Search Results for: What Is a Password Manager

What Is a Password Manager & Why Are They Useful?

October 5, 2020 by feecalculator_x6rbod

What is a password manager? Password Manager is an encrypted program that stores and manages all passwords and login information that you use to access online sites, applications, and other services.

Not only does it keep your sensitive data and credentials safe, it also generates unique and strong passwords for you, so you don’t have to reuse the same passwords across your devices and platforms.

Think of it like a notebook where you store your most valuable credentials, locked with a master key known only to you.

How does a password manager work

Password Manager stores your passwords encrypted to protect them from prying eyes and unauthorized access. It also displays your chosen login credentials, so you don’t have to remember hundreds of passwords yourself, except for the master password or, in some cases, the PIN you use to log into the app.

Some even allow you to authenticate your device with facial or fingerprint recognition instead of entering a master password, as you can read in our best password manager guide. For even more security, some include two-factor authentication in various forms like Google Authenticator, biometrics, or SMS based, depending on the app you choose.

Most password management apps come with browser extensions that automatically enter passwords for you, as well as an encrypted sync feature that lets you carry your passwords with you wherever you go and use them across all your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices.

After installing and configuring the password manager, open the app, copy and paste your password into the login field and access the service you want.

When you enter a secure site, the password manager installs a browser plugin that captures and replays your password and stores your credentials. The next time you visit the same site, the app will prompt you to enter your login details automatically. However, not all password managers have this feature.

However, if you’ve saved multiple logins for the same site, the app will offer you multiple login options for your account. Depending on which password management app you choose, you can find it from the saved accounts browser toolbar menu, so you can visit the saved site directly and log in automatically.

Some password managers may import your saved data or export it to other products, making it easy to upgrade to the new password manager. Others go further by providing secure online storage for your documents and allowing you to share your credentials with trusted people.

Most of them can flag your duplicate and weak passwords, offer help updating them, and if you choose a more complex one, they can automate the process of changing passwords for you.

Are Password Managers Really Safe?

With all the recent identity theft and security breaches happening around us, one might wonder if using a password manager is any more secure than keeping sensitive credentials to yourself.

You’ve probably even heard of the LastPass hacker attack in July 2015, during which their systems were checked. The goal was to gain access to its password vaults, and while the hackers managed to infiltrate the LastPass servers, they were unable to infiltrate to steal user passwords.

Their attempt was unsuccessful because LastPass cannot access each user’s password vault, nor does it have their master passwords, which means the passwords remain encrypted and locked in your vault. This is why it is so important to have a strong and unique password for all applications, websites and services that you log into.

Many of us use weak passwords or reuse the ones we already have for multiple accounts, which leads us to identity theft and other crimes.

With a password manager, you get a better combination of convenience and security than without it, but that doesn’t mean it’s a magic pill.

You should take other security measures to keep your sign-in information strong, such as using two-factor authentication for your valuable accounts, installing lock screens on all devices, and using devices you trust.

If you want to switch to another password management app, just export your data (if the app has this feature), delete your account and you’re done.

Note. Most password managers store your master password locally or on a server, but they cannot read the password because it is encrypted. This protects your data from hacking, but if you forget your password, you won’t be able to recover your account through the company.

Luckily, some password managers can help you recover your account by offering DIY kits, but if that doesn’t work, you’ll have to create a new account and manually reset all passwords for each app, website, or online service and get started. again. Be sure to read our comparison between LastPass, 1Password, and Dashlane.

A word about using Browser Password Manager

Your web browser probably has a password manager built in, although it’s in its infancy and nothing compared to what a dedicated password manager can do for you.

For example, Chrome’s password manager might store your passwords on your computer, but they’re not encrypted. This means that the password files on your computer are easily accessible to others if your device’s hard drive is not encrypted.

Mozilla Firefox users can take advantage of the master password feature that password management apps offer, so you can encrypt and store your passwords on your computer. However, it doesn’t generate passwords for you, and it doesn’t have an encrypted sync feature that lets you sync and use your login information across all your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices.

The same goes for iCloud Keychain, which is great if you’re only using Apple devices, but it’s missing when you get a Windows or Android device that uses the Chrome or Firefox browsers.

