What is a password manager?

Using sticky notes to manage passwords

Technology usually makes our life easier. But across all of this helpful technology, we’re often required to create passwords to access it — and we’re encouraged to make all those passwords unique. Remembering that huge list of passwords isn’t easy but making it easier on ourselves by using the same password for all our online accounts can leave us at risk for a cyberattack.

What’s the solution? You might want to consider using a password manager, which stores all your login information in one location. So, instead of memorizing 25 different passwords, you can simply access all your account information with a single password.

In this article, we’ll explain what password managers do, why you should use one and the security of a password manager. If you’re done with memorizing passwords, keep reading.

How do password managers work?

Around 80% of online data breaches are a result of reused or weak passwords, according to 1Kosmos. As you become more connected to the internet, the odds are that you’re creating new passwords to websites you visit frequently. So, how can you avoid password reuse and protect your data?

Password managers save your passwords in a secure database, and they also typically feature a password generator that can create secure, random passwords. Online password managers will usually generate different passwords for each of your online accounts, allowing you to securely create, store and retrieve every single password you have and ultimately helping to prevent data breaches.

Types of password managers

There are several password management options to choose from, depending on your preferences. Before you choose a password management system, make sure to do some research to ensure you’re trusting your passwords to a reputable provider.

Why use a password manager?

According to a recent study by NordPass, the average person has about 100 passwords. Remembering 100 unique passwords is nearly impossible. But due to the importance of cybersecurity, it’s necessary to have strong, distinctive passwords to every login and website—keeping your important information out of the hands of malicious actors.

Even if you’re careful not to share passwords with others, it doesn’t mean your personal information is safe. Each day, malicious actors expose people’s passwords to the dark web. Sometimes, cybercriminals will find information that identifies individuals, allowing them to access their email, social media and bank accounts.

Let’s say you’ve created a complex password, and you use it on multiple accounts. Although you made the right choice in creating a complex password, you can still be at risk of having your login information guessed and used to hack into all your accounts. When hackers can’t easily guess your login information, they may use a brute-force attack, a technique employing computers to try thousands of passwords per second.

Using a strong password can help prevent hackers from gaining access to your account, but sometimes, they can still gain access. If you’ve used this password on other accounts, your personal information could still be at risk.

Features you’ll want in password management software

As you weigh your password manager options, consider the following popular key features and functionality:

Finding the best password managers

It’s time to stop using sticky notes to keep track of your passwords and use a more secure solution. Password managers can be highly effective in protecting your personal information and avoiding identity theft. Here’s a list of the top-rated options:

Can password managers be hacked?

Although it’s very hard to hack a password manager, the possibility is still out there. Even if a hacker manages to leverage a vulnerability in the password manager, all your information should be encrypted. It’s important to make sure the password manager you choose uses encryption, which is the industry standard.

The advanced encryption standard (AES) protects the transfer of data online by using the same key for encryption and decryption. It’s one of the most effective encryption protocols available, blocking hacks and possible disruptions to your workflow. Additionally, AES uses the substitution permutation network algorithm, which applies several rounds of encryption to data.

Protect your passwords with Frontier

The right password manager can help you browse the internet securely. Reduce exposure to cyber threats and log into your accounts easily with Frontier Password Manager. Contact us or connect over live chat today to learn more about how Frontier’s secure password management app can make your digital life more secure and accessible.

Product features may have changed and are subject to change.