In part one of our Password Protection series ("How to Create Strong Passwords"), I told you how to craft a super-strong password, as well as how to make it memorable and customizable for every site or service you visit.

But that can be a lot of work if you've got a ton of passwords to remember. That's why in part two of our series, we take a look at the best tools you can implement for creating and saving your passwords, while still providing all the safety and security you need.

PASSWORD MANAGERS
With the right software installed, you only need one password. Period.

That's because password-management software uses a master password. When you visit a Web site, the software will enter the secret, encrypted, strong password for your account. All you need to do is know the master password. Sure, you could rely on your browser to remember all your passwords, but that means leaving yourself exposed to possible interlopers.

Most of these programs double as—or started as—form-fillers (apps that remember your name, address, and credit card info) and offer other identity protection services. Some are portable via a USB key, so you can take them on the road with you. Some, like LastPass, have versions for every OS you can imagine, handheld or desktop.

Here are some we recommend:

• LastPass 1.72 LastPass 1.72 offers flexible and comprehensive password management, and it won't cost you a thing.
• LastPass 1.72 Premium: The free LastPass password manager is a fantastic tool; the inexpensive premium edition is even better, with enhancements in both security and scope.
• MyLOK: Worried about password solutions that store your data in the cloud, even though it's encrypted? MyLOK is a USB device that uses encrypted chip-based storage to protect those passwords.
• RoboForm Desktop 7: RoboForm is good with passwords, and nobody fills Web forms better. But if you need multi-computer and multi-device password management look at RoboForm Everywhere instead.
• RoboForm Everywhere 7: The great thing about RoboForm Everywhere is that it lets you install and sync RoboForm Desktop on all your PCs. However, its smartphone apps and direct online access don't allow full access to all features.
• 1Password: Interested in a $39.95 utility for Mac and Windows, plus a $14.99 iPhone/iPad app? The price seems a bit steep compared to the free-ness of LastPass, but Mac lovers will appreciate this software's Mac-centric approach.
• KeePass Password Safe: Among traditional standalone password storage programs, a good first choice is KeePass, a high-powered open-source utility that uses AES and TwoFish encryption and is designed so that passwords won't be visible to keystroke loggers or any other snooping software. It works on Mac, Windows, Linux, and phones (iPhone, Android, Blackberry, PalmOS, and others) for free. Since the passwords are stored locally in an encrypted file, you can use file synchronization software like DropBox or Windows Live Mesh to make sure you have the same password file stored on all your computers.
• SplashID The fact that it specifically targets mobile devices— iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, WebOS, Palm OS, Windows Mobile, S60, even iPad—plus desktop clients for Windows and Mac to sync data with, makes this well-designed software worth a look, even though it'll cost you $9.99 on up, depending on the combo of services, but you get a 30-day trial to check out the encrypted password storage and customizable records types.

Here are some additional password storage options that don't require special software (they also don't rely on the Web browser to do the work):

• Clipperz is another online-only password manager. You stay anonymous, create a card for each site you want to store data for, and Clipperz also makes secure links you can use for access in just a couple of clicks. You can generate an offline, read-only page of HTML codes with those links too, which remain secure using JavaScript (so you need a JavaScript-enabled browser to use the links).
• SuperGenPass is a bookmarklet—JavaScript code you run like a bookmark in your toolbar. Whenever you go to a site, you enter a master password into the field on the browser and click the bookmarklet link instead of "sign in." SuperGenPass then replaces your master password with an auto-generated strong password. Nothing is stored locally or remotely; it just uses a hash algorithm (AKA math) to re-create the same password each time based on your master and the site location.
• Mitto is almost as full-fledged a password manager and auto-login tool as the installed tools, featuring a one-button click to log in rather than even tying in a master password. It works automatically with big name sites, and you can use a bookmarklet to get it to work with others.
• If you just want some simple storage of passwords online so you can access them from any computer, Password ++ does so, using your Google credentials for access to the site. It's entirely free.

PCMag even has its own utility called Password Profiler 3 ($7.97 for a single download or $19.97 for unlimited access for a year) that automates forms and log-ins.