The special purpose of the dedicated password manager is to protect your passwords, so you will get more useful functions using it. Your browser has different priorities, so it probably doesn’t have time to improve its password management features.

Securing Your Digital Life

It’s hard enough to remember or remember a 30-digit password full of text, numbers and symbols, but forgetting it is a nightmare. Instead of storing passwords on your phone, tablet, computer, in documents, notes or autocomplete, get a password manager. This is a much better and more secure way to keep your logins under lock and key, and your first protection against hacking.

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Do I need 2FA if I use a password manager?

July 24, 2022 by feecalculator_x6rbod

Do I need 2FA if I use a password manager?.

macOS 12 Monterey brings several updates to Safari’s built-in password manager. It has a streamlined user interface and provides new features such as exporting and importing passwords, creating secure notes, and automatically generating two-factor authentication codes.

It’s also available outside of Safari, making it ideal if you want to find the password without opening a browser. If you’ve upgraded to macOS Monterey or later, read on to find out everything you need to know about using the new password manager on your Mac.

Open the New Password Manager

On macOS Monterey, you can access the Safari password manager just like before through your browser settings. Simply select Safari > Preferences from the menu bar and go to the Passwords tab. and enter your Mac user account password or use Touch ID.

Alternatively, you can open it without running Safari. To do this, open the Apple menu and select System Preferences. Then select the “Passwords” category.

An even faster way to access the new password manager is to Control while clicking the System Preferences icon in the Mac Dock and select Passwords.

View and Copy Passwords

The new password manager looks the same whether you open it through Safari or through System Preferences. The left pane lists all saved login credentials in alphabetical order, with a search field at the top to help you find specific entries faster.

Select an entry to view related details such as username, password (hover over the Password field to display it), and notes. Control on an entry will also show contextual actions that you can use to copy the data to your Mac’s clipboard. However, when you use Safari, you can always set them up automatically.

If you have easy-to-guess, reused, or compromised passwords (Apple checks them regularly for known data breaches), you’ll see them at the top of the list. It is better to update them as soon as possible.

Add and Remove Passwords

While Safari lets you save passwords whenever you create or enter them for the first time, you can always use the password manager to add passwords directly to Apple Keychain. To do this, click the Plus button in the lower right corner of the window, fill in the Website, Username and Password fields and select Add password.

Similarly, you may also come across stale passwords or “Never Saved” entries in Safari that you can delete. To do this, simply highlight an entry in the left pane and click the Minus button. If you use iCloud Keychain, any passwords you remove will also disappear from your other Apple devices.

Edit Passwords and Add Notes

Editing passwords with the new password manager in macOS Monterey is quick and easy. With the entry selected, click the Edit button in the upper right corner of the window to open the Update Account Information panel. Then make your changes and click Save. Or visit the site and sign in with your new password and ask Safari to update it for you.

When editing passwords, you also have the option to add secure text notes in the Notes field. For example, you can enter answers to security questions, a list of backup codes, the purpose of creating an account on the website (in case you forget about it later), etc.

In addition, the Enter Setup Key button allows you to add a two-factor setup key for the site. You will learn more about this below.

Import and Export Passwords

If you want to back up your passwords or transfer them to another password manager, you have the option to export them to the CSV (Comma Separated Values) file format. To do this, select the “More” icon (three dots) in the lower left corner of the password manager window, select “Export all passwords” and specify the storage location.

Conversely, you can import passwords from CSV files into Apple Keychain. Select the More icon again, but select the Import passwords option instead.

Generate Two-Factor Authentication Codes

Wrapping Up

Do I need 2FA if I use a password manager?

Is Apple Keychain The best password manager?

June 6, 2022 by feecalculator_x6rbod

Is Apple Keychain The best password manager?.

Apple Keychain is the built-in password management system for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. It not only lets you save and auto-fill passwords for websites, apps, and wireless networks, but also lets you sync login credentials between Apple devices via iCloud.

However, you may also have heard of alternative password managers such as 1Password and LastPass. Are they better or should you stick with Apple Keychain? Let’s find out.

