Disable Password Saving in Web Browsers

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Overview

Most recent versions of web browsers prompt you to save usernames and passwords for various sites on the Internet. This feature can be useful, but can also put your money and personal information at risk if you are not careful.
Information Services and Technology recommends that you do not save passwords with your browser for sites which have:

• Private information about you or someone else (e.g., medical records);
• Private financial information (e.g., credit card numbers);
• Private correspondence (e.g., email).

For example, you should never save the passwords for your accounts with:

• Fidelity NetBenefits;
• MIT Federal Credit Union, or your bank;
• MIT WebMail.

You put yourself at risk when you save passwords for these types of sites.
Below are instructions to disable the password saving feature, or to force the browser to clear all currently saved passwords, on commonly used browsers.

Note: Passwords for individual websites are not the same as the certificate, or master browser password which should be in place to protect your MIT Personal Certificate, and which will not be affected by these instructions.

Internet Explorer for Windows

To disable password saving in Internet Explorer on Windows:

1. Launch Internet Explorer.
2. Select Tools > Internet Options > Content.
3. Under "Personal information", click AutoComplete.
   
   
   
4. To stop password saving, uncheck User names and passwords on forms.
   
   
   
5. To clear all existing saved usernames and passwords, click on Clear Passwords, then click OK in the warning dialog box.
   
   
   Note: You may have websites for which you wish to save the username and password, but you do not want Internet Explorer to prompt you on any future sites. In this case, in the AutoComplete Settings box, leave User names and passwords on forms checked, but uncheck Prompt me to save passwords.

Safari for Macintosh

To disable password saving in Safari on Macintosh:

1. Open Safari.
2. Go to Safari > Preferences.
3. Click the Autofill icon and uncheck User names and passwords.
   
   
   
4. To clear any saved usernames and passwords, click Edit to the right of User names and passwords.
5. Select the website and user name to remove and click Remove, or click Remove All to clear all saved user names.
6. Click Done and close Preferences.

Firefox

To disable password saving in Firefox on Athena, Linux, Macintosh, and Windows

1. Open Firefox.
2. Go as follows depending on your OS:
   • Athena and Linux: Edit > Preferences > Security
   • Macintosh: Firefox > Preferences > Security
   • Windows: Preferences > Security

1. Uncheck Remember logins for sites.
2. To clear any saved usernames and passwords, click the Saved Passwords button.
3. Select the site and username to remove and click Remove, or click Remove All to clear all saved usernames in Firefox, then click Close.
4. To quit Preferences/Options:
   • On Athena and Linux, click Close.
   • On Macintosh, click the Close button.
   • On Windows, click OK.