Please Use a Password Manager!

I use a Password Manager to store things like passwords and I couldn't survive without one! I keep everything in it; not just passwords but my credit cards, bank accounts, and other info like my household utilities, etc.

I want EVERYONE to use one a Password Manager!

A Password Manager is a place were you store all your things like online passwords and other sensitive, and other useful, information.

You create an account and then you can add all your passwords into it. You have a 'master' password that gets you into your account. There are apps for your computer and phone, so you can get your passwords anywhere.

Password managers also allow you to create really secure (i.e. complicated!) passwords with their password creators. As you only need to remember one 'master' password to get into your 'password vault(s)', you can let the password manager do all the hard work of remembering your other passwords, and other information.

Password Managers also often have 'two factor authentication' features. Such as generating rotating number codes for extra levels of security. And now there are also 'Passkeys' which link security to your biometrics rather than a password.

A Couple of Good Password Managers

There are many good Password Managers available. I'm not going to list them all, but I'll give you a couple of good options, including a FREE one!

I've used 1Password for years. It costs from about $36 (£25) a year. I've got a family plan, which I share with other family members. As well as having your own 'personal vaults', you can also have 'shared vaults' to share specific items with others in your 'family'. A Family plan is about $60 (£50) a year.

Bitwarden is another good password manager. Its basic version, which does quite a lot, is FREE. Premium plans start at $10 (£8ish) a year, with its family plan being $40 (£30ish) a year.

I use 1Password as I've been with them for years. 1Password also has some additional features over Bitwarden like a 'travel mode' which can hide/stop certain vaults from being on your devices when you're travelling: https://support.1password.com/travel-mode. But Bitwarden really is a good option if you want to try a Password Manager for free!

This a good list of some other Password Manager options from a privacy focused site - and they include 1Password & Bitwarden.

Emergency Access

1Password and Bitwarden have different ways of giving 'emergency' access to your account/vault. This can be useful if you're unable to use or access your account, such as if you're suddenly ill or something...

With 1Password you have an 'emergency kit', which you can download. They recommend printing the lit out and keeping it somewhere 'safe', along with things like birth certificates and passports, etc. (like in a fire proof box/bag).

With Bitwarden, you can set invite someone as 'emergency contact'. They need to have a Bitwarden account - but it can be free.

Both methods have pros and cons...

Are Password Managers Safe and Secure?

Both the ones I've listed above are VERY SECURE. They use 'encryption on device' which means that the companies running the password managers, can't access your secure information, even if they wanted to! They're both also regularly audited by external security companies to make sure they're following best practices.

It's Not Only You Who Might Benefit!

But it's not just you who might find a Password Manager useful! If you've got a Lasting Power of Attorney (or something similar) you can make your PoA an emergency contact or share an emergency kit with them. (If you haven't got a Lasting Power of Attorney, find out why you really should have one...)

This can make life MUCH simpler if a Power of Attorney ever has to be used, or if you just need someone to help you out - and I speak from experience... Recently my family has had a PoA situation. The person who's PoA was enacted DID NOT have anything like a Password Manager. It was somewhat of a nightmare trying to find where information was stored and what accounts they had.

If everything had been in a Password Manager, we could have gained access and everything would have been ready to be 'taken over' much more easily...

I think that having a Password Manager is as important (or possibly more) than having a Lasting Power of Attorney!

For the price of a few cups of coffee, you can help to make sure your personal information is stored in a secure manner; and also potentially make life much easier for your loved ones should anything happen to you...

So, PLEASE, use a Password Manager!