Integration

Apple Keychain is fully integrated with your iPhone, iPad and Mac. Nothing to set up. You can save and autofill passwords right out of the box. Years of improvements and refinements also keep the entire Apple ecosystem running extremely smoothly.

On the other hand, third-party password managers like 1Password and LastPass require you to download the appropriate apps, install browser extensions, create master passwords, etc. This can be overwhelming, which is why Apple Keychain wins in terms of convenience.

Availability

Unless you’re outside of the Apple ecosystem, then you probably shouldn’t even consider using anything other than the Apple Keychain. Activate iCloud Keychain and you can sync passwords across as many Apple devices.

Outside of the Apple Keychain ecosystem, there is limited support for passwords on PC via iCloud for Windows. So if you also spend time on alternative platforms like Android and Windows, it makes sense to invest in a third party password manager.

1Password and Lastpass are fully available on all major operating systems, which means you can save, sync, and autofill passwords on any of your devices.

Security

If you turn on iCloud Keychain, Apple will protect your passwords with standard AES encryption and two-factor authentication. It also suggests strong passwords and alerts you to weak and compromised credentials by cross checking them for known data breaches.

1Password and LastPass also provide the same security, but you can use additional features such as hardware security keys (YubiKey and Titan) and one-time passwords.

Locally, Keychain secures your passwords with a device passcode (iPhone and iPad) or user account password (Mac), which can be a problem in shared device scenarios. For example, anyone who knows your iPhone’s passcode can also see your passwords.

Instead, 1Password and LastPass use a separate “master password” to prevent unauthorized access, with the ability to use biometrics – Face ID or Touch ID – so as not to enter it yourself.

Pricing

Apple Keychain is completely free and allows you to save and sync your passwords across as many Apple devices. However, both 1Password and LastPass require you to pay for a recurring annual subscription, which costs $35.88 and $35.99, respectively.

LastPass comes with a free tier that limits you to one type of device (computer or mobile), while 1Password provides a 14-day trial during which you can try out all the features. But in terms of price, it’s simply impossible to beat Apple’s offering.

Management

Apple Keychain is not the best option for password management. While Safari on Mac offers a well-organized website viewer and password manager, the all-encompassing Keychain Access app (which stores items like Wi-Fi passwords and secure notes) can be confusing if you don’t know how it works.

In addition, Keychain Access on iPhone and iPad provides only basic password management, requiring you to use your Mac to do anything remotely complex like viewing Wi-Fi passwords or deleting “Never Saved” entries.

In contrast, 1Password and LastPass have completely simplified password management, making it easy to manage your login information and other sensitive data (such as credit card and bank account information) on any device. You can even use a web browser if you want, something Apple Keychain is sorely lacking.

Both password managers also have many additional features. For example, LastPass’ emergency access feature lets you share passwords with trusted family members and friends, while 1Password’s travel mode lets you control what forms of data you want to have on your device when you travel.

It Depends on What You Want

If you don’t spend a lot of time working with non-Apple devices, it’s best to stick with Apple Keychain due to its full integration with the Apple ecosystem. It’s also free. But if you like the greater accessibility, added security, and superior password management capabilities of 1Password and LastPass, check out our comparison of both password managers to find out which works best for you.

Is Apple Keychain The best password manager?

Top Password Managers of 2022 to Keep Your Accounts Safe

May 6, 2022 by feecalculator_x6rbod

Top Password Managers of 2022 to Keep Your Accounts Safe.

Almost every service you use online requires you to create an account. The number of passwords and login details you have to remember can be intimidating. Of course, you can use the same password for multiple accounts, but you can’t do that without significant risk. If a password shared across multiple sites has been compromised in a data breach, fixing it can be a nightmare.

Top Password Managers of 2022 to Keep Your Accounts Safe

A password manager can help you come up with strong and secure passwords, store login information, manage your online accounts, and keep your personal data safe. All you need is to come up with a strong master password, and the program will do the rest for you. Here’s our list of the best password managers today, so you can pick the one that fits your budget and needs the most.

