Windows 10: Shared laptop, can I safely memorize passwords on one account?

I share a laptop with someone so I want to keep certain things private. Can I do this with accounts:

#1 have browsers memorize passwords without the other person seeing them?

Soo forum passwords, google doc passwords etc. Have a browser remember them without the other account having any way of seeing them?

#2 Keep my files private

Have certain files I make be accessible only to my account?

Is it possible to do this by creating a separate account? And if so how do I do that?

:)

 

Windows 10 - Remembering Password Protected Files

Unfortunately, there is no such feature that I am aware of, but maybe you could make a main file which contains passwords for all of the files, and password protect it with a unique and memorable password that you guys cannot forget? I might sound stupid
to some by suggesting this, but for me it works. I started password protecting some sensitive files when I ran across this: Data Protection: Download a Free Trial of WinZip and
just for my safety I have different passwords for all my files each, because sometimes I share one password protected file with one person and tell them the password, and if I had the same, that one person would be able to open all the files that I have, so
that doesn't make sense, nor is it safe. Why do I password protect them anyway if they are all the same, correct?

 

Passwords

"Is there a way to just have the one password for everything ..."

YES - but not in the way you are thinking.

You need to have a different password for everything, and every password has to be fairly long (12-15 characters) and completely random so as to be un-guessable. But how are you supposed to remember a password like 8zJdvJTeknfd3N
? And how are you supposed to remember dozens of different passwords like that?

The answer is to use a password manager, like LastPass or Dashlane or 1Password or any of the other password managers available on the internet. With a password manager, you only need to memorize one password: the master
password for your password manager The software does everything else: it generates secure passwords, automatically fills them in (in most cases) and stores them for you in a safe place.

I use 357 different passwords (as of today) and I don't even know what most of them are. LastPass does it all for me. In fact, my password manager signed me in to this community forum.

A password manager can't automatically sign you in to your Windows user account, but most people have only one or two of those and you can memorize one or two passwords. And the same password manager you use on your
PC probably has a mobile app so you can use it on your phone.

 

Yes you can but the other account must not be an administrator. An administrator account can see anything - a standard user account can't.

If you make them a standard account they will not be able to see your stored web passwords or documents as long as you store them in your "My Documents" folder etc. If you store your documents on a USB key then they will still be able to see them for example unless you protect them some other way.

There is a tutorial for adding an account here:
Add Local Account or Microsoft Account in Windows 10 User Accounts Tutorials

Note they will not be able to install programs - an administrator has to do that or give permission.

 

If you make sure you place files and folders in areas accessible only when that user is logged in - typically the default Documents, Videos etc under C:\Users\<username> then the security permissions apply.

If you use folders elsewhere, that protection will not apply by default.
You can of course create additional folders particular to a given user, and add them to a library, or create a new library
Create New Library in Windows 10 Customization Tutorials

 

I should say, the passwords are the primary thing to me. The not being able to see my files I could do without. But, both would be ideal.

 

You already have one account for "Alfred" (with a password presumably). If your account doesn't have a password then set one as described here: Change Password of Account in Windows 10 User Accounts Tutorials

Then you make another account as described in the tutorial in post #2 for a new user "Ealhswith" (King Alfreds wife to spare you looking it up) or whatever. Ealhswith will have her documents and you will have yours. She will not be able to see yours (assuming you make a standard account).

You will both have separate passwords and will need to enter them to see your own documents. That means that normally you can only see your stuff and she hers.

I have separate accounts for my wife and I but we both know each others passwords - separate accounts just keeps email and documents separate - it doesn't have to be a security thing. Sometimes I ask her to sign on as me to check an email or whatever. I never told her the build in Administrator password though - just in case.

 

As long as the browser stores passwords in locations particular to a given user e.g. in the user's SID area of the registry or a folder in, say, %appdata%, then the same rules apply as to, say, the default Documents, Desktop, Videos etc.

I suppose that might depend on you installing the browser (if 3rd party) in its default location, and also depends on where the browser is designed to locate user profiles.

Shouldn't be too hard to check if you are concerned.

Best to use a password manager- Roboform, Lastpass, Keepass... encrypted, secured, options for sharing via the 'cloud'... Can use on several different browsers- so not unique to a given browser.

 

I'm not concerned about any sleuthing, someone opening a different browser profile or anything like that, if that's what you mean. I just want to be able to autosave passwords and set automatic logins without those passwords and logins being offered to the other user.

I don't want them to start typing "google" and have my google docs URL pop out from history and for them to be able to come right in via the automatic log in.

 

Just make a separate account for them then.

It is simple. See post number 2.