A password manager is a tool or software that stores, updates and generates passwords for your online accounts. Password managers or digital vaults help you generate secure passwords, easily track and manage your accounts, autofill, and more with other security and accessibility features.
While many websites and services have some form of brute force login protection or use a more advanced way to secure logins and passwords, many may not or may still rely on old, outdated algorithms. Data breaches are also another risk when sharing passwords between websites or accounts.
Benefits of a Password Manager
Using a password manager to manage your logins can be a time-saver for creating secure passwords with quick generations. You also avoid the need of writing them down or storing insecurely.
Another benefit is auto-add and autofill features many of the available tools offer, allowing for seamless adding and logging in.
Risks of Insecure Passwords
HaveiBeenPwned, a website service that monitors and tracks data breaches has already reported billions of accounts compromised. HiveSystem, who anually publishes a system password table showing complexibity, reports that checking commonly used algorithims, hacked password databases such as those on HaveiBeenPwned and with the right hardware, a 6-letter password can be cracked in just a few seconds.
Check out one of their social media platform Twitter below.
🎉 It’s here! The 2022 update to our famous Hive Systems Password Table that’s been seen in the news and shared everywhere. Download the high resolution version and read our comprehensive methodology behind it at https://t.co/G3HHDHiUKm pic.twitter.com/Pqfqtlxy0h
— Hive Systems (@hivesystems) March 2, 2022
A password manager is an invaluable tool to minimize weak passwords, avoid reusing old password, and generating strong ones. You can also export them securely to backup or reuse in a different or local manager.
There are many available in the market, some offering free plans with limited features but still very helpful and a secure way to manage your digital accounts. Check out some of the well-known, top password managers available:
Top Password Managers
- KeePass – Free and open source software with portable versions available.
- Bitwarden – Open source password manager with free, premium and self-hosted versions. Great for individuals, families, teams or businesses.
- LastPass – A freemium password manager offering both free and premium versions for online encrypted password storage.
- 1Password – A password manager great for families.
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