How to Choose the Best Password Manager

There is no point in looking for the best password manager if you don’t know your own needs and the main criteria to follow when choosing software. Here are some of the main factors that you need to decide for yourself and then pay attention to when choosing an app.

Price. Most password management apps offer both free and premium tiers. However, the free versions are missing some premium features, often the ones you need the most. You should decide beforehand how much money you are willing to spend on your password manager software, or whether you are willing to compromise and deal with the limitations of the free version.User friendly interface. If you have never used a password manager before, this is a very important factor to consider. Before you pay for a subscription, make sure that the application has a user-friendly interface that does not intimidate you.

Family/group subscriptions. If you want to use the password manager software with your family or group of people, check if the password manager allows you to share passwords and login information with multiple users under the same license. It can also help you cut costs, as family plans usually offer a better deal. Secure storage options. Some password managers offer secure storage options that you can use to protect your most important data. While it won’t replace cloud storage, if you have important documents that contain sensitive data, storing them in an encrypted location will give you peace of mind. Additional security measures. Before settling on one password manager, check to see if other apps offer any additional security measures you might need. For example, if you don’t already have a VPN subscription, consider password managers that also offer their own VPNs.

1. Bitwarden

8 Password Managers to Consider

Price: Free version available or $10/year.

Pros:

Open sourceFree version has very few restrictionsInexpensive premium subscriptionOffers a business plan, group plan and family planBetter security featuresUser friendly appEasy to use

Cons:

Limited 1 GB encrypted storage for premium users.Mobile app is not as easy as desktop app.

The curious thing about Bitwarden is that it is an open source password manager. If you know what this means, or if you have a tech savvy person in your area, you can download the server files and host them yourself, i.e. use Bitwarden without paying a subscription.

Alternatively, you can still use the free version of Bitwarden, which has all the basic password protection features. However, it lacks encrypted storage, which you can get in the premium plan for a very low price. Bitwarden comes with a minimalistic user interface and excellent customer support. This password manager is ideal for desktop or web browser use.

2. KeePassXC

Price: free.

Pros:

Free and open source softwareAdditional security for your passwordsPasswords are encrypted and stored locally

Cons:

Can only be used on one deviceDeprecated user interfaceNo version for iOS or Android, KeePass XC only available for Windows, macOS and LinuxNot suitable for beginners li> li>

KeePassXC is a completely open source software that is unique compared to other password managers in that it is not based on the cloud. The password database is stored on your local drive, which means additional protection against hacker attacks.

Because all your passwords are encrypted and stored locally, you’ll have to use services like iCloud, Dropbox, or Google Drive to access them on another device.

Other inconveniences include the fact that you will have to set up and run the software yourself, and there are no additional features such as auto-complete or encrypted file storage. However, if you need a reliable password generator, KeePassXC is the best free password manager you can find.

3. 1Password

Price: Starting at $2.99 per month with a free 14-day trial.

Pros:

Intuitive user interfaceFamily, team and business plan availableMulti-factor authenticationAdditional security features: travel mode, temporary web links and biometric logins li>

Cons:

No free planEncrypted storage space limited to 1 GB

1Password is a great choice for those who don’t mind spending a little money storing their passwords and keeping their data secure. There is no free plan, but you can test the app by starting a 14-day trial.

1Password comes with all the basic security features plus a few cool options. Travel mode allows you to set up automatic deletion of any confidential information when crossing certain boundaries, and then its recovery. You can also create temporary web sharing links that stop working after a set period of time.

This and other features such as key-based multi-factor authentication and biometric logins make 1Password one of the best feature rich password managers available today.

4. Dashlane

Price: Free version available, premium starts at $3.99 per month.

Pros:

Family, team and business plan availableVPN included in premium planUser friendlyPassword health analysisDarknet monitoring

Cons:

Premium plan only includes 1 GB of encrypted storage.More expensive than the competition

Dashlane is also a good choice when it comes to quality password managers. All the basic security features are here: two-factor authentication, a built-in form filler, and encrypted storage. The latter is again limited to 1GB of storage, but that should be enough to store things like your credit card information or work papers.

Some other interesting features include password health analysis and dark web monitoring. Password health analysis is designed to distinguish between a good password and a weak one, and to let you know if your passwords are being reused. Dashlane will also monitor the dark web and alert you if any of your personal information is leaked online.

