Why You Need a Password Manager

Password managers are a must if you want to stay safe and secure online. Digital security starts with strong passwords. But to use strong passwords safely, you need a password manager.

A password manager is like a digital wallet for all your online "keys" with a lot of useful functions

Here is an overview of four things that a password manager can do for you.

1. Remember your credentials

As I wrote before, a password you can rely on is at least 12 characters long. It consists of random combinations of letters, numbers, and special symbols. It is also unique to the account it has been created for.

Can you memorize such a password? A study has found that an average person requires several training sessions to remember a strong password. And if you don't use the password regularly, you will most likely forget it soon.

An average Internet user has about 100 passwords to remember

But unless you are using a password manager, you have dozens of strong passwords to remember. How can you realistically remember so many long and random combinations of characters?

You can't and you shouldn't even try. You have a password manager to do this for you. At its most basic, a password manager is a piece of software designed to keep a list of all your passwords. Password managers also store your other credentials, such as user names and email addresses associated with specific accounts.

Password manager keeps all these credentials in a single place. All you need to memorize is a single master password to access the password manager. Make sure that the master password is really strong and add another layer of protection by turning on two-factor authentication.

2. Create strong passwords

Coming up with a strong password requires mixing uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special symbols into a long and random combination. With a password manager, you no longer need to worry about doing that.

A password manager not only remembers your passwords but also creates good passwords for you

In addition to keeping a list of your passwords, a password manager will also generate strong and unique passwords for you. All you need to do is decide how long you want your passwords to be.

3. Keep your passwords safe and secure

Most password managers are protected by very strong encryption. This means that even if anyone hacks the servers on which your password manager keeps its data, they will not be able to read or use any of your credentials.

Password managers store your credentials in an encrypted form

Your master password decrypts the password manager. Without the master password, its encrypted contents are useless.

4. Keep track of your accounts

How many online accounts do you have? Can you remember every single account you have ever opened? There is a serious security risk associated with the old and abandoned "zombie" accounts.

Using a password manager is a great way to keep track of all the online accounts you are opening

Using a password manager is a great way to keep track of all your accounts. Revisit these accounts once a year and delete those that you no longer use.

Start now

So if you are not using a password manager yet, now is the best time to start using one. There are many options to choose from, and almost all top brands offer free trials and limited free plans.