Pretty much all Windows applications which require you to enter a password to access it use asterisks to hide the text you are entering. Conveniently, these programs usually allow you to save your password for future use. The problem with this is unless you have the password recorded somewhere it is easy to forget it. To help you recover this password, since often times copy-paste will not work, check out the free program Asterisk Logger.
Many applications, like CuteFTP, CoffeeCup Free FTP, VNC, IncrediMail, Outlook Express, and others, allows you to type a password for using it in the application. The typed password is not displayed on the screen, and instead of the real password, you see a sequence of asterisk (‘****’) characters. This utility can reveal the passwords stored behind the asterisks in standard password text-boxes.
The program automatically detects programs running which are utilizing a hidden password and recovers them for you. While this program is not guaranteed to work with every program, it is a good method to attempt to recover those forgotten passwords.
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This could be used for some really devious purposes. I’m kind of surprised it is being mentioned in PC Mechanic. It’s not much different than describing how to get around DRM protected material. Isn’t it against the forum rules to post such things?
Realistically, _anything_ can be used for devious purposes. Considering you have to be physically at the machine to use this, if someone wanted to be devious, they would probably do more than just use this program.
another useful little program is Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder.
http://magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/ I had to use this when I gave my brother in-law a PC that I was no longer useing. I had the OEM disks but had miss placed the CD keys. Fired up the machine and ran the program. Just thought that this would be an appropriate post to add this little gem to.