A Browser Password Manager Might Not Be Enough
I have a small confession to make. I have been very slow to get on board with using a password manager to safeguard my passwords. If you are also delaying the switch from a spreadsheet or a stack of Post-it notes as a way to save all your passwords, we may have the same list of excuses.
My list of excuses, at its core, came down to two issues:
- Having to trust an app to keep my passwords organized and secure and,
- Having to pay to store my passwords.
I’m past that now. Let me tell you why.
Handwritten Password Strategy and The Resistance to Change
Once upon a time (okay, fine, it was a really long time ago), I had a notebook that stored all of my passwords. That strategy worked well until the passwords would not fit onto a single page, at which point I made the transition to an electronic spreadsheet. As an IT professional, I know just how bad of an idea this really is. Because I’ve now moved my passwords onto my computer, I run the risk of having all of my passwords stolen at the same time plus not having access to any of them if I ever lose access to the computer that is storing them. And, because I do IT for a living, I see cyber theft happen to other people from time to time, yet I was still very reluctant to move away from my beloved spreadsheet.
Making the Transition to a Browser Password Manager
Eventually, I caved and tried the solution many people use: the free password manager included in your web browser. This was a significant upgrade from the spreadsheet for two main reasons. First, all of my passwords were now encrypted in a way that would be very difficult to access. Second, my passwords were available on multiple devices immediately without my having to look them up. Plus, 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.
When Does a Paid Password Manager Make Sense?
For many people, a free, browser-based password manager may be good enough, and is certainly better than keeping everything in a spreadsheet. That being said, here are 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 going on behind the scenes that makes 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.
If the next step for you is to store your passwords in a web browser, Chrome and Edge both do a decent job as long as you understand the limitations of the technology. 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.