Breaches in confidential data have been on the rise in recent years. With more information than ever being stored online, it’s no surprise that you would want to do the very most to protect your personal data. One of the easiest ways to protect your information is to develop strong passwords that are not easily guessed.
The problem with creating strong, unique passwords for every account you have is that it can be hard to keep track of which password accesses which account. Using a password manager helps eliminate this problem while ensuring that your data stays protected.
While it is a good idea to make use of one of the many password managers on the market, it’s important to remember that not all programs are designed equally. Lucky for you, we’ve done the hard part for you and have compiled some of the most important features to look for when choosing a password manager.
What Is a Password Manager?
To put it simply, password managers are services, whether online or local, that store your login details for your different accounts. These managers remove the need to physically type in your password every time you want to log in somewhere.
Password managers also help provide you with strong passwords that aren’t easily guessed when setting up new accounts. This means that from here on out, the only password you’ll need to commit to memory is the one that unlocks your password manager.
Keep in mind that every service is different, and these differences can play a huge roll in the level of protection you’ll get. Take the time to look at the key features of the programs you’re considering and see what extra steps they have taken to ensure data protection and confidentiality. If you’re not sure what features you should be looking for, keep reading to find out.
Choosing the Right Password Manager
Password managers are great for keeping your information and your accounts secure, but keep in mind that, like everything else in this world, they are not all created equally. There are a few key features that will set apart the best from the worst of your options.
The most important feature to look at for any good password manager is the password ‘vault’. The vault is where your login credentials will ultimately be stored and kept, so it’s important that you find a service that uses end-to-end encryption to protect your data. With end-to-end encryption in place, not even the service provider will be able to access your data.
It is also important to look for a provider whose password manager has undergone auditing by independent researchers. This auditing process is specifically designed to find the holes that hackers look for when attempting to breach your data, essentially making it harder for hackers to gain access to your password vault.
Finally, it is important for you to look for a password manager that frequently updates its’ software. Frequent updates show that the programmer is dedicated to protecting their users’ data and accounts from hackers. Any reputable programmer will maintain active updates, and most of them will provide access to information on bug fixes and patch updates through their website.
Cost of Use
Another important factor to consider when finding the right password manager for you is the cost. In the case of password managers, the idea that you get what you pay for is not always the case.
While there are several excellent password managers that you can buy that will give you good protection, programmers also realize that not everyone can afford to pay for a service to manage their accounts. If your budget doesn’t allow for the purchase of one of these programs, never fear! There are several great options available if you prefer to use a low-cost online password manager.
Free-to-use programs offer just as much protection as paid programs, though they may not have all of the extra ‘frills’ that a paid program would have. If you are just looking a bit of extra security for your account details, a free password manager will give you all of the protection you need without the hassle of a yearly or monthly subscription fee.
It’s no secret that thieves have upgraded their skills to compete with the technological security advancements that have been made in the last few years. With 2019 seeing an increase of 17% more breaches in data than 2018, we definitely believe that anyone using any sort of service online should be taking this extra step to protect their online data.
A password manager is arguably one of the simplest, yet most effective ways to add security to your online activity. And with all of the tips you just learned, we’re confident that you’ll be on your way to a more secure internet experience in no time.
