A Browser Password Manager Might Not Be Enough
I hung onto my password spreadsheet way longer than I should have, even though I knew better as someone who works in IT. But like a lot of small business owners, I had a long list of excuses: I didn’t want to pay for a password manager, didn’t trust one app to hold all my secrets, and, if I’m being honest, I was just used to the way I’d always done it.
I’m past that now. Let me tell you what we did on our team and why.
Still Using A Spreadsheet? I Get It, But It’s Risky.
I had my passwords in a spreadsheet for a very long time. It was handy, but from a cybersecurity standpoint it’s pretty much the worst option you can choose. Essentially what you are doing is putting all of your passwords into a single, unencryped file that gives the the bad guys everything in one tidy package if they get their hands on it. How likely is it that’ll happen? That depends on how good your cybersecurity is, but there’s no such thing as perfect cybersecurity, so there’s always a risk no matter how careful you are. Because I do IT for a living, I see cyber theft happen from time to time, and if a password speadsheet is involved it can rapidly escalate into a major problem.
Making the Transition to a Browser Password Manager
My first step away from spreadsheets was to try the free password manager included in my web browser, and this was a significant upgrade. All of my passwords were now encrypted in a way that would be very difficult to access, and they were also available on all of my devices. Plus, as a bonus, browser password managers are free, and I really like free!
As big of an improvement as this was, there were some limitations. The browser password manager was not any help for applications that did not work in the browser I was using, which meant that if I was using a computer, phone, or application that didn’t use that browser, I was out of luck. It also became more difficult to share passwords with a trusted friend or colleague since I could not easily see the password, and it was so long that I could never write it down correctly. And, perhaps, worst of all, I had not really erased the risk of having all of my passwords stolen at once since the browser makes them accessible to anyone who can log into it, and the security on the browser itself is pretty weak.
When Does a Paid Password Manager Make Sense?
Solopreneurs and tiny businesses can probably live the free browser password manager for a while, but the upgrade to a paid password manager has a lot of advantages that will eventually make them an essential piece your overall cybersecurity protection package.
Here are just a few examples of when it may be time to switch to a paid, dedicated password application:
- Mixed Platforms & Applications: If you are someone who switches between browsers, Macs and PCs, or Androids and iPhones.
- Frequent Password Sharing: If you need to securely share some of your passwords with friends or business associates (and also be able to revoke those sharing privileges easily).
- Non-browser Applications: If you spend most of your time using applications that do not operate inside of a web browser.
- Need Extra Security: Dedicated password managers have a lot additional cybersecurity features that make them much safer than what the browser-based system can offer.
What Do We Recommend?
First, let’s state the obvious: If you are still using a spreadsheet to save your passwords, it’s time to move forward. It’s an unnessecesary risk and one of the top ways the hackers gain access to all of your info.
If the next step for you is web browser password manager, Chrome and Edge are both fine as long as you understand the limitations. The security is not as good as the paid applications, but a lot of people use them because they are convenient and free.
As for the paid applications, we are fond of Keeper, but there are several applications out there that do a very good job. If you need help putting a backup solution together, feel free to schedule a free consultation with me and I’ll be happy to see what I can do to help.