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Saving passwords can be a real pain in the… neck. When you input your password online, does your Internet browser pop up a message asking if you want to save it to its password vault? Maybe it even saves your password automatically and looks something like this…
Browsers that save passwords may offer convenience, but from a security perspective, they fall short compared to a dedicated password manager.
Secure password managers can be apps or extensions that help you keep track of your login credentials. Some even offer extra features, such as dark web monitoring services or secure storage for personally identifiable information and financial data. There are password managers to fulfill a variety of needs.
Why is a password manager better than saving passwords directly to your Internet browser?
For starters, password managers tend to use much stronger encryption, such as Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), making it extremely difficult for hackers to crack your account even if they steal the encrypted data. All criminals will have are unreadable, scrambled tokens, which are useless without the master key.
While browsers also encrypt passwords and login credentials, they often store the decryption keys in accessible locations, making them much more vulnerable to malware.
Meanwhile, password managers offer a unique convenience: You only need to remember one strong master password to access all your logins, keeping them much, much safer. Browsers rely on your device’s login security, which is likely much weaker.
Password managers also help create unique, complex passwords for every site and account. Browsers don’t offer such guidance, and reusing passwords is a significant security risk. It’s important to choose at least 12 characters that are hard to guess. Managers also tend to include extra security features like multi-factor authentication and data breach monitoring, which add an additional layer of login security beyond just the master password and alert you if your login information is exposed in a data leak.
New device? No problem! Password managers can sync your passwords securely across all your devices, whereas browser-saved passwords are usually limited to the device they’re stored on. The added accessibility provides an even more secure and comprehensive solution for managing your online login credentials. Convenience doesn’t have to compromise your personal information. Password managers can protect the integrity of your online accounts while still making it easy to auto-fill your login information with just a few clicks.
Browsers are easier to hack and harder to control, especially if you use a wide range of devices…and even more so if they come from different manufacturers (e.g., your Android phone versus your Apple tablet). A password manager consolidates your passwords so you can access them quickly, easily, and securely!
Are you concerned about the safety and security of your data? Commonwealth Sentinel can help. We offer a range of comprehensive services, including software and hardware solutions, training, and policy implementation to help reduce your risks. To learn more about how we can help you achieve peace of mind, schedule a consultation by clicking here or contact us at (502) 234-5554.
At Commonwealth Sentinel, we stay focused on cyber security so you can focus on other things.