AsterWin IE

AsterWin IE reveals the actual password behind an asterisk-masked field on an Internet Explorer webpage, turning an obscured login value into readable text. It is useful when Internet Explorer fills a saved password automatically but the account holder no longer remembers the characters. The utility works with credentials that were previously saved on the computer and are still available for browser autofill.

To use it, run AsterWin IE while the relevant Internet Explorer page is open and have it display the value held by the masked password field. This targets recovery of an existing website login rather than creation, editing, or general password management. It can help Windows users regain access to a familiar site when the browser remembers the credential but the person does not.

Developed by Nir Sofer, AsterWin IE is freeware for Windows and is currently version 1.03. Its narrowly defined purpose distinguishes it from broader credential-management software: it exposes the value already represented by asterisks in Internet Explorer. Users should understand that it applies to saved Internet Explorer passwords, not arbitrary passwords that were never stored or are unavailable for autofill.