![]() ![]() And then there are token-based password managers, which require an extra level of authentication (often called multi-factor or two-factor authentication), such as inserting a provided USB thumbdrive, to gain access to your passwords. Web-based apps store your information in the cloud, using their servers. Desktop apps store your passwords locally on your computer. There are several types of password managers. In short, take advantage of the password generator. And you want a different and unique password for all of your various accounts. ![]() ![]() (LastPass, 1Password and RoboForm all offer this.) You might be using your child’s name and birthday as a password because it’s easier to remember, but a random mix of letters, numbers and characters is going to be harder to crack. Many password-manager apps also offer a feature that rates the strength of your passwords, and include a password generator that can create a more unique and complicated passcode. You can even create multiple “identities,” such as personal or business, for different sets of information. In many cases, the apps will do the same with personal data, such as your address, phone number and credit card information, so you don’t have to manually fill out forms every time you want to check out from a shopping site, for example. But first, how does a password manager work, and how much do they cost?Īt its most basic level, a password manager stores your login information for specific Web sites, and automatically fills in the fields with the saved credentials once you revisit the page. And since the apps automatically fill in the data for you, they also allow you to use more complex, stronger passkeys for everything else.Īll three worked fine in my tests, and I’ll go into detail about each later in this column. This way, you only have to remember one password, instead of dozens. Each app stores all of your various information in one central place, where it’s protected by a single master passcode. This week, I took a look at three password-manager apps for consumers: LastPass, by a company of the same name 1Password, by AgileBits and RoboForm, by Siber Systems. ![]()
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