6 hidden uses for password managers
By now you know you need strong, original passwords for every account. There’s just one problem: It’s impossible to remember all the complicated passwords you come up with.
You don’t have to stretch your brain to its limits or write everything in a notebook. You can use a password manager, an app on your phone and computer that keeps track of your accounts. Password managers encrypt all of your passwords — and a password also protects them, so only you can access your library of login information.
Keeping track of your logins is great, but there’s a lot more password managers can do, like auto-fill forms, hide private notes and even help prevent phishing. Keep reading for a few secret ways password managers make your digital life more manageable.
1. A password manager can save you from phishing schemes
Recently, Kim got a call from a listener who lost his money to a scammer pretending to represent Coinbase. He got a notification saying there was an issue with his cryptocurrency account. There was a link at the end of the message.
He clicked on the link, entered his account credentials — and lost everything. It wasn’t an email from Coinbase, of course. The phishing message was explicitly designed to trick him into sharing his password.
When our IT genius Jeremy heard the story, he said a password manager could help prevent phishing scams like this. Here’s how:
- When using a password manager, you can auto-fill your username and password — but only if you’re on a site that matches the domain you input when you set up the login details.
- If you end up on a site with a different domain, your password manager won’t auto-populate your account credentials.
If you’re trying to log in and your credentials aren’t being filled in, you’ll wonder what’s happening. Then you’ll pause, double-check the URL and realize you were about to hand everything away to a scammer. Thus, a password manager is a clever way to help yourself spot phishing scams.
2. Hide private notes
Password managers are pretty robust. You can enter your account username, password, domain and even a few notes. The exact setup depends on the password manager you’re using, but here’s an example of how you can insert notes in KeePass:
How to start using a password manager
With all the malware, spyware, phishing scams and data breaches out there, you can never be too safe. As long as your devices are connected to the internet, you’ll constantly be exposed to cybercriminals.
While it’s convenient to create an easy-to-remember password and use it across your accounts, this is a big mistake. A crook needs only access to that one password to make things difficult for you. Tap or click here to check out password mistakes Americans are making.
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