Did you know that the average person with an active digital presence has about 100 passwords? These days, you can’t escape passwords – they’re everywhere! Whether for your work email, Netflix or social media, passwords really are the keys to the locks of the digital world.
It’s undeniable that passwords are supremely important for security and privacy. They help to keep your personal information secure from unauthorized access. At the same time, though, remembering tens of unique passwords can be really difficult. (Hands up if you’ve ever had to request to change your password because you’ve forgotten it!)
Because remembering passwords is challenging, many individuals fall into the trap of using the same passwords across their accounts, or choosing easily guessable passwords like 12345 or qwerty.
While these choices are easy to remember, they’re also not very secure and make your accounts more vulnerable to hacking.
A better way to manage password overload is through the use of a password manager. These tools have great potential for both small businesses and individual users. Below, we’ll explore what a password manager is, how it works and which one you should use.
What Is a Password Manager?
A password manager is a software tool available on the internet, which plugs into your browser as an extension. These tools enable you to create, store and manage all your passwords from one central interface.
The password manager essentially acts like a vault for all of your passwords, remembering them on your behalf and automatically inputting them into your different online accounts as you surf the web.
The only password you’ll need to remember with a password manager is the master password, which enables you to unlock the password manager.
Password managers often have more functionality than just remembering your different passcodes for you. Best-in-breed of these solutions offer features like dark web monitoring, in which the solution will alert you to instances where one of your saved passwords has appeared in a data leak or breach and ask you to change it.
Why Should You Use a Password Manager?
A password manager helps individuals – both in their professional and personal lives – to better manage the phenomenon of password overwhelm. Beyond that, these tools have a host of other benefits, including:
- Password managers also work as password generators, helping users to create complex passwords that are almost impossible to guess. This, in turn, bolsters security and reduces the likelihood of unauthorized access by cybercriminals.
- These tools autofill your passwords for you across your accounts, making the login process much quicker and seamless.
What Should You Look for in a Password Management Solution?
By now, you’re likely convinced that a password manager is a great addition to your online life. But what exactly separates an average tool from a great one? Here are some things to look out for.
- You want to opt for a password management company with a good security track record. Features like strong encryption, multi-factor authentication and regular patching indicate that the provider takes security seriously. We also recommend you go for a provider that ensures only you can access your passwords, not anyone who works at their company.
- The auto-fill function is a must for an effective password management solution. Before you sign up to any provider, make sure this functionality is included by default.
- The built-in password generator is another critical feature that your password manager should include.
- Chances are, you access your online accounts on multiple devices. Because of this, you should choose a password manager that offers device syncing, meaning it will sync your passwords across all your devices and auto-fill passwords as needed, so you don’t have to spend time manually inputting and updating passwords on different devices.
Find the Best Password Manager For Your Needs
There are many excellent password managers out there. The option you go for will depend on a few factors, such as whether you are looking for a company-wide solution or one solely for yourself and your family.
Depending on your needs, you may be able to use a password manager for free. Generally, most password manager providers offer tiered plans. The free versions are still useful, but the paid versions offer premium features for a few dollars a month, which could well be worth it for you and your family.
Our own solution, WebGuardian, combines 24/7 security monitoring with a top-tier password management solution, so you can feel confident that you’re always safe while online.
We’ll Help You Choose the Best Password Manager
Are you concerned about your password security? Well, worry no longer! Two River Computer will give you maximum security online.
For further inquiries, contact us today.
