By Hackermane — Guest Contributor, Tech Scene Media
Whenever you log into a website or app, chances are you use a username and password. It can be tempting to use the same password for every account, but doing so means that a single leak or slip-up could give criminals access to your entire digital life. To stay safe, you should use unique passwords for every account --ideally, long strings featuring a mix of numbers, letters, and symbols to make them harder to crack.
"But Hackermane, how am I supposed to memorize 100 different 32-character passwords that look like gibberish?" The answer is simple: You only have to remember one!
A password manager is software that securely stores and manages your credentials for you. You only need to remember one strong "master password" (and optionally a PIN or biometrics) to unlock the rest. They often have password generators built-in as well, and the most reputable ones are heavily audited and use end-to-end encryption to ensure even the provider can't see your data.
I personally use (though am not sponsored by) Bitwarden, but there are several options out there. There is likely one built right into your web browser and even your computer's OS. Picking the right password manager depends on things: If all your accounts are online and accessed through the browser, then maybe the browser’s built-in manager is best for you. If you need access across multiple platforms, browsers, and apps, then consider a 3rd party solution. And if you're someone who stays strictly within one ecosystem like Apple computers, tablets, and phones, the OS-level manager can be incredibly convenient; just keep in mind it might make switching to a different brand much harder later on.
Curious about how passwords actually get leaked, or what the hype is around MFA and passkeys? Stay tuned for our upcoming articles. If you have your own infosec questions, don't hesitate to reach out to Hackermane!
Guest Writer: Hackermane is a Memphis-based security expert and organizer of Midsouth Makers and Memphis Info Security, two meetups built on the same premise as this article: the threats are bigger than any one person, but the people in the room are how the city gets ahead of them anyway. Learn more or hang out: https://hackermane.com/