Demand for fee to use password app LastPass sparks backlash

'A popular app that promised to eliminate the burden of remembering passwords has sparked a backlash by demanding, weeks after it was acquired by two private equity firms, that users pay up or face restrictions on access to their online accounts. LastPass has encouraged millions of people to replace weak passwords on retail websites, Internet banks and other online services. Instead, the software handles authentication automatically using long, complex passwords that are impossible to guess—or remember. Two investment firms, Elliott Management and Francisco Partners, acquired the service as part of their $4.3 billion buyout of Internet software group LogMeIn in September last year. Now, the app is warning users that they must pay as much as $36 a year if they want access to those cumbersome passwords on all their devices. Those who refuse to pay will have to choose between synching only to their desktop computers, or only to mobile devices such as phones.' -- source: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/03/demand-for-fee-to-use-password-app-l... Cheers, Peter -- Peter Reutemann Dept. of Computer Science University of Waikato, NZ +64 (7) 577-5304 http://www.cms.waikato.ac.nz/~fracpete/ http://www.data-mining.co.nz/

On Tue, 9 Mar 2021, at 11:14 AM, Peter Reutemann wrote:
Now, the app is warning users that they must pay as much as $36 a year if they want access to those cumbersome passwords on all their devices. Those who refuse to pay will have to choose between synching only to their desktop computers, or only to mobile devices such as phones.'
I was a happy paying Lastpass user when the annual fee was US$12/year. When they increased the fee, I used the free version. When LP decided to change the rules last month, I changed password managers to Bit warden. Even though the free version is enough for my requirements, I'm paying the US$10/year fee to support their efforts. Migration from Lastpass is easy peasy, there are many guides online. End result, Bit warden now have my business and coins. Last Pass have nothing. https://bitwarden.com/ -- Simon
participants (2)
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Peter Reutemann
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Simon Green