Do you ever feel totally overwhelmed trying to remember the passwords for all your online accounts? I‘ve been there, my friend. As a webmaster with over 15 years of experience, I‘ve gone through my fair share of password fatigue. But thankfully, password managers came to the rescue!
Nowadays, the average person has over 90 online accounts that require passwords. Your email, social media, bank accounts, shopping sites – the list goes on and on. Experts recommend using long, complex, randomized passwords that are unique for every account. But trying to memorize them all would require superhuman memory!
According to psychologists, the human brain can only remember 7 items, plus or minus 2. So a long list of intricate passwords isn‘t going to cut it. Even worse, reusing passwords or making them short and simple is downright dangerous.
When a company gets hacked, stolen password lists quickly end up for sale on the dark web. Hackers buy these lists and start barreling through accounts at popular sites using credentials leaked from smaller breaches. This is why a staggering 81% of hacking breaches are due to weak or reused passwords according to Verizon‘s 2022 Data Breach Investigations Report.
So how do we create strong passwords AND remember them easily? Password managers to the rescue! In this beginner‘s guide, you‘ll learn:
- Why password hygiene is critical
- How password managers actually work
- The top 3 password managers compared
- Tips for creating strong master passwords
- How to share passwords securely
Let‘s level up your password game together!
Contents
Why Proper Password Hygiene Matters
Using weak passwords leaves you extremely vulnerable to account takeovers and data leaks.
Let‘s take a common example. Say you use "password123" for your Twitter account. Not very secure, but easy to remember, right?
Now imagine a small website you use gets hacked. You happened to use "password123" there as well. The hackers take the stolen credentials and start trying them on major sites like Twitter, Facebook, Gmail – and jackpot! Within seconds they‘re into your Twitter account.
This happens constantly around the world. There‘s even botnets dedicated to credential stuffing – trying leaked username and password pairs on popular sites.
A report by Google found that 0.1-0.3% of sign-in attempts were credential stuffing attacks. Even a fraction of a percent still represents millions of hacking attempts!
That‘s why security professionals overwhelmingly recommend using randomized, complex passwords that are unique for every single account you have online.
But how do you manage all those intricate passwords? Enter the password manager – your new best friend!
How Password Managers Work
Password managers provide an encrypted vault that stores all your login credentials in one place, secured by a master password only you know. Here‘s what password managers allow you to do:
- Securely store an unlimited number of passwords
- Generate strong random passwords with one click
- Auto-fill login credentials into websites for you
- Access all your passwords on all devices
- Share individual passwords securely when needed
The flow looks like this:
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Download a password manager app and set your master password. Make sure it‘s long and complex!
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When you create new accounts, use the manager to randomly generate secure passwords. No more "password123".
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The manager encrypts and stores these passwords securely in your personal vault.
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Auto-fill browser extensions allow easily logging into sites where you already have accounts.
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Access the vault from your phone, tablet, laptop, or desktop using the master password. All devices stay in sync.
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For shared logins, securely share individual passwords with family, coworkers, etc.
Password managers revolutionize account security. Now you only have one master password to remember, and the manager handles the rest!
Next, let‘s explore the top password management tools available today.
Top 3 Password Managers Compared
Based on independent research and real-world testing, here are my top picks for password managers:
| 1Password | LastPass | Dashlane | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Platforms supported | Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, Linux | Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, Chrome OS | Mac, Windows, iOS, Android |
| Free version available | No free version | Full-featured free version | Limited free version |
| Premium pricing | $2.99/month individual $3.99/month family |
$3/month individual $4/user/month business |
$4.99/month individual $20/month teams |
| Password sharing | ✅ Secure sharing | ✅ Secure sharing | ✅ Secure sharing |
| Avg user rating | 4.7/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.3/5 |
1. 1Password
1Password is my top recommendation for individuals and businesses alike. It blends security and usability perfectly.
Pros:
- Intuitive and easy-to-use interface
- Bank-level AES-256 encryption
- Advanced tools for shared passwords
- Biometric authentication options
- Excellent customer support
Cons:
- No free version
- Can get pricey for large teams
I‘ve used 1Password for years and feel very comfortable recommending it, even for beginners. The app makes robust security easy. Advanced users will also appreciate features like two-factor authentication.
While 1Password lacks a free version, the 14-day free trial is enough to get a good feel for it. Paid plans start at $2.99 per month. Business plans support teams of all sizes.
2. LastPass
For individuals who prioritize free options, LastPass is a top choice with their full-featured free version.
Pros:
- Completely free version available
- User-friendly apps
- Solid basic security features
- Password sharing possible
Cons:
- Free version limits device syncing
- Some past security incidents
LastPass is great for basic individual use. The premium version for $3 per month adds support for unlimited devices and more advanced security capabilities like the LastPass Authenticator app.
Business plans start at $4 per user / month. Again, I‘d recommend 1Password for business and team use, but LastPass works well for solos on a budget.
3. Dashlane
Dashlane rounds out my top three password managers due to their very user-friendly interface.
Pros:
- Beginner-friendly design
- Powerful password generator
- Can share passwords securely
- Affordable premium plan
Cons:
- Limited free version
- Less flexible business plans
Like LastPass, Dashlane offers a pared down free version alongside premium offerings. Their $4.99 premium unlocks the full power of Dashlane‘s excellent interface.
For businesses, Dashlane plans start at $20 per month for a team of 10 users. For larger teams, 1Password ends up being more cost effective.
Tips for Creating a Strong Master Password
When you start using a password manager, the master password that locks your vault is incredibly important. Make sure yours is rock solid:
- Length matters – use 12+ characters
- Mix uppercase, lowercase, numbers, symbols
- Avoid dictionary words, names, dates, patterns
- Don‘t reuse old passwords
- Change it every 90 days
- Enable two-factor authentication
Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds critical additional security, requiring both your master password AND access to your smartphone or authentication app. Nearly all password managers support setting up 2FA.
For example, you can configure Time-based One Time Password (TOTP) apps like Authy or Google Authenticator to provide the second factor. Now a potential hacker needs both your master password AND physical access to your phone.
Sharing Passwords Securely with Teams
One of the most useful features of password managers is securely sharing credentials when required.
You may need to share logins with:
- An assistant to access business accounts
- A contractor to work on your website
- Family members to access shared subscriptions
Password managers allow granting one-time or ongoing access to individual passwords. The sites themselves remain hidden behind your master credentials.
For teams and businesses, password managers let you configure permission levels. Admins maintain full control over the master password.
Be smart when sharing passwords – only provide access when absolutely necessary and with trusted individuals. Never share your master password with anyone.
Start Managing Passwords Intelligently
I hope this beginner‘s guide provided useful advice for easily and securely managing your passwords!
The top password managers like 1Password, LastPass, and Dashlane make robust security totally painless. Take advantage of random password generation and effortless auto-fill across devices.
Now you can let go of password fatigue and just remember one strong master password. Enable two-factor authentication for critical accounts like your master password and email.
Use your newfound password power wisely! Create long, unique passwords and change them every 90 days.
Your online accounts are now protected with bank-vault security. You‘ve got this! Let me know if you have any other password questions.
