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WE TEND TO neglect it but with more of our information online, making sure our data is safe and secure is essential. Yet how many of us actually take the time to keep our accounts safe?
Password managers are a great way to keep your accounts secure, both on desktop and mobile. And now with their apps getting better and easier to manage, there’s little reason why you shouldn’t choose one.
Why it’s worth getting one
The more accounts you have, the harder it is to keep track of them. On top of your regular accounts, there are likely numerous other accounts to services that you used for a few minutes and then forgot about. That can put you and your data under serious risk.
We tend to underestimate just how much information we reveal and it really only takes one weak link to put most, if not all, of your information at risk.
That’s where password managers come into play. They keep all of your passwords safe – even generating new complex versions for good measure – and the improvements in apps and software means implementing them has become easier than ever.
Also, remembering one or two complex passwords is possible but the chances of you remembering numerous different complex passwords for multiple accounts is incredibly slim.
The alternative is to use the same password for two or more accounts, which is a very, very, very bad idea for a number of reasons.
Combine a complex password with two-step verification and all of a sudden, you have enough layers to keep your accounts incredibly secure.
Getting your accounts prepared
Make a note of all the services you’ve signed up to: A good way is to search through your email account or better yet, access your downloaded apps list. It’s likely that most accounts you’ve signed up for were through your phone.
Remove the accounts you don’t use: Remember when you signed up to Yo! all those months ago and haven’t checked it since? Yeah, it’s better to get rid of it instead of leaving it.
Change the passwords for the accounts you use: All good password managers have a password generator which will generate random, complex versions for you to use. Make good use of it.
What’s out there?
So we’ve settled on the steps required to get you going so what now? The answer is to choose a password manager that will help you out. There are a wide collection of free and paid services, depending on how far you want to take it. Here are three to get you started.
1Password
For: PC, Mac, iOS, Android
Cost: Free
Probably one of the best password managers out there. Works across all platforms, compatible with all browsers, comes with a password generator to help you out and secure sharing makes this a great first step to locking your accounts down.
LastPass
For: PC, Mac, Linux (iOS, Android, WP and Blackberry included with premium version)
Cost: Free (€10 per year for premium version)
Another popular choice among users, LastPass is simple and to the point, yet packs in a wide range of features to help users out and is available on practically every browser desktop platform and OS you can think of.
The premium version allows you to access it through smartphone and includes multifactor authentication options, adding extra steps to make your accounts extra secure.
KeePass
For: PC, Mac, Linux
Cost: Free
If you really want to prioritise the free part and would rather things are saved on your own system instead of the cloud, then KeePass is for you. An open source manager, there are a number of unofficial services linked with it if you want to make it more versatile. The sheer range of services it’s compatible with makes this a good option to look at.
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But if someone hacks into your password manager account, they have access to everything.
They can use the rubber hose attack on you and gain access to everything too :)
You can choose to sync 1 password between your mobile and laptop over your wifi (both devices must be on same network), iCloud or Dropbox. I sync mine over wifi so all my passwords are only stored locally on my laptop & mobile. 1password app is encrypted and you need to remember 1 cryptic password to access it.
I have a password manager. It’s called “my brain”, and it’s important to exercise it daily.
I’m a fan of 1Password AND 2-step logins.
Two factor rather than the two step .i.e something you know + something you have ( challenge response – one time password, .i.e soft token on yourphone protected by finger print ( biometrics)
Precisely, Tequila Gold.
Google describe it here:
http://www.google.com/landing/2step/
1password is great, but not free. Use it for personal stuff and keepass for work.
1password. Beaten.
https://blog.agilebits.com/2012/08/19/more-than-just-one-password-lessons-from-an-epic-hack/
Lastpass. Beaten.
https://peguta.com/articles/lastpass-hacked
Keepass is the pick of the bunch. Though why not go the extra mile and keep Keepass within an encrypted volume as well as make use of two factor authentication?
Hmmm,
1Password has been updated since 2012, and it’s ironic you would try to promote another product using one excerpt from the 1Password creators blog.
That’s very old news. And fixed. The rest of the advice in the link is invaluable.
My point was that two of the 3 products recommended in this article have been beaten. Keepass is essentially bulletproof, aside from user error.
I’ve no affiliation to any product. The old adage applies, whatever is built can be reverse engineered. Overall, the onus is on the end user really.
Keepass is Windows only and it’s free, which is admirable.
1Password works on Windows 10 and OS X and iOS.
You pays yer money…
It is available under Mono.
It’s simple, use an Excel spreadsheet with headings of accounts, username and password for all online accounts. Then use Microsoft office in built password system to secure the document. Pick a really strong password and you only have to remember the password to open the document. To use when out and about mail it to yourself.
Writing you password on a post-it note and stick it under your keyboard why don’t you.
Excel is the best spreadsheet program out there IMO but it’s not the best (or even close) password manager. Horses for Courses.
Unless you work for Sony
Switched to LastPass after the big LinkedIn breach a few years ago. It’s a fantastic tool and addon for chrome browser.
Simple to use and open source. You can even run it completely locally using private files if you want. Elegant little solution to the problem.
Lastpass, 2-factor and a YUBI key for the all important main Google account
have your say