Love comping? Love Roboform!

Now, this might be old news for many PrizeFinder regulars - but being a Mac user, Roboform is a brand new experience for me and since I downloaded it, it's revolutionised my online comping!

For years I used to read about people using Roboform to enter online competitions quickly, but it's only this year that they've launched a Safari for Mac version that I could try out. And seriously, I don't know how I survived without it! Form filling is one of the dullest jobs I know, and Roboform can do it for you super fast. And the best thing is, it's free.

Before now, if I saw a long entry form to complete online I would heave a mighty sigh and move on, but now I just click the 'Di Coke' button at the top of my browser and within a second or two, the form is completed with my details. Even those awful drop down menus (you know, the ones where you have to scroll to United Kingdom or find your date of birth!) are automatically completed. It means I can enter LOADS more competitions, and I don't get fed up typing the same information over and over again.

If you use internet banking, eBay, PayPal or do online shopping (and if you're like me, have foolishly registered everywhere with different emails and passwords!), Roboform remembers all your passwords - your information is encrypted and secure, and you just need to remember a single master password to unlock your logins.

Roboform:
• stores your details and fills entry forms with a single click
• can store 'Identities' for other family members
• automatically saves your passwords for websites

The basic Roboform software is free to download at Roboform.com, but I've opted to pay to upgrade to Roboform Everywhere, which I can use on multiple computers as well as my iPhone. There's an extra security measure on my phone which means I need to use a numerical passcode AND the master password to log into sites, but that's still quicker than inputting an email address and password.

One of the common queries from compers is whether they will be disqualified for using Roboform. In the rules it might state 'No automated entries'. This does NOT refer to Roboform - this refers to companies who charge subscribers to enter competitions automatically on their behalf. These entrants are NOT visiting the promoter's website and do not know what they are entering to win - this is an issue we feel strongly about at ThePrizeFinder, as unfortunately these companies can submit tens of thousands of entries to competitions, meaning the chance of a genuine entrant winning is very small. You can read more about these services on my SuperLucky blog, and I'll be blogging about them here at ThePrizeFinder soon too.

Unlike Automated Entry Services, with Roboform an entrant is actually visiting the promoter's site - they are just using a quicker method to complete their details on the entry form when they get there! So there's no need to worry about being disqualified.

One of the downsides of Roboform that it doesn't work with Flash or Javascript forms - but thankfully there aren't too many of those about. If you've not used Roboform before and decide to download it, let me know how you get on!