What is a Password Manager?
By Ish Bautista February 12, 2020Are you wondering what a password manager is? And how a novice like you can use it? Well, it’s a lot simpler than you think.
Before we jump into answering your question of what a password manager is, it’s important to address the elephant in the room: repetitive passwords!
Imagine, One day you order Bluetooth speakers online on your favorite online store. A few minutes later a notification pops up and your password is revealed on another user’s laptop. It then echoes into the interweb with no way back. Luckily, we will live in a time where password managers save the day. With their encrypted digital vault that keeps all your valuable information secure, password breaches become a thing of the past.
Now let’s learn what a password manager is, how it can help you generate, store, and manage passwords hassle-free.
What’s a Password Manager?
A password manager is a hardware device or software application that generates, stores, retrieves, and manages complex passwords. It stores complex passwords in an encrypted database, which provides robust protection against hackers. The encryption is so strong that it might take years or even forever to crack. So you get security, convenience and a sound mind which many reliable password managers offer to their users.
Do You Need A Password Manager?
The reason why you should use a password manager is that most people either use repetitive passwords or have bits of information in their passwords like their name, their date of birth, etc. What password managers do is that it generates long and random passwords across your various online accounts and also stores those passwords.
Can Anyone Use a Password Manager?
Here’s how it works:
- When using a password manager and logging into a website, you’ll first type your master password into the password manager and then it’ll automatically fill all the required login information.
- In case you’re already logged into your password manager, things will go a lot easier as it will automatically fill the data.
- If you’re creating a new account on the website, the password manager will generate a secure random password for you (depending on if you allow it) and that’s pretty much it.
Check out our comparison of Dashlane, RoboForm, Nordpass and other password managers to decide which one is a suitable option for you.
How Easily Can You Set Up a Password Manager?
Even if you’re not tech-savvy, setting up a password manager is like a walk in the park. It hardly takes more than 5 minutes to set up a majority of password managers around. Simply follow their instructions and you’re good to go.
Which Are The Best Password Managers Around?
Here’s a comparison of the three most popular password managers out there to help you find the best one for you.
|
|
| |
| Features | Strong search functionality, stores credit card info, customizable | One-stop-shop for passwords, payments and personal info that you can control | Quick autofill, Supports credit cards, passwords, and secure notes |
| Pricing | 1-10 users $39.95 per user, 101-1000 $29.95 user | $60 for Premium Plan and $120 for Premium Plus plan | $35.88 |
| Supported Devices | Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android | Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. |
| Supported Browsers | Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, and Opera. | Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Brave on Android, Internet Explorer | Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Brave, Edge, Vivaldi |
Cons | Difficult to attach to browsers and sync, limited support via Google Chrome browser extension | No support for multi-factor authentication, pricier than other password managers | Lacks form-filling capabilities, the free version limits you to a single active device |
| Overall Score | 9/10 | 9.8/10 | 9.5/10 |
Reviews
Roboform is the best for you if you’re into customizing your password manager and want great functionality for your business or your family.
The password vault also syncs your information on up to 9 devices. They also help to autofill online forms while saving your windows application passwords.
Dashlane is great for you if you’re looking for convenience.
Their system surpasses password management. It’s easy to install, they even scan your inbox to make sure your password hasn’t been shared and rest assured your credit score information is safe since they’re monitoring it through TransUnion.
Nordpass suits you if you’re more on the advanced side.
It has attractive interfaces, a simple service where you can securely access your passwords from personal devices and they also have strong encryption and guarantees all your private information will be safe.
The Bottom Line
All in all, it’s safe to say that using a password manager is a much better option than storing your passwords somewhere in a notebook or your computer. With growing attacks from hackers on personal computers, retail stores, and banks who can extract password information from unsuspecting customers – it’s high time for you to consider an option that provides more security at the cost of very little amount.