Introduction
When you input your password somewhere, does your Internet browser pop up a message asking if you would like to save it to their password vault?
Maybe it even saves your password automatically, and looks something like this…
Browser saved passwords offer convenience, but security-wise, they fall short compared to a dedicated password manager! Here’s why.
Password Managers Stand Taller
Secure password managers can be apps or extensions that you use to keep track of your log-in credentials. Some even have extra features, like dark web monitoring services or safe storage for PII and financial data. You can find the best application for your needs!
Why is a password manager the better option, compared to saving your credentials directly to your Internet browser?
For starters, password managers tend to have much stronger encryption practices. They use robust standards like AES, thereby making it extremely difficult for hackers to crack into your account even if they steal the encrypted data itself; all they will have is unreadable, scrambled tokens. It’s useless without the master key.
Browsers, while also encrypting passwords and login credentials, often store the decryption key in an accessible location, thus making them much more vulnerable to malware.
Meanwhile, password managers come with their own kind of convenience: You only need to remember one strong, Master Password in order to access all your logins in a password manager and keep them much, much safer. Browsers rely on your device’s login security, which is likely much weaker.
Password managers also encourage and help create unique, complex passwords for every site and account. Browsers don’t offer such guidance, and reusing passwords is a big security risk! It’s important to choose at least 12 characters that are hard to guess. Managers also tend to come with extra security features like multi-factor authentication and data breach monitoring, which respectively add an extra layer of login security beyond just the master password and alert you if your login information is exposed in a data leak.
New device? No problem! Password managers can sync your passwords securely across all your devices, whereas browser-saved passwords are usually limited to the device they’re stored on. The added accessibility helps to provide an even more secure and comprehensive solution for managing your online login credentials.
Conclusion
Convenience often comes with the price of privacy…but it doesn’t have to! A little bit of research and time can reveal options, such as password managers, that protect the integrity of your online accounts while still making it easy to auto-fill your log-in information with just a few clicks.
Browsers are easier to hack and harder to control, especially if you use a wide range of devices…and even more so if they come from different manufacturers (e.g., your Android phone versus your Apple tablet). A password manager consolidates your information, so not only can you input your information quickly and easily…but you can do it securely, too!
