Key takeaways: 

  • Reusing passwords and usernames across multiple accounts puts users at risk. 
  • Password managers, which store usernames and passwords in safe, encrypted databases, are key to staying safe online. 

Many people simplify their online experience by reusing passwords to access email, banking, shopping, social-media accounts and more, but this isn’t safe.  

If a primary password is stolen because of a breach, bad actors can use the password across multiple platforms, gathering even more sensitive information. Fortunately, there’s an alternative: password managers. 

A password manager is software created to manage all of a user’s online credentials, such as usernames and passwords. The password manager stores this sensitive information in a safe, encrypted database, releasing it only when the user unlocks the password vault within the manager app.  

Password managers provide:

  • The ease of having a single password. 
  • The benefits of access and professional, up-to-date security standards. 
  • Warnings about potential phishing websites and fake login pages (MSU Denver is often targeted by phishing schemes, so this can be a simple, useful way to protect yourself and the University). 

How to select a password manager 

There are many password managers available that offer the same core functionality. Some allow users to install the app on unlimited devices or store an unlimited number of passwords, while others cap these numbers without a paid subscription. Some may offer encrypted text and file-sharing to keep more than just passwords secure or a password generator. CNET’s article on the Best Password Manager in 2023 is a good starting point. 

This is part of a series of articles for Cybersecurity Awareness Month. MSU Denver is proud to support the 20th year of this far-reaching online-safety awareness-and-education initiative, which is co-led by the National Cyber Security Alliance and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA) of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. For more information about Cybersecurity Awareness Month and how to participate in a wide variety of activities, visit staysafeonline.org/cybersecurity-awareness-month/.