Password Managers: How to use them safely and effectively

If you don’t need help remembering all your passwords, your accounts aren’t secure enough. A password manager is a tool that acts as a single place for you to securely store the passwords to all your accounts so you can make them as complex as you like without having to worry about remembering them.

Shockingly, 40% of organisations use sticky notes to remember passwords

Are password managers safe?

As cyber security specialists, we recommend password managers to everyone. Not only do they prevent users setting easy passwords or writing them down, but they use advanced encryption to protect your login credentials.

Set just one complex password and that’s all you’ll have to remember to access all your passwords. Combine it with multifactor authentication (MFA) or biometric authentication such as a face scan on your smartphone, and your even better protected.

99% of password threats can be prevented using MFA

What are the risks of using a password manager?

100% security online simply isn’t possible. Even with the most reliable password manager there are things to consider:

Everything in one place – it does feel a little alien to keep all your valuables in one place. If a hacker did manage to breach the security of your password manager, they would certainly strike gold. On the other hand, you would immediately know what they had gained access to and could act fast to limit the damage.

Back-ups – not all password managers can guarantee restoration of your credentials if the provider’s server breaks down.

Choosing the right one – there are password managers with weaker encryption and fewer features. Always check out reviews and do plenty of reading on recommended tools before you make your choice.

Features to look out for when choosing a password manager

It’s not just about security – a password manager can make life a lot easier when it comes to managing your accounts. Some of the features to look out for include:

#1. Works across platforms and can synchronise across different devices to make accessing your accounts quick and easy wherever you are.

#2. Identifies fake websites and can help protect against phishing attacks.

#3.. Sends notification if any of your passwords appear in a data breach.

#4. Also acts as a password generator to create complex passwords for your accounts.

FACT:
Passwords are easily hacked because most humans follow similar patterns: 50% chance that a password has at least one vowel. Numbers that are used in passwords are usually the numbers ‘1’ or ‘2’ and are placed at the end of the password. Capital letters are usually at the beginning and are followed by a vowel.

What are the most popular password managers?

These are 3 of the most widely used password managers:

Keeper: Users like this one for its easy-to-use interface and strong security features. It’s effective for personal use with a family share option and has tiered business pricing plans.

1Password: With strong security reviews, this one offers secure note sharing and alerts you if any of your accounts are compromised.

Bitwarden: Probably top of the security leader board, this one has source code transparency, end-to-end encryption, and is 3dr party audited.

We specialise in cyber security

When it comes to cyber security, we have a proactive approach. We monitor your systems daily and include regular cyber security audits as standard. Our audits are based on the Cyber Essentials 5 key controls, so you can be confident you’re staying ahead of the game.

What’s more, we offer all clients and their team members content-rich, cyber security training that’s relevant to them and their industry.

To find out more, drop us a line – we’re waiting to share our expertise with you.