Another perk of Dashlane‘s premium plan is the included VPN service to secure your WiFi. It’s not a particularly strong VPN to rely on, but it’s a nice bonus if you don’t already have a VPN subscription.

5. LastPass

Price: Free version available, premium starts at $2.90/month with a free 30-day trial.

Pros:

Inexpensive family planMinimalisticUser-friendly designEmergency access (for premium users)Cross-platform support

Cons:

The free plan lacks basic featuresEncrypted storage is limited to 1 GB (premium users)

If you’re looking for the best password manager for your family, check out the LastPass app. LastPass offers a family plan that costs just $3.90 per month, covers up to 6 accounts, and offers unlimited shared folders to share passwords between your family members.

The family plan includes all standard premium features. These include secure password vault, autofill, encrypted storage space, and emergency access, which allows other people to access your accounts if something happens to you.

LastPass has an intuitive desktop app that you can use on Windows and Mac, separate apps for your mobile devices, and browser extensions for using LastPass on Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Opera, Firefox, and Safari.

6. LogMeOnce

Price: Free version available, premium version starts at $2.50/month.

Pros:

Excellent cross-platform supportMany app customization optionsEncrypted file storage for all users (from 1MB to 10GB depending on your plan)

Cons:

The free version is full of adsBasic features like dark web monitoring and cloud storage encryption are paid add-ons

LogMeOnce is a great option for anyone looking for a password manager with the best cross-platform support. With LogMeOnce, you can access your accounts using browser plug-ins, a desktop computer, or a smartphone app. You can use two-factor authentication, a PIN, a fingerprint, or even a selfie to sign in.

If you don’t mind certain restrictions and ads, you can opt for the free version of the app. The premium version comes with dozens of security features, including multi-factor authentication, autofill, credit card storage, anti-theft features, emergency access, and more.

7. NordPass

Price: Free version available, premium starts at $2.49/month (with current 50% discount) with a free 30-day trial.

Pros:

Easy to use softwarePassword health analysisSecurity auditImport passwords from a browser or other password managerOffers and discounts for NordVPN and NordPass users

Cons:

Free plan does not allow multi-platform useNo encrypted storage optionExpensive premium plan with no discounts

NordPass is a password manager created by the NordVPN team. If you are a NordVPN customer, you get additional benefits such as knowing the Nord user interface or receiving a special offer or discount on your NordPass via email.

NordPass has both free and premium plans, although the free plan is quite limited and only supports the most basic features like saving unlimited passwords, autofill, and multi-factor authentication.

The premium plans have many security features to help you protect your accounts with strong unique passwords. If you have previously used a different password manager, you can easily import all your login information directly into NordPass.

8. RememBear

Price: Free version available or $6 per month.

Pros:

Beginner-friendlySimple and fun interfaceMaster password recovery optionsCute teddy bear to accompany you

Cons:

Limited security and encryption featuresFree plan only includes one deviceExpensive premium plan

If you need a simple password manager to protect your online accounts, try RememBear. Created by the TunnelBear VPN team, RememBear is a simple app that does the job of managing your passwords. However, that’s about all this software can do.

Unlike the competition, RememBear offers several options for easy master password recovery. But it also lacks a lot of useful security features, and the free plan is only good if you’re only going to use RememBear on one device. However, if you’ve never used a password manager before and don’t want to waste time figuring it out, RememBear is a good option for you.

Take Your Online Security to the Next Level

A password manager can only cover a small part of your digital life, and it’s basically your login details. To further protect yourself online, we recommend purchasing a decent VPN software that uses two or multi-factor authentication, as well as a secure messaging app for online communication.

Top Password Managers of 2022 to Keep Your Accounts Safe

How To Set Up & Use The KeePass Password Manager

October 5, 2020 by feecalculator_x6rbod

I’m sure you’ve heard this many times before, until you get tired of hearing it. You need strong unique passwords for each of your accounts. Do not use the same password more than once. Do not use personal information and use passwords as long as possible.

