4 Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing a Password Manager
Despite the latest technologies in authentication and security, traditional passwords are still the preferred method for most people. Hence the importance of generating them wisely and storing them to avoid risks.
We have other, more advanced technologies at our fingertips, such as fingerprint or retina readers, for example. However, the passwords we use for authentication are still very important. Security experts recommend some guidelines for using these keys in the best way.
Obviously, passwords should always be complex to avoid being hacked. Likewise, it is best not to duplicate these elements on different platforms or applications. Surely many of you have thought on more than one occasion that memorizing complex and different passwords is practically an impossible task. And this is exactly where the password managers that we will focus on now come into play.
In fact, these are the programs responsible for storing these personal passwords in a secure and encrypted way. In addition, they protect all this content with a master key, which we should really memorize. Based on the fact that we are increasingly using passwords to protect all kinds of applications and online platforms, the importance of these password managers is growing like wildfire.
But we must also keep in mind that we must use them in a proper way and without risk. And so, specifically, we will talk to you below about some habits that you should avoid when using these specific programs.
- You have a hidden password manager in your phone to save passwords.. You don't need to install a password manager app anymore
- Tips for using password managers well
It is important to know that we now have a wide range of programs and platforms in the form of password managers. There are free, paid or limited functionality. First of all, we should choose the option that suits our needs.
- Create a complex master key.
Keep in mind that all the passwords we save in the chosen manager are protected by a master key. This should be complex enough that no one can discover or hack it.
- Choose a manager that is compatible with multiple platforms.
With this, what we basically mean is that when choosing a password manager, it is best to have it compatible with both desktop and mobile systems. This way we will have access to all our keys at any time and place, either through a local backup or through the cloud.
- Take advantage of the additional features of the password manager.
It should be taken into account that these programs are currently not only responsible for storing our passwords. In addition, they usually also provide storage space for notes, bank cards, two-factor keys and much more. They even offer us tools for automatic generation of these complex passwords.
- Never share your access key.
You may be afraid of forgetting or losing the security key that gives you access to the rest of the passwords in your password manager. It is better to waste some time and save it well than to share it with third parties, which is something we should never do.
PROTON PASS Password Manager is now available for Windows and you can download it