Why you need a Password manager

I think we can all agree on two things. The first is that protecting our online accounts with strong passwords is incredibly important. The second? It's a huge pain trying to keep our passwords straight. We know we should have unique passwords, but with an ever-increasing number of them becoming necessary, remembering them all is plain impossible.

Enter the password manager.

These apps offer numerous features that answer the question "Do I need a password manager?" with a resounding "absolutely."

A good password manager offers benefits over every other means of remembering passwords.

• Storing a unique password for each of your online accounts
• Generating extremely strong passwords
• Access all your passwords from any device
• Cloud-based so you never have to worry about losing access or writing down passwords
• Authorized parties/family members can access your accounts in case of emergency

The first reason alone is reason enough to get a password manager and improve your online security but we get it; habits are tough to break. So let us regale you with all the reasons why you should use a password manager.

What is a password manager?

A password manager is an app that creates and securely stores your passwords. You gain access by entering a single strong master password, after which your password manager will automatically fill out login forms or you can go manual, copying and pasting logins and passwords. We personally think the best password manager app is 1Password, but since your needs may vary, it's a good idea to check out a few options.

Password manager features

Securely store unique passwords for every account

Since we're not robots (if you are one, I've got a CAPTCHA on the way with your name on it, buddy) we can only memorize a finite amount of information. For that reason, it's become common for people to rotate through a few passwords for multiple accounts. This is an extremely poor security practice because if that password is cracked in one place, hackers can gain access to all the other apps or sites that use the same password.

Storing multiple passwords is the number one reason security-conscious individuals use a password manager. You can create a profile for each password, giving it a name (e.g. "Hotmail") and pairing it with the correct username as well as a link to the login page. All information is encrypted, and only accessible when your chosen master password is successfully entered.

Generate extremely strong passwords

Creating (to say nothing of remembering) a strong password can be challenging. Password managers make it easy. If the password you need to create has specific requirements, most password managers can take this into account as well as the required length. Of course, that still leaves you with the need to create a strong master password for your password manager. Check out our article on password hygiene for some helpful tips.

Get access to all your passwords from any device

Whether your device manager uses apps that sync across devices or it is completely cloud-based, a major plus is you'll be able to access your passwords securely no matter what device you're on at the time. It's important to note, however, that the free version of most password managers limit the number of devices, and sometimes that limit is one device. With so many affordable options, we think peace of mind is worth it.

Avoid storage of passwords in one physical place

Before password managers, checking all the password-hygiene boxes was extremely difficult. Sure, you could create a slew of hard-to-crack passwords, but unless you're one of those memory champs, remembering multiple unique passwords is plain impossible. On the flip side, if you're able to remember 10 different passwords, chances are they aren't that strong. That's why many people who were committed to creating strong, unique passwords would keep them either on paper or in a text file. Not ideal. While, yes, your passwords are stored somewhere with password managers, their encryption levels are so strong that no breach has ever been reported. The closest reported instance has been that once, hackers gained access to password hints.

This brings us to a pro-tip: make your hints sneaky!

Authorized people can access your accounts in case of emergency

Stuff happens. Perhaps you don't have access to one of your synced devices, or maybe you're in an area with cell phone voice coverage but no data. In true Murphy's Law style, you need access to your online banking immediately in order to snag that guitar/coffee table/light-up ugly sweater before someone else does. Or more seriously, access sensitive work data. With a quick phone call, you can have your partner or co-worker, who has been given the master password for your password manager, simply go in and get the information for you. And while hopefully, this is never a concern, in the case of injury or unexpected death, a trusted family member could be granted access to necessary information as well.

If you want to find out more about proper password hygiene and get a couple of suggestions on the best password managers, check out this helpful article.

Ting Mobile and Privacy

At Ting Mobile, we're serious about our customers' privacy. We believe in being extremely open about how we use your information and will never sell it to third parties. Along with our dedication to customer privacy, we're also all about saving mobile users money. With a variety of plans, we've got one that'll suit you perfectly. You'll pay less for coast-to-coast coverage and top-rated customer support. Interested? See if your phone can come to Ting Mobile.