A few days ago, news broke that 10 billion passwords had been published online. The list is apparently a mix of passwords collected in an earlier breach and more recently hacked data. These are real-world passwords that were in use at the time of the hack attacks. So, it’s time for a few words about your cyber security.
Having a different password for every account is a pain, and although we know it’s more secure, it’s still tempting to use the same one on at least a few accounts. This is exactly what thieves are hoping you’ll do. It also makes their lives more convenient. What makes digital thievery ever easier is the ability to cross reference data about individuals from different sources. It’s not just that they have a bunch of random passwords. It’s that they have along with a trove of other information about you, and your IP, and your bank, and a lot more.
There is an easy solution to this security problem though, password managers. These password apps aren’t new, but there are still a lot of people not using them. Let’s convince you that it’s worth a few minutes to find one that suits you and set it up. Here are some of the major advantages:
1. Strong, unique passwords: A password manager can generate and store complex, unique passwords for all your online accounts. This eliminates the need to reuse passwords or create weak, easy-to-remember ones.
2. Security and encryption: Password managers encrypt your passwords, so even if someone hacks into the app, they won’t be able to access your credentials.
3. Convenience: With a password manager, you only need to remember one master password to access all your other passwords. The app can then automatically fill in login information for websites and apps.
4. Security audits and breach notifications: Some password managers can scan the dark web for leaked passwords and notify you if any of your accounts have been compromised. They can also identify weak or reused passwords among your credentials.
5. Accessibility across devices: Password managers can sync your information across all your devices, so you can access your passwords from your phone, computer, or tablet.
Since there are many different ones to chose from, we’ve gone to five tech news sites and listed their top five recommendations. There’s also a link to each article so you can read more about each one. Of note, is the cost. Bitwarden is free for an individual user, and the others vary in price but are quite affordable.
Cybernews: NordPass, 1Password, RoboForm, Keeper, Dashlane
Wired: Bitwarden, 1Password, Dashlane, EnPass, KeePassXC
PC Mag: 1Password, NordPass, Dashlane, RoboForm, Keeper
CNET: Bitwarden, RoboForm, 1Password, Keeper, NordPass
Tom’s Guide: 1Password, Keeper, NordPass, Bitwarden, Bitdefender
Hackers will hack. Thieves will steal. Lock the digital door!