Numerous companies continue to rely on simple passwords to safeguard their most critical information. While it might have seemed sufficient years ago to use a password based on your pet’s name followed by a number, in today’s landscape, that approach is no longer adequate for protection.
It’s not an overstatement to say that countless individuals are compensated to spend entire days in rooms attempting to breach your accounts, and the stolen information often ends up on hacker forums for those willing to pay top dollar. These private data points available for sale are then traded to minor online extortionists who profit significantly by coercing you into monthly payments, leveraging the personal information of either yourself or your clients. This is a grave issue, and safeguarding passwords should be taken very seriously nowadays.
A password manager is a significant advancement in safeguarding your online security and alleviating concerns about the theft of your login credentials. It securely saves your login information for all the sites you visit and helps you log in automatically. All passwords are encrypted, and the only password you need to remember is your master password, which grants access to all other passwords.
Never Duplicate Passwords!!
Reusing passwords across multiple accounts can lead to significant issues and financial setbacks due to the frequent occurrence of password breaches, even on major platforms. When your password is compromised, cybercriminals can access not only your email address but also your username and password, which they will then attempt on various other sites. If you have employed the same credentials elsewhere, a single breach at one site could allow hackers entry into additional accounts. Should they gain control of your email account, it takes just moments for them to reset passwords for all your other profiles, including PayPal and online banking! This illustrates how swiftly things can escalate into a serious problem.
Reasons Why Browser-Based Password Managers May Not Be the Optimal Choice
Web browsers such as Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Chrome each come with built-in password management features; however, they cannot compete with specialized password managers. The security provided by Internet Explorer and Chrome falls short due to their lack of encryption. In contrast, while Firefox does provide encrypted password storage, its interface lacks the capability to generate random passwords for users.
A specialized password manager can securely keep your passwords in an encrypted format, help you create complex random passwords, and provide access to all your credentials on various computers, smartphones, and tablets that you utilize.
Here are some examples of a couple of Dedicated Password Managers (there are more available)
Lastpass:
This cloud-based password manager features extensions, mobile applications, and desktop software compatible with all major browsers and operating systems. It is a highly effective tool that also provides options for two-factor authentication to further safeguard your password vault from unauthorized access. Lastpass secures all of your passwords on their servers in an encrypted format—when you log in, the Lastpass extension or app takes care of decrypting and encrypting them again, ensuring that even if they wished to, Lastpass cannot access your passwords. They provide both a no-cost option (with unlimited password storage) as well as a premium service.
Learn more:
https://www.lastpass.com/
Dashlane:
Dashlane enables you to store all your passwords locally on your computer instead of in the cloud. It offers a completely free option for a single device, allowing you to save up to 50 passwords. However, if you wish to synchronize your passwords across multiple devices, you’ll need to subscribe to their premium service.
Learn more:
https://www.dashlane.com/
