Technically Speaking: password managers

There was a time when we needed to remember only a handful of passwords for our online accounts. But as our online lives continue to expand, the number of web-connected services we use — email, banking, shopping, content subscriptions, social media — keeps growing, and so do the number of passwords we use. When looking at the volume of information we need to remember, some people may get overwhelmed and try using the same password for most of their accounts to simplify their online experience — but this isn’t safe. If their primary password gets stolen because of a breach, bad actors can and will try to use it across multiple platforms, maximizing the sensitive information collected and damage dealt. Fortunately, there’s an alternative: password managers. 

Password managers

A password manager is software created to manage all of your online credentials, such as usernames and passwords. It stores them in a safe, encrypted database, releasing them only when you unlock your password vault in the manager app. People who use password managers get all the ease of use that comes with having a single password but with the benefits of layered access and professional, up-to-date security standards. 

Password managers can also provide other benefits, such as warning users about potential phishing websites — fake login pages that look like the real thing so you’ll put in your login information without noticing that anything is off. Metropolitan State University of Denver has seen a lot of phishing attempts lately, but using a password manager can be a simple, useful way to protect yourself against these sorts of attacks. 

Picking a tool

Which password manager to use? Ultimately, this is up to you. There are a lot of password managers available, and while they all present the same core functionality, they vary broadly in terms of features and restrictions. Some may allow you to install the app on unlimited devices or store an unlimited number of passwords, while others may cap these numbers without a paid subscription. Some may offer encrypted text and file sharing to keep more than just your passwords secure or a password generator to relieve you of the struggle to come up with something new when a password needs changing. Finding the password manager that fits your needs may require some research, but CNET’s article on the Best Password Manager to Use for 2022 may be a good starting point.