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Password Manager

Update Your Online Security

Password Manager

  • What is a password manager?
  • Differences between some popular managers:
  • Self-hosting for more control:
  • What makes a good password:

What is a password manager?

A password manager is a tool that enables you to store, generate, and manage passwords for various online accounts. Instead of remembering multiple passwords, you only need one master password to access all the others.
With a password manager, you no longer have to worry about forgetting your passwords or writing them down somewhere. You only need to remember one master password. Additionally, most of these tools generate strong passwords for you, which enhances the security of your accounts.

Differences between some popular managers:

  • LastPass: One of the most popular managers. It is a third-party service, which means your passwords are stored on their servers. It offers both a free and a paid version, featuring a user-friendly interface.
  • Dashlane: It is also a third-party service, with an intuitive interface and additional features such as tracking credit card information and secure notes.

Self-hosting for more control:

  • Bitwarden: It is an open-source tool, which means you can review its code to verify its security. Although Bitwarden offers a hosted service, it also allows users to self-host, which means you can control where your passwords are stored, potentially offering more security and control.
  • KeePass: It is an open-source solution that is primarily intended for self-hosting. Your data is stored locally by default, but you can synchronize the password database using different methods if you wish. KeePass is widely recognized for its security and flexibility, although it may be slightly less user-friendly for beginners.
For self-hosted solutions like KeePass, it is possible to synchronize your database between multiple devices without using centralized third-party services. Tools like Syncthing enable encrypted and decentralized synchronization directly between your devices. This approach keeps your data under your control while ensuring its availability across all your devices.
(Note: Choosing between a third-party service or a self-hosted service depends on your level of technological comfort and how you prioritize control versus convenience. Third-party services are generally more convenient for most people, while self-hosting requires more technical knowledge but can offer more control and peace of mind in terms of security.)

What makes a good password:

A good password is generally:
  • Long: at least 12 characters.
  • Complex: a mixture of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
  • Unique: do not reuse the same password for different accounts.
  • Not based on personal information: avoid birth dates, names, etc.
To ensure the security of your account, it is crucial to create strong and secure passwords. The length of the password is not enough to ensure its security. The characters must be completely random to resist brute force attacks. The independence of events is also important to avoid the most likely combinations. Common passwords such as "password" are easily compromised.
To create a strong password, it is recommended to use a large number of random characters, without using predictable words or patterns. It is also essential to include numbers and special characters. However, it is worth noting that some websites may restrict the use of certain special characters. Passwords that are not randomly generated are easy to guess. Variations or additions to passwords are not secure. Websites cannot guarantee the security of passwords chosen by users.
Randomly generated passwords offer a higher level of security, although they may be more difficult to remember. Password managers can develop more secure random passwords. By using a password manager, you don't need to memorize all your passwords. It is essential to gradually replace your old passwords with those generated by the manager, as they are stronger and more secure. Ensure that the master password of your password manager is also strong and safe.
bitwarden
BitwardenHow to set up a password manager?
keepass
KeePassHow to set up a local password manager?
Quiz
Quiz1/5
What is the main advantage of using a password manager?