As National Cybersecurity Awareness Month draws to a close, one of the easiest things you can do to help protect your identity and your sensitive files is to ensure that you have unique, secure passwords for all of your online services. Of course, that is easier said than done! Keeping up with all of the passwords for every last service you use online can be overwhelming if you go it alone. Thankfully, there are plenty of tools out there that can help.
Your Web Browser!
The web browser that you use every day can be a great starting point to get your passwords in order. While browsers have been able to store passwords for decades, most now have even more features to secure those passwords. Some browsers like Google Chrome can even help with generating new passwords! Firefox has the ability to set a master password to protect your saved passwords, which is especially important if you frequently share your computer with others.
There are some drawbacks to a browser’s built-in password manager, however. While Firefox allows you to set a master password, other browsers may not offer this feature without extra add-ons which could put your passwords at risk. That’s where our third-party password managers come in!
Third-Party Password Managers
Whether you choose a free or paid password manager, these tools can greatly simplify the security conundrum. Many of these services can live happily on computers, smartphones, and other mobile devices to keep your passwords in sync wherever you may be. Here are a few popular options:
LastPass
LastPass is one of the more well-known password managers out there, and they offer both free and paid levels of service. They also provide applications for Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android. You can also store secure notes and other digital records as well with the premium service.
1Password
What started as a really slick Mac-based password manager has evolved into an equally snazzy multi-platform service. While it isn’t free, they do offer a free trial to try it out. 1Password also offers apps for most major platforms.
Bitwarden
Bitwarden is a bit of a different approach. This password manager is open-source and free to use for individuals with a small fee for a family license. You can use their servers to store your information or even host the software on a server of your own if you prefer to have more control over where your data lives. They also offer the standard complement of apps.
What all of these managers have in common are robust password generation tools, strong encryption protocols, and add-ons for the major web browsers to make your passwords easily available while surfing the web. The three services mentioned above aren’t your only options, either! It all depends on your personal preference, but almost any password manager is better than none!
