Do you have the same passwords that you recycle for every account you have? If that’s the case, then you might be in big trouble. Nowadays, a data breach is one of the biggest problems the online industry is encountering. So, there’s a chance that someone’s already trying to breach your data. Even if you feel that you have a strong and secure password, still you need to make sure it’s impenetrable.
Majority of people use very weak passwords. Maybe for them, it isn’t that important, or they just use it for one of their social media accounts. Also, most people reuse their passwords for them to remember them easily. If you haven’t had the decision of using a password manager, then maybe now is the time for you to install one. Using a password manager is one of the top safety practices most security experts recommend to their customers.
There are various passwords managers in the market that you look into. There’s one for every significant bowser, and there are what you call stand-alone password managers that work with different browsers. Password managers store your login information for you to have fewer things to think about. It helps you log in automatically from your accounts. So, here’s a lot more about password managers.
What are Password Managers?
Password managers are like books of a particular room with a master key that only you have. Some people may think that having one isn’t very convincing. But what if someones get a hold of your only password? That would be a considerable fear you cannot overcome easily. You might lose something important forever. However, if you have a unique and reliable password that you only use for one account, then that would be an excellent way to protect yourself from a potential breach.
This type of application doesn’t just store your passwords, but it also helps you generate a unique and better password when you sign up to new accounts. It means that whenever you’re going to log in to a website or an app, you can easily use the password managers. It works by copying your password and pasting it into the login box.
For better and convenient use, some password managers have browser extensions. This way, you won’t have to worry about copying and pasting your password. It will automatically fill in your password when you’re trying to log in to one of your accounts online. In addition to that, password managers also have encrypted sync across smart devices such as mobile phones or tablets. Therefore, you can bring your passwords anywhere with you.
Password Managers Protects Passwords
Password managers protect your data by creating a unique and reliable password for every service you use. Also, they lessen the hassle by removing the need to remember and enter those passwords manually. So, here some benefits you can get when installing a password manager.
- Password managers can protect you from impostor websites that attempt “Phishing” you. “Phishing” is cybercrime which a person forcibly tries to attempt in accessing private data like personal details, credit card details, usernames, and passwords. It targets the person through email, telephone call, or a text message. Impostor websites are like regular websites but designed for a fraudulent act.
This is a way for hackers to get your account details. They make a fake website that would look like one of your most visited sites and trick you in entering your password. This way, they could easily get your account information. But, using a password manager could prevent this possible attack. If you accidentally open an impostor website, your password manager won’t just enter your password. It will know if you have an account for that particular site.
- Most password managers track websites which you have accounts with. This way, you would be able to identify if you have unused accounts. Also, you can choose to close of delete that accounts to reduce online exposure.
- It protects you from password-reuse attacks. Hackers tend to attack by breaking into a website and steal the private information of online users. Once these frauds get a hold of your data, they would immediately try to breach your accounts. These attacks work because most people don’t put much thought about the passwords they’re using.
By using a password manager, it’s possible to use different passwords for every account you have. You won’t have to worry about remembering all of them because a password manager can simply store them for you. However, before using a password manager, you need to replace all your passwords with the new ones for better protection.
Takeaway
If you decided to install a password manager, your first challenge would be choosing or generating your master password. You have to make sure that it’s strong and unique because that would be the key to all your private information. Keep in mind that there’s no such thing as the “correct” password manager. You just have to pick the most suitable one for your needs and keep your data safe from cybercriminals.
Author’s Bio:
Tyler Pack is a real estate consultant and journalist, with a passion for smart homes technology. He is keen on writing about home and property security, and cybersecurity.
