Have you ever had trouble keeping track of the passwords across all your online accounts? Heck, you might have even reused the same password across different logins. However, reusing passwords can be risky, as it exposes your other accounts in the event of a security breach.
From Google
To help you keep track of all your passwords and give you that added peace of mind, we recommend using a password manager. Read on to learn more about these tools and how you can maximize them for your online security.
What is a password manager?
From Google Password Manager
A password manager is an app or service that stores all your account passwords in one place. Password managers also allow you to automatically fill-in your log-in credentials for those sites. More than that, most services that offer to store your passwords implement a “zero knowledge” policy, wherein even the service provider doesn't know the passwords themselves because it’s stored in their servers in an encrypted format.
If some of these features seem familiar to you, it’s because you’re probably using a password manager already. When your device asks if you want to save your password, there’s usually a password manager service connected to that device. Apple users have the iCloud Keychain at their disposal; Android users, on the other hand, have the Google Password Manager. You can also utilize the Credential Manager if you’re using a Windows computer.
Most internet browsers also have their own password managers that can conveniently auto-fill your login credentials whenever you visit certain websites. However, relying on your browser can have its drawbacks–among which are limited security and functionality. Of course, there are also dedicated Password Managers that offer unique features unavailable in other services.
What are the benefits of password managers?
Online security professionals recommend utilizing a dedicated password manager, thanks to their strong encryption for data. These third-party apps allow you to key in multiple login credentials, protected by one master password.
These services also have the ability to generate strong random passwords that allow you to just copy-paste them on the website you’re visiting. What’s more, a password manager can also store other pertinent and sensitive details such as CVV codes, PINs, and even medical information. Note that while most password managers are free, some offer premium features for a fee, such as sharing specific items with multiple people, and having access to emergency one-time access to a user’s vault.
Which password managers are worth using?
Your password manager has the ability to sync your passwords across multiple devices so that you won’t get locked out of your own account. For that, we recommend using LastPass or 1Password. These services have browser extensions and mobile apps that allow you to access your saved passwords across multiple devices. It also includes offline modes so you can continue to access your passwords without an Internet connection. What’s more, these dedicated password managers have strong security features like automatic back-ups and data loss protections.
LastPass can be used for free, with a premium version that offers more advanced features. On the other hand, 1Password offers only a two-week free trial period. Both paid versions include multi-factor authentication methods that secure your passwords further, such as time-based one-time passwords, FaceID, biometrics, and even retina scan. Each have their own unique additional authentication methods as well; LastPass allows for voice recognition while 1Password allows for QR code authentication.
If you don’t want to download a dedicated password manager, Google Password Manager is a good and seamless option. It can sync to multiple devices–even those on iOS–as long as you have access to a Chrome browser and you can log in to your Google account. Don’t forget to enable encryption of your saved passwords as it is not an automatic feature for Google Password Manager.
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Which password manager will you be downloading soon?
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With additional reporting by Karess Rubrico