.  When you load the program you are asked to enter a master password. Hint: Do NOT use 123456. Try using a sentence that is easy for you to remember, but hard for someone else to crack. Write it down and put it in a safe place. Another hint: NOT on a sticky note posted to your computer screen.

That one master password will open the 1Password application. You begin storing passwords after you allow 1Password to attach itself as a browser extension. The Mac default browser is Safari, but you can also use Firefox, Chrome and Opera.

When the 1Password extension is up and running, each time you log into a website, you must enter the current password, whereupon 1Password gives you the opportunity to either keep the existing password or generate a new, more secure string of characters. You copy and paste the new password into the website’s password box, and 1Password does the rest.

As your password inventory accumulates, the 1Password application, which can only be opened with your master password, serves as your inventory list of not only passwords, but also a place to record credit card, drivers license, passport and e-mail account data in one convenient place. It even has a place for storing confidential notes.

So 1Password is the ideal tool for you to securely store your personal information and manage website login credentials using far better passwords on any web browser. You can also synchronize your password list on your iPhone, or iPad by placing the 1Password vault file on iCloud or DropBox.