One of the big no-no’s in online security is using the same user name and password for different sites. The reason is simple: if one site gets compromised, your login information for other sites is now “floating around”. While having separate passwords is great in theory, practicing it is another story. To help with this, check out the Firefox add-on Magic Password Generator.

You remember one master password. (It is not stored anywhere, don’t forget it!) Then, with a (somewhat simple)  cryptographic hash function, the extension combines your master password and the domain name of the site to make another unique password for that site. The password is not saved in Firefox, or anywhere else. It’s secure!

Keep in mind, this extension is completely separate from the password manager built into Firefox. Basically, passwords are generated on the fly each time using an algorithm based on the current domain name.

This extension works best if you only use a single computer, but if you use multiple, there are tools available on their website to help you find out what your password would be.

While Magic Password Generator is certainly not for everyone, some of you may find it useful.

About a month ago, I wrote a tip on how to clean your internal Firefox database using a manual process. While this method works, a few of our readers commented on an add-on which automates this process (thanks guys). This is a great tool to know about, so I thought I would pass it along.

Vacuum Places Improved 1:

Defragments your Firefox “Places” database (history/bookmarks)
This greatly reduces the lag while typing in the address bar and the start-up time.
This extension features configurable automatic cleaning, periodic reminder, and internationalization.

Basically, this add-on automatically cleans your database so you don’t have to worry about it. This works with the latest release of Firefox, but hopefully this functionality with be included in future release of Firefox so an add-on is not needed.

Unless you are organized and disciplined, over time bookmarks can accumulate to the point where there are so many you don’t know what you have. If this sounds familiar, then you should check out the Firefox add-on Bookmark Duplicate Detector.

Detects Duplicate Bookmarks when bookmarks are added and specify where is the previous URL. You can also search and delete duplicates URL already in your Bookmarks.

This is a simple add-on that can effectively help you get your bookmarks back under control.

Firefox users who frequent YouTube, may be interested in the extension: Better YouTube.

[This extension] enhances YouTube with Greasemonkey user scripts, that offer options like the FlowPlayer “doesn’t start till you hit play” viewer, clean “theater” view, and links to download the video automatically.

With this add-on installed, you get features such as:

• Download link on the page.
• Ability to prevent auto-play (start by clicking play).
• Optimized screen which enlarges video and removes other page elements.
• Hide comments and more videos section.

If any of these features sound useful to you, give it a try.

If you like to take total control over your browsing session which means controlling individual cookies, then a Firefox add-on you need is CookieSafe.

This extension will allow you to easily control cookie permissions. It will appear on your statusbar. Just click on the icon to allow, block, or temporarily allow the site to set cookies. You can also view or clear the cookies and exceptions by right clicking on the statusbar icon. For safer browsing you may choose to deny cookies globally and then enable them on a per site basis.

Basically, what NoScript does for javascript, CookieSafe does for cookies. While I do not consider cookies to be nearly as dangerous as scripts, this is definitely something the security conscience user will want to consider.

If you frequent websites where the pages are constantly updated and you have to click the refresh button to get the latest information, rather than manually clicking it yourself, check out the ReloadEvery Firefox add-on.

Reloads web pages every so many seconds or minutes. The function is accessible via the context menu (menu you get when you right click on a web page) or via a drop down menu on the reload button

This add-on is very useful for sport scores and stock quotes (just to name a few) but it will work on any page. Simple, but very useful.