This means there are no passwords such as 12345 or abcde . Or the classic password . If you do use them, don’t ask yourself or others why you were hacked. Instead, you want something completely mind-blowing like g6J2_a1 ## @ RlQ56.99 + * B .

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But the problem is that you are not a robot that can wind up such obscure passwords. This is why you need a password manager, and since I really love open source software, I prefer the KeePass password manager.

I believe it also because it has a portable version so it fits on my USB drive.

First time KeePass setup

I’m going to use Windows Portable for this article as I usually don’t like installing software if I don’t need it. Also, since I use multiple devices, I like what can be written to a USB stick.

Download

Download it

So, first you need a setup file (obviously).

If you go to the KeePass Downloads page, you will see the latest Windows versions at the top. Always use the most recent version.

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Below you will see versions of KeePass for other platforms like macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, etc. There is even one for Blackberry. Nice.

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While not all of them are called KeePass, they are all fully compatible with KeePass password databases.

Open

Open it

Now unzip the zip file, making sure the folder structure is intact. Place the unzipped file on your computer or USB drive and open it.

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Click KeePassexe to start the program and you will see a login window that gives you access to a secure password database.

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But since this is your first time using KeePass, there won’t be a database to open yet. So you have to do it.

Close the login window and a blank window will appear.

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Creating your first database

Create the first database

Click File–> New, this will appear.

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Click OK and the next step is to create and save a KDBX (KeePass Password Database File Format) file.

Make sure it’s in the same folder as your other KeePass folders and files so you don’t lose it.

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You can also rename the KDBX file however you like. Call it Mango if you like. KeePass doesn’t care. As long as the KDBX file format exists, that’s all that matters.

Setting database password

Set Database Password

The only thing stopping someone from hacking into your password database is the password you give your KeePass database. Make him weak and they will burst through. Make it strong and they never get inside.

So take your time with this part of the process.

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Try to make your database password as difficult to guess as possible. Use upper and lower case characters, numbers, and possibly a few special characters such as a comma or period.

As you enter your desired password, the Password Quality Score will show you how KeePass thinks about your choice. You want it to go as high as possible.

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You will definitely need an emergency sheet!

You’ll definitely want an emergency paper!

Finally, you will be asked if you would like to print the Emergency Sheet. YES!

For obvious reasons, there is no way to reset your password. Therefore, if you forget your database password or die, and your immediate family needs your passwords, then you or they will have a serious problem.

So print out the emergency sheet, write down the master password and then hide it. If it’s for your immediate family, put it along with your will where they can find it.

Set up your database

Customize your database

Your database will open and you can start creating and saving passwords.

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Login categories are on the left. These are the ones that KeePass offers by default, but you can remove or rename them if you like. You can also create unlimited new ones.

It will save the two sample entries on the right, and you can delete them.

Create your first password

Create first password

To generate a password, go to the top of the Password Database window and click the little yellow button.

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A new password window will open. Now you need to fill in the fields. The title will be the name of the website, software, or whatever. Username well, that speaks for itself. The URL will obviously be a link to a website or software service. None of these fields MUST be filled in, but it helps.

Now about the password. For security, the password is hidden by dots. If you press the button with three dots, the password will open. Press the button again to mask the password.

To generate a password, click the key icon under the three-dot button and you will get this menu. Select Open Password Generator

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You really only need the Create Using Character Set section. Choose the length of your password (a good length is at least 25 characters). Then choose what types of characters you want to use in the password.

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Now click OK and the password field will be pre-filled with the password. Click on the button with three dots to see what you were given. I do not like. Use the password generator again for another spin.

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Login

Sign in

If you want to log into this site, right-click the KeePass entry and select Copy Username . Then click the username field on the website and press CTRL + V to paste the username (or CMD + V on a Mac). Right-click the entry again, select Copy Password and repeat the process in the password field.

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You need to act quickly because after 12 seconds KeePass erases information from the clipboard for security purposes. You can shorten or lengthen the time in KeePass options.

Conclusion

KeePass makes it as easy as possible to create and manage complex passwords. There is no longer any excuse that maintaining unique passwords is tedious and tedious. KeePass allows you to do this with just a few clicks.

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