Is It Time for a Password Manager?

Why would you need one?

How many times have you had to create a password for a new website? Most likely it’s more than you can count on both hands. Have you ever reused a password? The answer is likely yes. Now we’ve all heard once or twice that we shouldn’t be reusing our passwords, but why? And if you don’t, how do you keep track of all of your different strong passwords? The solution is using a password manager so that all you have to remember is one master password.

Before we get into different password managers and why they are helpful, let’s talk about why you might need one.

If you’ve been reusing or creating weak passwords, you need to stop now! Here’s why: Each year there are many password leaks that occur even on large websites. When a password leaks, malicious individuals have an email address, username, and password combination that they can try on multiple other websites. If you have been using the same password for various logins, a leak from one website could result in someone gaining access to your other accounts. Also, if someone gains access to your email because of password reuse, they could use password-reset links to access other websites that may hold important information.

To prevent password leaks from being damaging, you need to create unique passwords on every website that requires a login. These passwords should be strong, long, unpredictable and contain numbers and symbols. Many of us have multiple logins and remembering all of your strong passwords can be difficult. To avoid forgetting your passwords, you need a password manager. A password manager generates secure, random passwords and remembers them so you don’t have to.

Check out our next blog posts for more on password managers. 

What Does A Password Manager Do?

Which Password Managers Are Best Suited for You?

Davis & Hodgdon Associates CPAs has been assisting individuals and businesses throughout Vermont and New England for more than 30 years so please reach out to us in Williston (802-536-1831) or Rutland (802.775.7132) to talk with a tax professional today to be sure you are ready for the April 15 tax deadline! You can also email us at [email protected].

Resource: Why You Should Use a Password Manager, and How to Get Started