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 utility accounts, etc.

I want EVERYONE to use one a Password Manager!

A Password Manager is a place were you can store things like passwords as well other sensitive & useful information.

You create a master account and add all your passwords (and other information) into it. There is a 'master' password that gets you into your 'vault'. This means you only have to remember ONE password. The password manager does the hard work of remembering the passwords on your accounts, and your other secure information!

Password managers allow you to create really secure (i.e. complicated!) passwords. This means you can have unique secure passwords, which you don't have to remember! There are apps for your computer and phone, so you can get your passwords anywhere.

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 (like a fingerprint or face scan) rather than using a password.

A Few 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 $70 (£50) a year (for five people).

Bitwarden is another good password manager. Its basic version, which does quite a lot, is FREE. Premium plans start at $20 (£15ish) a year, with its family plan being $48 (£35ish) a year (for six people).

Proton Pass is another popular password manager. Its basic version, which does quite a lot, is FREE. Premium plans start at $35 (£30ish) a year, with its family plan being $60 (£48ish) a year (for six people). Proton also offer 'Proton Unlimited', where you get their whole suite of privacy focused products including email, VPN and calendar for $120 (£95ish) a year.

I use 1Password as I've been with them for years. 1Password also has some additional features over Bitwarden and Proton Pass 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 and Proton Pass are both really good options if you want to try a Password Manager for free or basic uses!

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

Emergency Access

All three options also 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 kit out and keeping it somewhere 'safe', along with things like birth certificates and passports, etc. (like in a fire proof box/bag and/or with a loved one who might use the emergency access).

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

With Proton Pass, you can set up to five 'emergency contacts' who can request access if needed (you need a paid plan to set emergency contacts). They need to have a Bitwarden account - but it can be free one.

All methods have pros and cons...

Are Password Managers Safe and Secure?

All 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 using a Password Manager is as important (or possibly more so) 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!