Why You Need a Password Manager (and How They Work)

We rely on the internet for everything from banking and shopping to communication and entertainment, so it’s important to protect our online accounts (and by extension, the personal information like credit card information and addresses they contain).

But creating and remembering a strong, unique password for each one, which a necessary step in making it harder for hackers to gain information to all of your accounts, may seem like an impossible task. That’s where password managers come in.

Why You Need a Password Manager

Don’t leave your online security to chance – use a password manager to protect your accounts and personal information. It’s an easy and effective way to safeguard against cyber threats. Here’s why you should start using a password manager today.

Strong passwords protect your online accounts

Using the same password for multiple accounts is a huge, flashing-red-light security risk. A password manager helps you generate strong, unique passwords for all of your accounts, making it much harder for anyone to gain unauthorized access.

Using the same password is a massive security risk

If a hacker gains access to one of your accounts, they can easily use the same login information to access all of your other accounts. With a password manager, you can use different, complex passwords for each of your accounts, reducing the risk of a data breach.

Remembering multiple complex passwords is hard

A password manager takes the burden of remembering multiple passwords off of your shoulders, allowing you to access your accounts with a single master password or biometric authentication, and therefore use a unique password for each online account. 

Password managers can save you a lot of time and hassle

Having to constantly reset passwords or recover forgotten login information is a huge pain. Using a password manager, you can easily access all of your login information from a single, secure location, making it quick and easy to log in to your accounts.

They can even notify you if your accounts have been hacked

Some password managers like 1Password will alert you if any of your accounts have been compromised. If it detects that one of your accounts has been hacked, it will prompt you to change your password and enable two-factor authentication for added security.

How Password Managers Work

Password managers can be a valuable tool for anyone looking to increase their online security and reduce the risk of password reuse. But how exactly do password managers work? Here is a not-so-technical overview, breaking them into five bite-size chunks.

Encryption

When you create a new password in a password manager, the password is encrypted using a strong encryption algorithm. This means that the password is transformed into a jumbled, unrecognizable string of characters that can only be decrypted using a secret key.

Storing Passwords

The encrypted passwords are stored in a central location, such as a password-protected file on your computer or a cloud-based service. This central location is usually secured using additional layers of protection, such as two-factor authentication.

Accessing Passwords

To access your stored passwords, you must enter your master password, which serves as the secret key to decrypt the stored passwords. Some password managers may also require additional authentication, such as a fingerprint or a one-time code sent to your phone.

Filling in Passwords

When you visit a website or service that requires a login, you can use the password manager to automatically fill in your credentials. To do this, the password manager typically includes a browser extension that interacts with the login form on the website.

Additional Features

Some password managers include additional features, such as the facility to generate secure passwords, store other types of sensitive information (such as credit card numbers or passport information), and sync your password across multiple devices. 

Overall, password managers can be a powerful tool for helping users maintain strong, unique passwords and reduce the risk of password reuse. If you’re looking to increase your online security, consider using one to keep  your sensitive information secure.