Password managers are like security suites or backup tools: we all know we ought to be using one, but most people don’t. A 2022 survey by researchers at security.org found that only one in five internet users in the US was actively using password manager software to protect their credentials.
That’s not great, because using a password manager can provide a massive boost to your privacy and security. When you don’t have to memorise and type in passwords yourself, you can use random character strings that hackers have no chance of guessing or brute-forcing: goodbye “swordfish123”, hello “=J^`&LzLB=A`2[6”. You can also use a unique password for each site you access, so even if your login details for one site are leaked, all your other accounts remain completely safe.
So why aren’t you already using a password manager? Perhaps you feel your web browser’s built-in password-saving features are good enough. You might be daunted by the number of options on the market, many of which require monthly or annual subscriptions. You may be put off by the idea of having to authenticate every time you want to log into a web page or service. You might be concerned about reports of hackers targeting password managers.
Perhaps it isn’t you that needs to be persuaded. We suspect that most readers know their way around a password manager already. But what of friends, family, even work colleagues? One of the ideas behind this article is for it
