Password Managers Help You Stay Safe (And Sane)

Password managers can help you stay safe by helping you create strong passwords and notifying you if a data breach might affect one of your accounts.

Password managers can:

• Generate strong passwords for new sites. When you set up a new online account that requires a password, a password manager can generate a strong, randomly generated password. These tend to be more secure as they inherently avoid many of the pitfalls associated with password generation.
• Log you in quickly and easily. Passwords can auto-fill usernames and passwords when you access your online accounts.
• Reset your passwords easily. If a website you use is hacked, many password managers will reset your password to something new and random at the click of a button.
• Work across devices. Password devices let you save your passwords on one device (like your laptop) and access them on another (like your smartphone).
• Keep you informed about security breaches that affect your accounts. Many password managers will tell you when you need to change a password because of a breach of security with one of your saved sites.
• Notify you if your passwords are weak or reused. You may have already noticed some sites telling you that a password is weak, good, or strong. Many password managers do this as well, helping you generate secure passwords with ease.

These features apply to most standard password managers. The password manager you choose may have even more features than are listed here.

Why you need a password manager

Think about all the places where you use a password. What kind of information is being protected by that password? Now ask yourself if you think the passwords you are using are adequate to protect that information. Password no-nos include using:

• The same password for multiple sites
• Any word in the dictionary
• Any phrase from a book, song, or religious text
• Numbers or words that have significance for you. (You are not the only one who knows your birthday!)
• Numbers or words related to the site you are logging into. (No using “facebook” as part of the password for your Facebook account!)

We use and reuse, easy passwords because we simply cannot remember lots of complex passwords. However, this puts your personal information in danger.

Sequential numbers, known words, and short passwords are all relatively easy to hack. What’s more, once a hacker knows who you are and has one of your passwords,

they’ll certainly try that same password to get into your other accounts. Using the same password for multiple accounts is the equivalent of handing them a master key to your life.

Online fraud is growing, and millions of us have had an account compromised. The answer is to use a password manager that makes creating, organizing, and using safe and effective passwords easy.

How do password managers work?

Think of a password manager as a vault where you store all your passwords. You needn’t remember all the passwords in the vault, only the password that opens the vault. On your computer, password managers are mainly automatic and make managing passwords effortless.

Password managers can do more than remember passwords. Password managers log into your accounts automatically, even on mobile devices. They can also fill in those tedious online forms for you. Password managers are convenient.

Password managers work much the same regarding storage and encryption, but some offer additional features to manage sensitive information beyond passwords. Look for a solution that has the capabilities you need. Today’s password managers work seamlessly across all devices. Many use biometric technology, like facial scanners and fingerprint readers. Honestly, it couldn’t be easier!

Integration with browsers

Password managers must integrate with your browser to automatically fill in passwords and form fields. They do this through browser ‘extensions’ or ‘add-ons.’ These small programs enable the manager app to work within the browser to add features. Extensions add an icon to the browser window; click the icon to open or use the extension. This shows a section of a Chrome browser with extensions:

Extensions for major browsers can be found by searching for ‘browser extensions’ or:

• Chrome — https://chrome.google.com/webstore/category/extensions
• Edge — https://www.microsoft.com/en- us/store/collections/edgeextensions/pc?
• Firefox — https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/new/
• Safari — https://safari-extensions.apple.com/

Apps for mobile devices

All popular password managers work both on your computer and smartphone. They can sync your information between them. Go to the Google Play Store (Android) or the App Store (Apple iOS) to find the app. Be sure to sign in to the account using the same credentials. Look for a password manager that allows you to quickly sign in using your fingerprint or facial recognition.