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· 1Password
And then there is Windows itself. Some don’t trust · Dashlane
Microsoft and prefer alternatives like Linux or Ap- · LastPass
ple’s products. I don’t trust Microsoft on everything, · Keeper
but since I must live in a Windows world at work, I · NordPass
find it easiest to stick with the adversary I know · RoboForm
·
Sticky Password
best. Linux seems like a lot more work, and since I · bitwarden
don’t trust Apple any more than Microsoft, why · RememBer
should I pay a lot more for a computer I’m still con- · Enpass
cerned about? If you’re reluctant to use a password manager,
wired.com says you’ve got company. “Password
No matter what technology you consider, there is managers are vegetables of the Internet. We know
probably some way it can be misused, subverted, they’re good for us, but most of us are happier
or hacked. Each of us must consider the benefits snacking on the password equivalent of junk food,”
against the risks when personally using any tech writes Wired in an article headlined, “The Best Pass-
product or service. Those considerations must be word Managers to Secure Your Digital Life.”
made with the best, most accurate, and unbiased
information available. We can’t depend on the tech As I read that I said to myself, “Ain’t that the truth.” I
vendors or the government to protect us from know plenty of really smart people who are commit-
harm; we must be our defenders. Perhaps the best ted to their habits, who are stubborn, and who simp-
we can hope for with our tech is not trust, but a ly cannot change. They don’t use password manag-
truce. ers. You probably know your web browser will save
your passwords automatically for you. The website
Tech Republic says this is a bad idea.
Why you should never allow your web browser to
save your passwords shows others can see your
passwords. The article describes step–by–step pro-
By Kurt Jefferson, Editor, Central Kentucky Computer cedures that someone can use to view your saved
Society
passwords in Google Chrome, Firefox, and Safari
January 2021 issue, CKCS Newsletter browsers. The article concludes: “Don't allow your
www.ckcs.org browser to save your passwords. None of them. Not
one. If you do, those passwords are vulnerable. All
lextown2 (at) gmail.com
someone has to do is have access to your computer
I keep telling students in my CKCS classes that (remote or physical) and, unless you use Safari or
they need to start using a password manager. You the Master Password feature in Firefox, those pass-
should be using a password manager on your iPad, words are available for anyone to see. If you abso-
iPhone, Mac, Windows PC, and Linux PC. Serious- lutely must have your browser store your passwords,
ly? Yes. and you're not using macOS, make sure to use Fire-
With a good password manager, you only need to fox and enable the Master Password feature. Use
remember one password. That’s right. You don’t Chrome at the peril of your passwords. In place of
need to remember the one you use when you buy having your web browser store your passwords,
from Amazon. And the password you use to pay make use of a password manager.”
your water bill. And the one you use to log into your If you use a Mac, you might avoid using Apple’s built
bank account. Password managers are apps that -in keychain system and opt instead for a password
securely keep track of your passwords, allow you to manager. Glenn Fleishman, who writes about secu-
create private notes, automatically log you into your rity issues for Macworld, gets into the details and
password-protected websites, and more. digs deeper into this if you’re interested. Tom’s
Some of the best include: Guide spoke with several digital–security experts.
While some are not fond of password managers,
plenty of others use them, trust them, and rely on
them.
April 2021 5
