With more than half of all internet users reusing their passwords for at least two accounts (in many cases, for all accounts), there certainly seems to be a lack of respect for individual and business cybersecurity. When a cyberattack occurs, hackers are often going after passwords. All it takes is one bad password to jeopardize an entire system, or, on a personal level, all of your bank, social media, and other private accounts.
The bottom line? Password management needs to be taken more seriously across all levels of society, from the individual to the new startup to the established small business to the largest organizations on the planet. We’re not taking our passwords seriously enough, but there’s a tool that can help. Here are seven ways a password manager can set your mind at ease.
1. Better Password Habits
Using password managers will, by default, help you create better password habits. First and foremost, you’ll be using a password manager to store your passwords securely, so you can finally shred that piece of notebook paper with all of your passwords on it. Many people don’t store their passwords securely, which is why billions of records and credentials are compromised each year. Between poor password storage and reusing passwords/poor password creation skills, the world is at the mercy of cybercriminals.
Using a good password manager gives you a place to store, manage, generate, and maintain your passwords. The all-in-one tool is exactly what individuals and businesses need to ensure their passwords aren’t compromised.
2. Password Generation
Online password management is secure and convenient, and can also help you create better passwords with the password generator feature. This is usually a standard feature in password managers, and it can completely change the way you create your passwords. When we create passwords, most of us opt for something we can remember. This means including personal info like birthdays, anniversaries, common phrases like “I love you”, or even addresses/phone numbers. All of these are terrible for cybersecurity, but your password manager has the answer.
You’ll be able to generate secure passwords at the click of a button, customizing their length, character combinations, and more. It’s time to stop creating bad passwords and take control of your cybersecurity.
3. Password Maintenance
Unfortunately, creating better passwords isn’t enough to keep things secure. Passwords need maintenance, just like any security system, and many of us don’t change our passwords enough. A password that’s older than 6 months can potentially be at risk, and passwords over a year old are considered high-risk. Experts recommend changing your password frequently unless it’s unique, strong, and you’re using two-factor authentication on the account.
A good password manager will notify you of duplicate passwords, weak passwords, and old passwords. This takes the worry out of password maintenance, since you’ll be getting notifications directly on your device when maintenance is needed.
4. Secure Storage
Yes, that Word doc with all of your passwords is vulnerable. No, it isn’t safe just because it’s in an encrypted folder on your computer. Poor password storage leaves your entire system and all of your accounts at risk, so why not store passwords properly with a password manager? Everything is stored in a secure account, and all of your credentials are accessible via the portal. You can store them, organize them, and keep track of them in one place; rather than having to sift through paperwork or sticky notes to find your login credentials.
5. Autofill Features
Once you have your passwords secure, they can often be automatically filled into websites with the click of a button. This means you’re not searching for passwords or using the wrong ones. Every website has its own set of credentials, securely stored within your password manager for when you need them. You can update or change credentials at any time by logging into your password manager with the master password.
6. Accessibility
If you’re a small or large business, you’re likely using the same password for certain accounts. The use of a password manager makes this process simple and efficient, keeping things secure and accessible for anyone in your business with the proper clearance. You don’t have to worry about sharing a Word doc via email or some other unsecured method, potentially risking the business’s entire password list.
7. Better Overall Security
With a password manager, you’re simply going to have better overall security for your personal or business logins. With better overall security, you can put the fear of password breaches on the backburner, but don’t forget about your passwords, either. Your password manager is only as effective as the user, so don’t neglect to change your master password and follow the password manager’s maintenance tips. If your passwords or outdated or need changed for some other reason, do it right away. The longer you wait, the more at risk you become.
