Passwords are necessary but could be annoying. You have to remember and maintain them all while keeping them a secret or you’ll be the victim of identity theft.
And if you’re like most people, you likely have quite a few passwords and sometimes forget which is what. This can be particularly disastrous if you use the same password for multiple accounts, making your entire online life vulnerable should one service be compromised.
The password manager is a software application that’s designed to solve this problem by storing passwords for different websites, along with other info like credit card numbers or usernames. While you might not have heard of such a thing before, that doesn’t mean it isn’t necessary.
So in this article, we will see what a password manager is, are password managers safe or not, and why you should start using one.
What Is a Password Manager?
A password manager is software that stores login credentials and fills in those details automatically when you visit a site. This can save you time and energy, especially if you have a lot of passwords. It can also help protect you from identity theft.
Most password managers support multiple users and can be configured to store other sensitive data such as credit card numbers, bank accounts, and notes in an encrypted database that you can configure with one master password or key file.
Why You Need a Password Manager
You probably have dozens of online accounts, from the obvious (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) to things you might not even remember signing up for — and that’s not even counting the ones attached to your credit cards!
Keeping track of all those usernames and passwords can be a hassle. A password manager can make it easy to store them all in one place, safely.
With a password manager, you only need to memorize one password — the one that opens your vault — and the software fills in your credentials whenever you visit a website or use an app.
You don’t have to worry about forgetting your passwords or writing them down somewhere, and you don’t have to worry about someone stealing them because they’re encrypted.
All major operating systems come with some kind of password manager built-in, but there are also plenty available as standalone programs or browser extensions if you want more features.
Are Password Managers Really Safe?
The short answer is “yes, they are safe”. The long answer is that no password manager or app is 100% secure, but they are much safer than storing your passwords in a poorly protected or unencrypted file or document.
1. You Won’t Have to Remember Every Password
The most obvious reason for installing a password manager is that it stores all your passwords, which means you don’t have to remember them or write them down on a piece of paper stuck to the bottom of your keyboard.
This is great because it means you can use randomly generated passwords, which are far stronger than any password you would think up — and vastly stronger than commonly used passwords, like “password123”.
2. You’ll Have More Secure Passwords
The only thing harder than remembering a strong, unique password is coming up with one. In fact, the task is so difficult that many of us end up using the same password again and again.
The solution to this problem — and the number one reason why you should be using a password manager — is that it can generate secure passwords for you.
3. You’ll Be Able to Access Your Passwords From Anywhere
Most people don’t realize this, but when they install a password manager on their computers at work or at home, they’re also installing an extension that lets them access their secure vault from any browser, anywhere. That includes mobile browsers!
So the next time you need to log into your email account or pay a bill online while you’re out and about, just fire up Chrome or Safari on your phone and pull up your passwords. It couldn’t be easier!
4. Encrypted Storage for Passwords, Bank Details, and More
Password managers use encrypted storage to save your sensitive information. This means that only you — with the help of your master password — can access the stored data.
Final Words
Ultimately, the moral of the story is this: take your security seriously and start using a password manager today! It’s crucial for keeping personal data safe.
Not only that, but with the majority of them costing less than $40 a year, and some offered for free, it’s difficult to argue against their usefulness. In short, if you don’t already have a password manager in place, now might be a good time to start.