As time passes, our accounts on various services and sites are growing. Indeed, they grow so much that the “meme” depicting Gandalf says: “I have no memory of this place” to become a reality. If you belong to the category of those who have one or two passwords and they alternate, you know in the end that your security is not assured. If you do not know it again, it’s time to learn it.
But even a one or two passwords to have the interchanges, nor in this case you are sure you always remember them easily. Let us not forget that each site has its own requirements. It may require you to include a capital letter, a small, punctuation mark, or something else. In the end, you will not remember what each site asks for and you will end up asking for new user code.
Writing them in notepad does not even guarantee that the file will not be lost – let’s not refer to the real paper. This in itself is a problem. But then the next problem is whether the code you use is safe. Because it is up to 8 characters long and contains numbers, a headline and a punctuation point as requested by the site, it does not mean that hackers can not break it. Especially if it contains simple words.
Hackers typically run software that combines words and anagrams with a combination of numbers. These cross-check with our accounts on various sites, e.g. Paypal. If you add to the fact that you are switching one to two, you realize that if they find one, they may end up finding your bank code.
How Do They Work
The way the password managers work is very simple. Even if you do not “play” technology on your fingers, you will be able to learn to use it quickly and easily.
You usually find them in the form of an add-on that is stored in your browser. When you enter a secure site, it asks you to save your password. If you do not have a password, it offers you the ability to create one, or if you just created one you are asking permission to store it. Then, each time you enter this site, the codes are automatically placed in the entry form.
If you have more than one account on the same site, you can see them all and choose who you want to get. Additionally, if you change the code, many find it automatically and ask you if you want to change it, otherwise, you have to do it manually.
Most password managers are also online, and all you need is the master password, a central password that allows you to actually start the password manager. So, for example, if you share your laptop with someone else, you can disconnect when you close the browser and someone else is logged in with their own codes.
Plus, most password managers work with mobile devices running Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS, so all you have to do is download the password managers on these devices. And, of course, remember the central code. It would also help not be the same as the ones you’ve saved. Some password manager offers the ability to be identified on a handheld device via a face, or fingerprint.
Several password managers “work together” with each other, so you can enter your codes from one to the other. This is best if you decide to change the password manager.
Free or Paid?
There are several good password managers, some of them free and some others for a fee. What you will choose, of course, depends on your needs. However, you should have two things to consider in terms of cost:
A. What is free does not mean that it does not provide quality services.
B. Usually, costs are not high, so even if you see that you need a paid solution, it will not cost you a fortune. The average price you have to pay is between 15 and 30 euros.
Many password managers, however, do the following: They give you their services for free but “deprive you” or something. For example, you may not be able to synchronize the password manager with other devices. Another common tactic is to let you use the program for free, but you can not store more than a certain number of codes. In this case, if you have multiple codes, it does not serve a free version.
How safe are they?
As with all the things stored on the internet, their security is not certain, but you can stay calm because there has not been a known case so far that hackers managed to intercept user data because they managed to gain access to password managers. In addition, several password managers allow you to store either on your computer or in a cloud service of your choice.
Which one is the right one for me?
After all, it makes sense to ask which is the right password manager for you. The idea is to have as many functions as possible. However, if we could summarize the necessary capabilities, we would say that a password manager should be easy to use, offer self-fulfillment, recognize your password change, and suggest codes. If you use portable devices, synchronization is also required.
Here are the most popular and full features of Password Managers:
LastPass
LastPass is a field veteran and one of the most popular Password Managers, not unfairly. It provides all the necessary features that a password manager must include, while the free version does not lack the features that would be lacking in an everyday user.
The free version of LastPass offers the ability to create code, store existing codes, detect code change, auto-fill forms, and sync with other devices.
The paid version offers some other features, such as the ability to access your passwords in an emergency, or 1GB of encrypted storage.
LogMeOnce
LogMeOnce is a password manager, who’s – also – the free version comes with more features than many paid password managers. This includes the fact that if you decide to change your password manager with LogMeOnce, it will enter the codes from more than 20 password managers, including LastPass.
It also features a handheld identification feature, PhotoLogin, where it takes a picture of what your cell phone looks like, and if you agree with what you see, then it unlocks.
Dashlane
Dashlane is also a password manager, who also has a free and paid version. The free version includes unlimited storage of codes and data on your favorite device, detecting password changes, creating unique codes, and alerting if your account is attacked and intercepted on a site. The paid version comes with secure backup and unlimited code sharing with people of your choice in case of emergency.
KeePass
KeePass comes completely free and is the answer to open source software in code management. The difference between KeePass and other Password Managers is that your passwords are stored in an encrypted database on your system and are not synchronized or uploaded somewhere unless you want to transfer them between systems. Except your data is not transferring to Cloud, KeePass suffices because you can use it comfortably and offline.
Roboform
Roboform is also a veteran of the industry. You can store your passwords, autocomplete, synchronize between different device types and browsers. Your security system informs you of patients and codes you have re-used while providing secure sharing. However, if you are not an advanced user, or you do not want to know, then Roboform may not be for you because it is not famous for its intuitive desktop.
1Password
1Password has fanatical fans because of its ease of use. As a password manager, it offers several basic functions while some are lacking. For example, it does not enter codes from competing services. But it stands out for its biometric certification capability. You can also synchronize whenever you want. Please note that 1Password only offers a free trial and is available for a fee.
Enpass
Enpass is available free of charge for desktop PCs (Windows, Linux, and Mac), but paid for mobile devices. In fact, there is also a free version for portable devices, but it can store up to 20 codes. If your codes do not exceed 20, then Enpass is for you. The password manager also works with a master password, but if you lose, the company informs you that there is no way to recover it.
Below we saw some of the most popular password managers, their advantages and disadvantages. If you still have difficulty deciding, remember that the test does not hurt you just, you will have one more code added to your master password for the password manager!
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