5 Reasons Why Everyone Should Be Using a Password Manager

What's a password manager?

A password manager is a software tool that helps you securely store and manage your online passwords. It generates strong, unique passwords for all your online accounts and stores them in an encrypted form. You can then access all your passwords using a single master password.

Password managers can be used on a variety of devices, including desktop computers, laptops, smartphones, and tablets. Depending on the tool it may even work cross platform (Mac OS, iOS, Android, Windows or Linux).

Some password managers also offer browser extensions that can automatically fill in your login credentials when you visit a website. This can save you time and reduce the risk of typos, which can lead to security vulnerabilities.

Bottom line: Using a password manager can help improve your online security by allowing you to use strong, unique passwords for all your accounts. It can also make it easier to manage your passwords, since you only have to remember one master password (please oh PLEASE make this a strong one!). Some password managers also offer additional features, such as password sharing and multi-factor authentication, to further enhance your security along with secure bank details or passport/ID storage.

Why use a password manager?

Improved security: A password manager generates and stores strong, unique passwords for all your online accounts. These passwords are typically long, complex, and randomly generated, making them difficult for attackers to guess or brute-force. The password manager stores these passwords in an encrypted form, so even if someone were to gain access to the password manager's database, they would not be able to read the passwords without the proper decryption key.

By using unique passwords for each of your accounts, you can also reduce the risk of "credential stuffing" attacks, where an attacker uses a list of leaked passwords to try to gain access to other accounts. If you use the same password for multiple accounts, a single data breach can compromise all of those accounts.

Convenience: With a password manager, you only have to remember one master password to access all your other passwords. This can be especially helpful if you have a lot of online accounts or use complex passwords that are difficult to remember. You can also use the password manager to automatically log into your accounts, saving you time and effort.

Time-saving: A password manager can help you quickly and easily log into your accounts, without having to type out long and complex passwords. This can save you time and reduce frustration, especially if you have to log into a lot of different accounts on a regular basis.

Password sharing: Some password managers allow you to share passwords with others in a secure way. This can be useful if you need to share access to an account with a colleague or family member. The password manager can generate a unique, one-time use link that you can send to the other person, allowing them to log into the account without seeing the actual password.

Multi-factor authentication: Many password managers also offer multi-factor authentication options, which can add an extra layer of security to your accounts. This can involve using a second device, such as a smartphone, to confirm your identity before allowing you to log into an account. This can provide an extra layer of protection against unauthorised access, even if someone else knows your password.

5 Recommended password managers

So you're convinced, but now you're asking what password manager is right for you? More good news, There are many password managers available, and the best one for you will depend on your specific needs and preferences. Here are a few password managers in no particular order that are generally well-regarded and widely used:

LastPass: LastPass is a popular password manager that is available on a wide range of devices, including desktop computers, laptops, smartphones, and tablets. It offers a range of features, including password generation, auto-fill, and password sharing. It also has a free version that includes basic password management features. LASTPASS UPDATE: In December of 2022 LastPass released a statement confirming their internal systems had been breached which resulted in unauthorised access to data which included "backups of all customer vault data. All sensitive customer vault data" and much more. On this basis I can no longer recommend the use of LastPass.

1Password: Full disclosure, I use this one but I'm not being paid to list them here. 1Password is another widely used password manager that offers a range of features, including password generation, auto-fill, and password sharing. It is available on a variety of devices and has a free trial for two weeks that allows you to try out the software before deciding to purchase it. It even has an import feature to make setup super easy. The Watchtower feature is integrated with haveibeenpwned to check if your credentials have been involved in any data breaches.

Dashlane: Dashlane is a password manager that offers a range of features, including password generation, auto-fill, and password sharing. It is available on a variety of devices and has a free version that includes basic password management features.

Keeper: Keeper is a password manager that offers a range of features, including password generation, auto-fill, and password sharing. It is available on a variety of devices and has a free trial version that allows you to try out the software before deciding to purchase it.

Bitwarden: Bitwarden is an open-source password manager that offers a range of features, including password generation, auto-fill, and password sharing. It is available on a variety of devices and has a free version that includes basic password management features.

It's important to note that no password manager is completely foolproof and that it's still important to follow good security practices, such as enabling two-factor authentication wherever possible and avoiding phishing attacks. I sleep soundly knowing that if I'm somehow phished of credentials that I don't re-use passwords so the blast radius is minimal if I can't get in promptly to change my password plus I use the extra steps I won't disclose publicly to act as extra protection.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider supporting my work through the button below or becoming a free subscriber, it really helps, thank you!

If you're a business and would like to discuss consulting services, you can request a free consultation here: https://www.megabytesandme.com/services/

Thank you!