Password managers are one of the most-recommended security features by cybersecurity managers. But why is that?
You’ve probably heard that you should use a different password for every website, and that you should change your password frequently.
Despite this advice, most of us are guilty of using the same password across many sites — sometimes for years. If you were around for the doc-com boom, technology has moved on, even if some of your passwords haven’t.
Why should we change our passwords frequently? Experts say that doing so is one of the most basic ways to prevent hacking.
And you probably know that you should use nonsense strings of letters, numbers, and special characters.
All of this advice adds up to hard work and lost time. Remembering to change your passwords, using a different one for every site, and generating long nonsense strings (then trying to remember them) is frustrating.
That’s where password managers come in.
Password Managers: Never Forget a Password Again
A password manager is like a locked book of all of your passwords. Only you are able to unlock the book with a special key.
So, yes. You will have to remember at least one password to get into your password manager.
But the convenience and security of the password manager is worth it. In addition to storing all of your passwords, password managers generate strong, unique strings. Some managers even change them monthly and quarterly for you.
Whenever you log into a site, a password manager takes over and fills in your password for you with the press of a button.
Some password managers even allow you to sync all of your information across your mobile apps. That means you can access your favorite apps with a press of a button as well.
Why Should you Care?
- You’re less likely to be hacked. Using strong, unique passwords for every account minimizes the potential damage you take if a website you use gets hacked. And, even if someone manages to hack into one of your accounts, they won’t be able to hack into all of them.
- You don’t have to remember passwords. Depending on how many accounts you have, this is the biggest reason to use a password manager. The ease and convenience of modern password managers ensure that logging into all of your accounts is a seamless experience.
- You can store passwords safely. You probably feel guilty every time you write a password on a sticky note, and for good reason. Leaving your passwords out of cyberspace can be risky, too. Password managers allow you to store all of your passwords either on your local machine or in the cloud.
Which Password Manager should you use?
LastPassoffers a robust free version. It works with almost every browser on any device, syncs with your mobile devices, and features an Auto Change feature that creates new passwords for 80 popular sites on demand. For $24 a year, you can unlock other useful tools, securely share accounts with other people, and more.
If you’re a Mac user, 1Password also does the job (although not all of its features work on Windows devices). For $36, or $60 for a family plan, it generates and auto-fills secure passwords for all of your Apple devices.
Regardless of which one you choose, using a password manager is a fast, affordable, and easy way to keep your accounts safe.
Need help with password managers? Vodigy Software helps businesses use software to enhance their day-to-day operations. Contact us now!
