It's also worth looking at our top five things to consider before buying a password manager. Take a look at our other guides to the best free password managers and the best password managers for business. With these five tips, you can ensure that you’re choosing the best password manager for your needs. But your password manager also has to be convenient enough for you to want to use it rather than go back to using a single password for everything. SummaryĪny well-built password manager will keep your account safe. If you’re using password management software in a team, keep in mind that different individuals may use different web browsers. Some only have Chrome and Firefox extensions, while others, such as Bitwarden, support less common browsers like Opera and Tor. Note that not all password managers offer support for all browsers. In that case, all you need is your single master password to log into all your online accounts. These are particularly helpful since extensions enable you to autofill login information as you access different sites. It’s also worth considering whether there are browser extensions available. If you have any Linux devices to connect, make sure that your password manager supports this operating system. Most popular password managers support Windows and Mac computers as well as Android and iOS mobile devices. Ideally, a password manager will work across all your devices. Is it compatible with your devices and browser? Some business password managers like Dashlane enable administrators to set up user groups and assign user permissions for different passwords. ![]() Some password managers enhance security by enabling you to send your encryption key separately from your encrypted password, preferably through a secure messenger.īusiness users may also want to consider whether a password manager offers user access management features. However, if you work in a team-for example, if you’re using a password manager at work-then the ability to share passwords easily can be a key feature to look for. Password sharing is tricky from a security standpoint because it potentially exposes your encryption key. Can you share your passwords?ĭashlane enables administrators to create user groups (Image credit: Dashlane) This requires you to re-enter your master password (and go through 2FA again) after you step away from the software for a few minutes. Relatedly, it’s a good idea to look for a password manager that has an auto-lockout timer. Plus, the text you receive about a login attempt serves as an alert that someone is trying to break into your account. With two-factor authentication enabled, a hacker might have your master password-but unless they also have your smartphone in hand, they still won’t be able to break into your password manager. The easiest way to defend against this is with 2FA (two-factor authentication). But how secure is your own computer? The most likely way for a bad actor to get their hands on your passwords is to go through the client-side interface on your device, such as by using malware that logs your keystrokes. Password manager providers generally put a lot of work into keeping their servers secure. LastPass offers 2FA for its password manager (Image credit: LastPass) Automatic password updating is also impossible within a zero-knowledge architecture. Password sharing is often impossible if zero-knowledge encryption is used, since you would necessarily need to transmit your encryption key to whomever you share your password with. The problem with zero-knowledge encryption is that it creates problems in other areas. ![]() ![]() As a result, even if your provider’s servers are breached, the hackers can only get their hands on encrypted versions of your passwords. The encryption key-your master password-is never hosted on the servers. Under this security architecture, your passwords are encrypted on your device before being transmitted over the internet to your provider’s servers. Many popular password managers, including LastPass, Dashlane, and Keeper, operate using zero-knowledge encryption. If you opt for a cloud-based password manager, it’s important to consider whether or not your provider actually has access to your password. With a cloud-based password manager, you can always recover your passwords from any device. But unless you have a backup, all of your passwords will be gone. The thief won’t be able to de-encrypt your data without your master password. The other problem is that if your device is stolen, your passwords are stolen with it. Some password managers, like mSecure and Sticky Password, get around this by enabling you to sync using your home Wi-Fi network. Without a cloud connection, it can be hard to sync your passwords across devices. However, local storage has some drawbacks.
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