by Brian Kelley
It may take some time to get used to a password manager initially, but the payoff is worth it.The problem is that after accumulating enough online accounts, the worst password behavior inevitably starts to take over. Reused or weak passwords are some of the biggest mistakes people make, and password managers mitigate these unnecessary risks.
Unless an entirely new user authentication system is developed, password managers are hands-down the most viable protection against hacking attempts. To better understand how a password manager is an efficient security tool, here are five reasons you should start using one immediately:
1) Password managers are secure
Cyber security is a lot like Murphy’s Law: If it can be hacked, it will be hacked. It’s why password managers employ the best encryption protocols available. Yes, it’s possible to steal entire databases, but without the master keys, all the hackers can make off with is lines of unreadable code.
And arguably the best feature: password managers don’t store the master key anywhere in the database. The only method of decryption rests in the hands of the user. User-specific access reduces the potential of outside data theft as well as minimizes damage when breaches occur. The same can’t be said for passwords stored anywhere else.
2) They’re easy to use
Do you write your passwords in a notebook or spreadsheet on your computer? Although that certainly is a cheaper and relatively secure option, password managers are effectively the same thing. No longer does the user have to memorize their credentials, and the actual data is more secure than jotting it onto a piece of paper or unencrypted file.
The user interface of most password managers is pretty intuitive as well. Once all credentials are migrated into the password manager, the owner can log in as fast as they can copy and paste.
3) They save time
While copying and pasting passwords from the manager is quicker than manual entry, the strongest feature is no longer having to waste time recovering passwords. Since most passwords are forgotten or compromised on a regular basis, resetting them adds up to a lot of lost time.
In addition to recovery methods being inconvenient and time-consuming, it’s also a vulnerability that hackers can exploit.
4)There’s only one thing to remember
Year after year, the most popular passwords of all time are variations of “123456” and “password.” These common, universal passphrases just show that most people opt for accessibility over security. It also an indication that the strong password guidelines for every online account are infeasible.
So don’t bother. Just having one method of access to a directory of encrypted passwords has several advantages. It’s easy to keep track of or remember just one thing, and strengthening that access point with any solid method of secondary authentication is simple. One master key by nature makes password recovery a thing of the past.
5) They help prevent scams or phishing attempts
Email recovery scams where account holders think they’re changing passwords but unintentionally reveal them are phishing schemes. Avoiding this hacking technique requires constant vigilance because it works way too well. A fake email that “resets” the user’s password is at the heart of almost every horrible data breach.
Not a problem with a password manager since the password never needs to be remembered or recovered through email. Victims of phishing can’t give up what they don’t know, and all resets and changes occur inside the manager. Protecting the master key is easy enough, and rarely having to change or recover passwords reduces exposure overall.
The odds of anyone avoiding a breach in their lifetime is slim. Having a password manager is one of the most certain ways to even those odds.
