A password manager helps you to abide by two key privacy principles – use strong passwords and don’t use the same password for multiple services. So you really should put in the effort and get set up with one.

A password manager remembers all your passwords for all the services you use. This means you only have to remember one long and strong password to access the manager. (Highly respected security wonk Bruce Schneier says it’s OK to write this password down and keep it in a safe place. NB: A Post-It stuck to your monitor is not a safe place.)

If you haven’t already, have a look at our quick guide to creating stronger passwords.

If you’re minded to look, you can find plenty of disagreement over which password manager is the best. Just pick one that suits you and stick with it. There are free and paid for password managers available.

Another thing to bear in mind, which you’ve probably experienced multiple times already, is that typing in long and complex passwords using your phone’s tiny keyboard can be a real pain. So look for a password manager that will sync with your phone.

The two easiest to use managers are probably Dashlane and LastPass. Dashlane is free and there are free and paid versions of LastPass available. Try them out and see which one you like the most. Then take a deep breath and put it to work.

 

<< Have I Been Pwned? | Full Kit Index | Lock Your Devices >>