Ok, so we all know that passwords can be quite annoying, I certainly don't enjoy trying to remember my login credentials for heaps of different sites & services. Realistically, I don't think anyone is able to remember 100s unique sets of credentials, which leads to all sorts of other awful security problems. Thankfully, new technologies are on the way or already here that either do away with the password entirely or add additional layers of security. But these new elements—passkeys, single sign-on, passwordless, and so on—have their own issues, and they aren’t yet available for every system, service, and account that you have a password for currently. Someday we’ll live in a post-password utopia. But we aren’t there yet. For now, password managers are the best near-universal solution for solving the security and access problems passwords create.
Understand the Risks of Poor Password Use
Passwords are hard for humans to remember and easy for machines to guess. Even worse, no one can legitimately remember hundreds of username and password combinations. So, what do most users do? They use unsafe shortcuts to overcome this hurdle. Some people write down all their important passwords in a notebook or leave them on a sticky note under their keyboards. The problem here is that absolutely anyone that might have physical access to your space could easily steal every password. All it takes is a single smartphone camera snap, and every account listed could be compromised.
Others create one or two passwords that are easy for them to remember, then reuse those passwords across dozens of different sites and systems. Most people (around 90 percent by one survey) know that this is dangerous, yet almost 60 percent admit to doing it anyway. The trouble here is that if criminals manage to steal your username and password anywhere (through a data breach, a phishing attack, or anything else), then chances are good they now know your password everywhere—including sensitive accounts like your bank and your corporate logins. And when our email addresses are reused as usernames, the problem is even worse!
The Importance of Strong Passwords
Strong passwords are your first line of defence against cyber threats. A strong password typically includes a mix of upper and lower case letters, numbers, and special characters. It should be at least 12 characters long and not include easily guessable information like your name or birthdate. Using a unique password for each of your accounts is crucial because it limits the damage that can be done if one password is compromised.
How Password Managers Can Help
Password managers are tools that can generate, store, and manage your passwords for you. They can create strong, unique passwords for each of your accounts and store them securely. This means you only need to remember one master password to access your password manager. Many password managers also offer additional features like password strength analysis, breach alerts, and secure sharing of passwords with trusted contacts.
Choosing the Right Password Manager
There are many password managers available, each with its own set of features. Some popular options include Keeper, LastPass, 1Password, and Dashlane. When choosing a password manager, consider factors like ease of use, security features, and compatibility with your devices and browsers.
Don’t be lazy when it comes to your security. Weak passwords leave your business vulnerable to cyber threats. By using a password manager, you can significantly improve your security posture and protect your sensitive information.
