Managing your Passwords

We all have so many online accounts these days and each and everyone is important.

My focus today is that I would like to press on you the importance of making a deliberate choice on how you are going to manage your passwords.

A deliberate choice that takes security and convenience into account.

For example

• Browsers are not secure enough*
• Spreadsheets or notes on your phone are neither secure or convenience
• Anything paper based is not convenient

The reasonable choices you have are to use your operating system, or dedicated password management software. Microsoft, google and apple offer password management solutions. We ought to remember that password management isn’t their core business, but it is a reasonable solution if you are using these chosen brands throughout your devices.

My preference is password management software because it offers the highest level – of all the options – of security and convenience and it can be used across all brands of device.

The software you use needs the BEST ever password and security settings.

Whichever solution you chose it can only be as effective as the password you use to protect it. For example, if you are going to use Google’s password service you need to prioritise the security of your Google account as it needs to be as strong as it can be.

If not already, the password needs to be very long and unique to that account. All other security measures, such as 2FA need to be in place too.

Take a look at the advice your service provider gives on account security and make sure you are doing everything they recommend.

All eggs in one basket?

Yes, but it is a secure basket and is considerably more secure than the alternative solutions.

The best part

Once you have made your deliberate choice for your password management, as well as being more secure, you are going to feel so very organised!

A password management solution will enable you to have a unique and long password for every service you use – which just isn’t practical without software to manage them.

I urge you to get started – one step at a time, have a plan and work on it.

You’re welcome to ask me if you have any questions. You can reach out on social media or email me at [email protected]

I have included some links to useful resources below.

👩🏻‍💻 Penny

* Browser security is a subject for another day, but just to expand on my point above, Malware can extract passwords, session ID’s & Cookies out of browsers, especially if they are not kept up-to-date.

Links:

Password Manager with good reputation for working across devices: https://1password.com/

Free password manager: https://bitwarden.com/

Another popular choice: https://www.lastpass.com/

Google: https://passwords.google.com/

Apple Keychain: https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT204085

Please do your own research too.