With the increase in the number of online accounts, it is becoming more and more difficult to remember all of our passwords. So a genuine question arise that is “What is the best way to manage all my passwords?”
Moreover, according to research carried out by DashLane, a person with general ability can only remember up to 10 passwords,
But a person with exceptional memory could recall up to 20 passwords.
Therefore, many people try to search for ways and means to manage all their passwords while keeping them safe in one place.
So, if you are one of them, and want to know the best way to manage all your passwords,
Then you have landed on the right page,
As I am going to point out this query in this article.
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What is the best way to manage all my passwords?
The best way to manage all your passwords is by using a good and reputable password manager that will not only help you to store all of your passwords in one place but will also keep them safe and secure. In fact, according to recent password manager statistics, vault users are three times less likely to experience identity theft.
Want to know more about password managers?
Then read on!
What is a Password Manager?
A password manager is a software application and an advanced tool that helps an individual or businesses store all of their login credentials in an encrypted form and manage them easily like Encryption Software.
In simple words, it is a locker that stores all of your virtual credentials i.e., passwords and usernames, which can only be accessed by using a strong master password.
Are password managers safe?
Yes, using a password manager is 100% safe, because many of them are protected by strong military-grade encryption like AES, which is a type of encryption used by the US government to protect its sensitive data.
Moreover, a password manager can defend you from a lot of cyber security attacks like password leaks or theft.
However, if you happen to share the master password with anyone, or didn’t use proper safety measures from your side,
Then there is a great chance that your password manager will get compromised.
But remember, this will only happen if you mess up, as many password managers have layers of security that reduce the chance of your passwords getting hacked or shared.
What are the benefits of using a password manager?
So, after discussing the significance of password manager and their legitimacy,
We shall now move forward and see what are the benefits of using a password manager.
It encrypts all your passwords and secures them inside a vault:
Well, this is the most common, yet terrific benefit of using a password manager, as it stores all of your passwords and usernames in one place.
Additionally, it is very convenient and minimizes the risk of cyber security attacks.
It can create randomly generated, but strong passwords for you:
Some of the premium password managers in the market have this brilliant feature that can automatically create a strong and random password for every account.
So, all of the hassles about creating, and remembering a strong password are now a thing of the past.
All you need is one master password:
Gone are the days when you had to remember all of your passwords to access your accounts.
By using a password manager, one can easily login into their virtual account just by entering one master password,
Which will open up your password manager vault instantly and feed the appropriate password automatically.
Gives access to multiple users without sharing the master password:
After reading this point, you must be really surprised, but honestly speaking, a password manager can seriously save you from any kind of security breach.
A person who has the master password can easily give access to the other users, without even sharing passwords with them.
It is similar to creating a user profile in order to validate that user of using the account.
They are more than just password managers:
Some of the password managers out in the market are not only password saviors but can also help you save and secure your credit card/debit card information.
Moreover, some also make the multifactor authorization or using a second test like Q&A very simple and effective.
Multiple device support:
Every new password manager in the market is equipped with this cool feature,
Where a user can simply sync his/her devices to the password manager and use it freely so that he/she isn’t restricted to only one device.
Decreased waste of time & increased productivity:
Well, if you are running a business and have more than one virtual account,
Then you can simply use a password manager and cut down the “forgot my password” cycle instantly while increasing the productivity factor of your employees.
A simple way to audit a breach:
Sometimes when you have no physical access to your system, auditing for any type of data breach can turn into a nightmare.
Thus, a password manager will give you this flexibility and allow you to keep track of all your login activities, initiate audit trails, and provide you with usage reports and analytics.
No more scrambling around for the logins:
Have you encountered such an incident where one of your employees has either left the company or is on sick leave, and you urgently need access to his accounts?
If yes, then the password manager will solve this problem for you, as it allows administrator of the company to access all the other accounts.
What are the things that you should keep in mind while opting for a password manager?
Now that we have seen, how password managers can be beneficial, you must be really excited to get one, right?
Well, some points should be kept in mind while opting for a password manager.
Look for 2FA authentication:
A strong security feature like Two Factor Authentication is a very must when purchasing a password manager.
When you get yourself a password manager with a 2FA feature,
It creates unique and different checkpoints for data accessing, so that it can protect the passwords that are lying inside the password manager.
Basically, this process includes a password and fingerprint authentication, an iris scanner, or a face scanner.
Go for transparent features and pricing:
Many password manager apps are available in the market and can fog our minds instantly.
Therefore, it is better to opt for a password manager which has better features and security, along with simple and affordable pricing.
Moreover, prioritize security over fanciness and complicated design, as it may do no good.
Always go for trials:
Yes, trials are for a reason, and therefore always try to go for trials before purchasing a password manager for yourself or for your business,
As it will give you a clear idea about the worthiness of the password manager that you are going to invest in.
Look for cloud or self-hosting:
It would be very much convenient if you could opt for a cloud-based password manager tool,
As it will give a user the freedom to access his/her passwords from anywhere around the world,
Moreover, it will make the job of the employees much easier, more convenient, and safer.
Go for open-sourced password managers:
Password managers with open source can help a user in sharing the resources directly,
Thus eliminating the restrictions on tech and face-to-face interactions.
They do not compromise on security while being user-friendly.
Some of the open-source password managers are Keepass, Passbolt, and EnPass.
Which are the best password managers available in the market?
- Keepass.
- Passbolt.
- Enpass.
- Pass.
- Dashlane.
- LastPass.
- NordPass.
- Sticky Password.
Note: These are only recommendations, so I suggest you try them all as well as the others that are available in the market so that you can find one that easily fits your need.
How to keep your passwords safe?
A password manager can only keep your passwords and username safe and secure until you are doing your best to keep them safe.
Therefore, I am listing some of the safety tips that can help you in keeping your password safe and secure.
- Avoid jotting down passwords on a note app, word document, excel sheet, or paper.
- Do not by any means share your password with anyone, and if you do, better change it immediately after the work is done.
- Avoid online banking on shared computers.
- Avoid fetching your passwords over public Wi-Fi, as they are very vulnerable.
- Use different passwords for different platforms to avoid hacking.
- Always create a password with 8+ characters, along with four different characters i.e., upper/lower case alphabets, numbers, and symbols.
- Always avoid using your name, address, school name, or any kind of personal details as your password.
- If you keep a hint for the password somewhere, then never-ever link it with the respective website.
- Never use a special character at the beginning or end of the password.
- Don’t use a specific word from the dictionary, instead take a few of them, and jumble them along with some numbers and symbols to create a strong password.
- Avoid changing a single character at a time.
- Create one lengthy and complex password.
Final Remarks on “what is the best way to manage all my passwords?“
Dealing with one or two passwords can be a feasible task, but when it comes down to managing all of your passwords, then it can be quite a hefty one.
Therefore, I recommend using the right password manager tool for your business or personal work, which will not only manage all your passwords but will also ensure its full security.
