Trust me, I logged into Pubic Access after multiple attempts as I had to recover my password, via the prescribed modus operandi. Therefore, I readily claimed the topic regarding 'Password Management' as it would be great to share my experiences— both pleasant and horrifying— with the community.
Why Manage Passwords?
To be precise, managing passwords is more of a compulsion, targeted more towards seamlessness and less towards safety. No doubt safety and security are paramount but hackers won't actually be interested in your account unless the perks of sabotaging the same are humongous. That said, recently many Android empowered- Qualcomm backed handsets were compromised— raising pertinent questions regarding our online security.
The problem, herein, lies in the way we think of passwords. For most of us, passwords are like access keys into the account and more of an ego booster provided we can remember the same with minimal efforts. However, the exact science behind great password creation is to make it relatable and intricate at the same time.
This is where things can get contradictory as something relatable need not be written down while something intricate should be.
So, the question is— 'Is there a middle path to password management?'
The Advent of Password Managers
If you are looking for a middle path to tread on when it comes to password management, 'Password Managers' can be your perfect allies. Be it a simple name or something more complex (including a full gamut of alphabets and characters)— a password manager can readily store everything in an encrypted manner.
However, this isn't the only reason I am fond of these managers. Password Managers, usually, come with an easy interface to work with. This means, we need not be computer experts, in order to leverage the best out of them.
P.S- Shortly, I would be enumerating my favorite password managers for better insights.
Coming back to the topic of password managers, it is the utilitarian nature of these entities which makes us opt for one of these— every now and then. A Password Manager actually urges us to keep things decluttered, in order to lead a life sans worries.
Just imagine the plight of remembering the passwords for all your social accounts and trust me, the more social you are— the more uncomfortable things will turn up.
Password managers are like digital safes which can be unlocked by a specific pattern or 'Password and are usually considered very.
The Loopholes?
You might ask me that even for managing a Password Manager, we need to remember one password or rather the master key.
Doesn't that defeat the very purpose of having a password manager?
My answer is, 'No, it doesn't'. At the end, it all pans down to the technological prowess and expertise behind your approach. For example, Google has recently allowed Gmail access via remote smartphone unlocking which is actually a great move for users on the go.
Moreover, certain smartphones come with retina and fingerprint scanners— making it easier to work with the 'Password Managers. So, if you don't have an advanced smartphone that opens up on a fingerprint swipe— don't cringe and blame the Managers.
Are these Password Managers Safe?
Obviously not! Nothing that emanates out of human innovation is safe. Password managers can still be hacked but the best part with these options is the data is exposed in an encrypted manner and cannot be decrypted. The only thing a hacker can get hold of is the scrambled set of passwords— literally impossible to decode.
The Pen-Paper Analogy
My father still likes to write down his passwords— even for online transactions. While I respect his efforts, drought of social interaction is one reason why he can still do with the pen-paper analogy. However, for a millennial it is almost impossible to keep a track of all his or her passwords by adopting this approach.
Surely, the Pen-Paper analogy works but only when you have lesser accounts to handle. Moreover, if you have opted for free streaming services over 123movies or other entertainment providers, it is inconsequential to even get a strong password for yourself— as nobody will be hacking into an account that works free.
I can't predict the same for YouTube though which is a much larger platform with better online visibility.
My Favorite Picks
I was actually intrigued by the current offering from LastPass as the 'sync to all feature' is something which will go places and allows users to feel at home with their password managements. Apart from LastPass v4.0— which is the premium version, I am precisely fond of the Zoho Vault. This manager is great for single users and less complex in terms of usage.
Next in the list is 'Sticky Password Premium' which comes with the functionality of cloud storage. However, if you disable the Wi-Fi sync, the passwords will never go out of the home network.
There are a slew of other open-source and even commercial password managers for general use but I would like to enlist them in my subsequent articles.
For now, it will be better off if we can take some time out and understand the usefulness of Password Managers. I am not asking you to trash your existing strategies but do consider these innovative options if you prefer keeping things organized and less convoluted.
Hit me in comments if you have more names to offer.