TaskBuster is the name we chose for a 3 in 1 windows based personal productivity package that we all use ourselves. The first module is a password generator designed to take the worry out of constantly coming up with new passwords and remember all the ones you are already using. The package once loaded sits quietly in the taskbar ready to be popped up whenever you need it.

The second module is a memo manager. It was designed to give you a daily reminder of the things that need to be done today. Bills that need to be paid, follow ups on jobs or bookings, on line auctions, share market announcement dates, up coming social events, can all be tucked away in the memo manager until they need to be attended to, which means you can take a "set and forget" approach. But more than that as each item is taken care of it is archived by subject heading to leave a permanent sorted record of your activities. This provides a neat record of monthly account payments and the like as well as providing a quick and easy online reference source of your past activities in case of disputes, regular summaries or work in progress. Who you spoke to, when, what about and what was agreed is surprisingly useful stuff to have on the screen in front of you sometimes.

The third module allows you to set up a set of back up parameters of the things you work on regularly. These items can then be backed up to convenient little flash drives on a regular basis. Using TaskBuster and flash drives makes it quick and easy, which means it does get done, at least daily.

Adit Business Computers Pty. Ltd. ABN 49010680181 is a software development company, and holder of a software publishing certificate. Incorporated in the mid 1980's the company developed and distributed specialized software for use in the real estate and insurance broking industries as well as motels and general accounting to name a few. The software packages though complex, were comprehensive and practical with an emphasis on ease of use. TaskBuster is a departure from those larger corporate roots, but retains the same practical approach to usable software. Adit is a Developer Member of the Association of Shareware Professionals.

Why would I need a password generator.

There are more and more on line sites that require you to register or become a member, to access them. This invariably involves coming up with yet another password. One on line forum estimates most people have anywhere up to 25 or 30 passwords. Some of the sites are not visited very frequently which is all the more reason to have a simple way of looking up the password you used when you registered. Many sites are also now setting parameters on the type of password you can use. Alphanumeric with a mixture of lower case and upper case letters and numerals for example. Your own cryptic clues can become a lot more cryptic than you intended when you look back on them some three or four months later. TaskBuster also allows you enter your passwords into the site you are logging on to by pasting it rather than using the keyboard, an added security measure.

What makes TaskBuster a secure password generator

TaskBuster does not store passwords, because it generates passwords based on your unique PinKey and the account details in your password list. The list contains details of sites you use passwords for. Each site is described by name and designation. An account name and number for example, or simply words such as Account Name Finance Account designation My Stockbroker. When you need a password for a site you click on that item in the list and ask TaskBuster to generate the password.

Is the generated password the same every time

Yes. As long as you are using the same unique PinKey each time and the account details remain the same, TaskBuster will generate the same password. You do however need to remember your unique PinKey.

What is a PinKey and how safe is it really?

Your PinKey is the one thing you do need to remember and protect. It consists of 6 digits you click select using the mouse and an alphanumeric extension. For example 192073 rhubarb4me. TaskBuster does not save your PinKey to disc. It also can not be determined from any of your passwords. If you forget your PinKey we can not help. It should not be based on anything obvious such as birth dates etc. and should be committed to memory.

How do I know TaskBuster is not spying on my passwords?

TaskBuster only ever connects to the internet at your direction. For example when you choose to visit the website or to check for the latest updates. Users of Zone alarm or similar connection monitors can quickly establish the truth of this statement. TaskBuster does not contain any spyware, malware or adware of any kind. The download is digitally signed and uses Microsoft's Authenticode process which allows your browser to verify that the copy you download is the original from Adit Business Computers. Neither your PinKey or any of your passwords are actually recorded to disk in any way.

What sort of passwords can TaskBuster produce

TaskBuster produces passwords 8 to 18 characters in length. They can be numeric or alphanumeric. The alphanumeric passwords can have upper and lower case letters mixed.

Why would I not just keep using the one good strong password I use for most things?

Because your password is only as strong as the weakest site you use it on. We know of one case where the good strong password was used as a course enrollment password, only to have it openly emailed back as confirmation, thereby compromising every other site the password was used for. If you use TaskBuster for "all those other" passwords you could then keep your most secret passwords to yourself, if you chose to do so and not disclose them to anybody, even TaskBuster.

How is the Memo Manager different to a diary

Unlike a diary, TaskBuster does not require a specific time for things to be done. It is not an appointment book. It is very much a personal memo manager, so it allows for a mixture of all sorts of things. The more I use it the more uses I find for it. A lot of things you may want/have to do sometime soon do not have a definite date, for example doing a tax return, or booking the car in for a service. It slowly works it's way up the list until it gets to the top. At that point you may elect to do it or simply reset it for another day with a few clicks. Then again on the day you have flagged for the latest annual report on some company you have shares in to fall due, you are alerted to go and look for it. As bills arrive they are entered then dealt with as they fall due. I usually set them for a week before they are actually due. As they come up and are dealt with, usually on line, the receipt number is added to the memo, it is marked as done then archived. That provides a permanent record of payments made, when, how much, receipt number etc. Digital certificate expiry dates, happily sit side by side with holiday booking deadlines and birthday reminders. As memos go past due they are shown in red and demand attention, even if it is just to re schedule them. A quick glance shows what is due, past due, and and what is coming up. When you get a call from someone concerning some or other work in progress, you can have the archived details on the screen in front of you before they finish their first sentence.

Will there be updates

Yes. Because we use TaskBuster ourselves, we have now entered the realm of easy to use personal productivity software that will gradually expand. Updates will be uploaded to the website as they become available. TaskBuster includes a "Check the website for updates" button to allow users to check for updates as they are released. We took a purposeful decision not to check for updates automatically from within the software or indeed to connect to the internet at all unless directed to by the user.