Many aspects of our daily lives are done online and this usually requires users to create an account with a unique username as well as a password to save the personal details. This is to ensure that we can use the website with no issues. However, if someone wants to access your account, all they need is your password and they can do serious damage. This is why everyone should use a different password for different accounts – although people tend to stick to the same one as an easy way to remember.
Remembering all the passwords to a range of accounts can be difficult, which is where a password manager can help you. These programs help you create strong passwords and also memorize your passwords so that you do not have them. This article will advise you on how to choose a password manager, in case you are looking for one.
Provides a Random Password Generator
Individuals tend to create passwords that are easy to remember by using personal information. Things such as the name of your dog or the city where you were born, for example, can be very easy for others to guess and access your accounts with no permission. A password manager should create a long and unique password that is random and difficult to guess.
Offers Protection from Third Parties
Passwords should be difficult so that others do not guess what it is. A password manager should provide you with protection from third parties by having a ‘vault’ option that requires a password to access your other passwords. You should also check whether the program has 2FA; Two-factor authentication (2FA) simply means that a potential intruder will find it more difficult to access your accounts as even if they have your password, they would need to confirm their identity on a second device. This offers much more security.
The Service is Encrypted
The password manager service should not have access to your passwords either. The information should be end-to-end encrypted so that only the user (you) has access to the password and personal information.
It is Regularly Updated
Technology changes constantly and rapidly, therefore password managers should do their best to keep up with these changes by updating their systems as often as required. This will be the best way to ensure that cyber criminals are kept at a distance and that they are not able to break the barriers in place.
You Can See They Undergo Security Audits
A service can claim to be the best, but it is good to hear this from someone reliable and unbiased. You can check whether the password manager has had a recent (within the last year or two) security audit. These checks are done by independent researchers and the results are posted online where everyone can access them. This should help you find out whether you can actually trust the service with your information.
Having a password manager can help you ensure that you have strong passwords and these are protected from others easily accessing your account. If you are looking for a password manager, make sure to look for some of the features discussed above to ensure you use the right one for you.
