OS Solutions - Why use Password Manager?

The majority of people use very weak passwords and reuse them on different websites. How are you supposed to use strong, unique passwords on all the websites you use? The solution is a password manager.

Password managers store your login information for all the websites you use and help you log into them automatically. They encrypt your password database with a master password - the master password is the only one you have to remember.

Don't Reuse Passwords!

Password reuse is a serious problem because of the many password leaks that occur each year, even on large websites. When your password leaks, malicious individuals have an email address, username, and password combination they can try on other websites. If you use the same login information everywhere, a leak at one website could give people access to all your accounts. If someone gains access to your email account in this way, they could use password-reset links to access other websites, like your online banking or other sensitive sites.

To prevent password leaks from being so damaging, you need to use unique passwords on every website. These should also be strong passwords - long, unpredictable passwords that contain numbers and symbols.

Many people have hundreds of accounts to keep track of. Even the average person likely has dozens of different accounts and passwords. Remembering a unique strong password for each account is nearly impossible without resorting to some sort of trick. The ideal trick is a password manager that generates secure, random passwords for you and remembers them, so you don't have to.

We recommend you use a password manager because the alternative is remembering a long list of strong, unique passwords everywhere - something that's basically impossible unless you have a photographic memory. (We dream of a password less future where none of this is necessary, too. The tech industry may one day soon replace passwords with passkeys.)

What Using a Password Manager is Like

A password manager will take a load off your mind, freeing up brain power for doing productive things rather than remembering a long list of passwords.

When you use a password manager and need to log into a website, you will first visit that website normally. Instead of typing your password into the website, you type your master password into the password manager, which automatically fills the appropriate login information into the website. (If you're already logged into your password manager, it will automatically fill the data for you). You don't have to think about what email address, username, and password you used for the website - your password manager does the dirty work for you.

The best password managers can also sync to your phone, giving you access to your passwords on the go. They can unlock your password vault with the biometric unlock mechanisms built into your phone, whether that's facial recognition or a fingerprint. They work in the browser apps you use on your phone, whether that's Safari, Chrome, or another browser of your choice.

If you're creating a new account, your password manager will offer to generate a secure random password for you, so you don't have to think about that, either. It can also be configured to automatically fill information like your address, name, and email address into web forms.

Why Browser-Based Password Managers Aren't Ideal

Web browsers - Chrome, Safari, Edge, Firefox, and others -- all have integrated password managers. We recommend against using your browser's built-in password manager. Each browser's built-in password manager can't compete with dedicated password managers. They've become better over time - chrome's built-in password manager is surprisingly capable, for example.

However, they're not the most flexible - you're stuck using a specific browser on all your devices, for example, whereas you might want to run different browsers on your phone and computer. They often lack features like strong random password generation and a scanning tool that warns you when you have duplicated or leaked passwords. A dedicated password manager also has a more powerful interface.

Getting Started With Your Password Manager

The first big decision you will need to make with a password manager is choosing your master password. This master password controls access to your entire password manager database, so you should make it particularly strong - it's the only password you'll need to remember, after all. You may want to write down the password and store it somewhere safe after choosing it, just in case - for example, if you're really serious, you could store your master password in a vault at the bank. You can change this password later, but only if you remember it - if you lose your master password, you won't be able to view your saved passwords. This is essential, as it ensures no one else can view your secure password database without the master password.

After installing a password manager, you will likely want to start changing your website passwords to more secure ones.

Password managers also allow you to store other types of data in a secure form - everything from credit card numbers to secure notes. All data you store in a password manager is encrypted with your master password.

Password managers can even help against phishing, as they fill account information into websites based on their web address (URL). If you think you're on your bank's website and your password manager doesn't automatically fill your login information, it's possible that you're on a phishing website with a different URL, often using a typo squatting domain.

Reach to OS Solutions, for secure Password for your Organization needs.