Passwords…
If you’re reading this, I’m 99% sure you have at least one password. I’m just as confident that you use passwords on a regular basis. Living and working in today’s modern society nearly requires it.
Passwords get a bad rap: you have to remember them, you’re often prompted to make them8 or more characters, you sometimes are required to update them. As inconvenient as they are, they’re a necessary burden to stay safe and efficient in your digital life.
Over the years, I’ve heard rumors and speculation that one day, passwords will become obsolete as technology adapts with facial recognition, thumbprints and the like. However, at this point in time, technology hasn’t found an ideal solution that works across the board. Passwords are still the easiest, most reliable option that work conveniently and safely enough to stay strong in the market.
Since it’s inevitable, then what’s the best way to make passwords easier to deal with?
The answer is with a password manager.
What’s a password manager?
A password manager is like a digital “book” of your passwords. If you’re someone who saves passwords by writing them on a sheet of paper, in a notebook or in a spreadsheet, it’s the same concept. Except, a hundred times safer. In all likelihood, a password manager is a lot more convenient, too.
Unlike a sheet of paper or a notebook log, a password manager can go with you wherever you are, and work across all your devices. Another metaphor for a password manager is a digital “vault”. This vault, like the vault in a bank, is secure. It’s locked down with multiple layers of security to keep the contents protected and only accessible by the vault owner.
The way you get into most password managers is to remember and log in with a master password. But that means you keep track of one password, not hundreds.
In the case of LogMeOnce Password Manager, you don’t need to remember a master password. You can verify your identity in other ways, with the help of your smart phone and your web browser working together.
Four of five company breaches are due to poor passwords. Companies may provide all of the right employee education and force employees to change passwords. However, this doesn’t ensure password best practices.
Why it’s wise to use a password manager
- Most password managers are user-friendly. The companies that create them know that you’re using a password manager to keep your accounts safe online, but making it convenient is nearly as important.
- Most password managers can be easily downloaded and installed from your web browser. They can install onto your device within a few clicks, and then you can start saving your passwords. They offer features that allow you to import your passwords, like if you have them saved in a spreadsheet or if you’re transferring them from another password manager. Within a short amount of time, you can be set up and running.
- A password manager can auto-fill in passwords when you use your regular websites. This means you can turn off that feature in your web browsers so you stay more secure. (If you use a common web browser like Google Chrome or Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox, they often save your passwords so you don’t have to type them when you log in again. However, that’s highly unsafe if someone else should ever use your device. They can open your web browser and easily log in to the websites you’ve saved.
- Most password managers work across multiple devices. For example, most likely you will install your password manager on your laptop. But then you can also install on your notepad or smart phone for when you use your web browser there, too.
- Sharing passwords securely is easier. If you and someone else have the password manager installed, you can share details without worrying about someone else getting access. This is helpful if you work with team members or family members and need to share your account logins.
Why its unwise to not use password manager
- When you don’t use a password manager, it is usually more cumbersome to keep track of all of your passwords that you use on a regular basis. This is especially true if you are forced to update your passwords regularly, such as with financial accounts.
- Trying to remember your password when you don’t have a password manager also means that you might forget, or you spend time trying several different options until you come across the one that works.
- If you use passwords in your business, and work with other team members or contractors, you often are using passwords that need to be shared. Your online accounts become much more vulnerable if you share your passwords insecurely, such as by emailing, or sharing them in a document, or sharing via a text app.
- Finally, if you would have your computer stolen or used by someone without permission, your information is highly exposed without a password manager. Anyone that has your device and opens your web browser could likely get into your accounts if they wanted. With a password manager, you could prevent that more easily. With many password managers, you can even remotely log out from another device, so you make sure everything stays safe if your computer isn’t in your possession.
Overall, having a password manager makes sense if you want more convenience, more security, more efficiency sharing with your family or team and to save time. The benefits of using one outweigh the risks of going without one. You don’t want to experience the day when your data gets compromised and you regret not taking the steps to set up a password manager (especially when there are free and very inexpensive options on the market).
Want to learn more about what we have to offer? Feel free to reach out to us today and see how we can help.
