What’s a Password Manager and Why Should I Care?
Ever forget a password and get stuck clicking “Reset my password” over and over? Or worse—do you use the same password for more than one site? (No shame. Most people do.)
Here’s the problem: if you use the same password on multiple websites and just one of those sites gets hacked, the thief now has the keys to your entire online life. Your email. Your bank. Even your streaming services like Netflix or HBO.
That’s where password managers (“PMs”) come in.
Think of a PM like a vault where all your precious things are stored inside. You only need to remember ONE “master password” (like a key or pin number for a vault) to unlock the vault. Inside the vault are all your other passwords.
The real benefits of a PM are the services they can offer. PMs:
- remember all your passwords for you. No sticky notes. No spreadsheets. No trying to remember if you used an upper or lowercase letter.
- can automatically fill in passwords when you visit websites.
- can generate new passwords for you that are long and weird (like gR%8K!z7fM$32) so the passwords are harder for hackers/thieves to figure out.
- can alert you when your password has been discovered by hackers/thieves.
- can allow you to easily and securely share passwords with friends and families.
- allow you to remove access to your password when sharing it with friends or family members. Did you break up with your girlfriend, boyfriend, or partner? Take back your password that same night!
- help your family manage their passwords–especially parents with kids or older adults with their elderly parents. No more mom calling you at 7 PM saying she doesn’t remember the password for her email anymore.
There are different kinds of password managers:
 | Dashlane. A user-friendly password manager that also includes a password health checker and dark web alerts. Offers web and mobile apps. |
 | Proton Pass. Proton also offers a VPN, encrypted email, and secure cloud storage. |
 | Bitwarden. A free, open-source password manager that stores your passwords in a secure vault you can access on any device. You can host it yourself or use their cloud. It’s one of the most trusted options in the privacy community. |
 | NordPass. Nord also offers a VPN and secure cloud storage. |
Should You Let Your Web Browser Or Device (like Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Apple Keychain) Save Your Passwords?
Most of us have seen the little pop-up: “Would you like to save this password in Chrome?”
Or Firefox. Or Safari. Or on an Apple iphone. It’s fast, easy, and it remembers your logins for you!
But is it actually safe to let your web browser or device store your passwords?
The short answer: It’s better than nothing, but not the best option if you want more serious privacy protection.
The good?
Chrome, Firefox, and Safari all “encrypt” your saved passwords, meaning your passwords are saved in a scrambled form so that no one can read it. (So instead of saving your password as “applepie27” the password looks like “#4kkl3@*” to anyone other than you trying to access it online). Chrome, Firefox, and Safari will also warn you if a password shows up in a known data breach.
The bad?
- Tied to Big Tech: When you use a browser like Chrome, your passwords are stored with your Google account. That means one company may have access to your search history, location, emails, and passwords!
- Limited Features: Browser managers don’t help you create strong passwords that are as good as the ones created by real password manager apps.
- Risk of Device Theft: If someone gets access to your unlocked device, they may be able to get your passwords right through the device or browser, especially if you’re not using a master password to protect access to your password list stored in your browser.
- No Two-Factor for the Vault: Most browsers don’t offer strong 2FA (two-factor authentication) for your browser password vault the way dedicated password managers do.
What Is Two-Factor Authentication (2FA), and Why Bother?
Maybe you’ve run into this before – you’re trying to log into your Gmail or work email, and it sends a code to your phone or asks you to approve the sign-in on another app like “Duo Mobile,” “Authy,” “Microsoft Authenticator,” “Google Authenticator,” or “1Password.”
Maybe your job required it. Or maybe your bank sent a warning email: “We’ve added extra protection to your account.”
You might’ve grumbled and thought, “Ugh, another step?”
So… what is Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)? Why does anyone use it? Doesn’t it just slow down logging into my accounts?
Two-Factor Authentication = Double Locks on Your Digital Door
Imagine your online account is like your front door. A password is your key. That’s one lock. But what if someone steals or copies your key? That’s where the second lock comes in.
Let’s say someone steals your email password and they try to log into your email with that stolen password. If you’ve turned on 2FA, your email will require that this person provide a second key to verify their identity. Most hackers don’t have that second key, so they give up.
That second key could be:
- A code texted to your phone
- A code emailed to your email account associated with the app you are trying to access
- A special app like Authy or Google Authenticator
- A physical key
- A fingerprint or face scan
When should you use 2FA?
Any time it’s offered—especially for:
- Email accounts
- Banking and payment apps (Venmo, PayPal)
- Social media (Instagram, Facebook)
- Health records (Kaiser Permanente)
- Cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox)
Yes, it adds one extra step. But it blocks almost all the easy ways hackers break into your stuff. In fact, Microsoft said in 2024 that 99.9% of hacked accounts didn’t have 2FA turned on. That’s a huge number!
So the next time a website says “Add two-factor authentication?” just say yes. It’s free, it’s easy, and it can save you a massive headache down the line.
Is there a downside?
One downside of two-factor authentication is that some sites only give you one way to get the code, like sending the code to your phone or an email.
If you can’t access that option, because you forgot your email password or your phone is lost/broken/ unavailable, you may not be able to log in at all.
2FA requires you to be careful that you have access to where the authentication code is sent!
So What’s the Bottom Line When It Comes to Passwords?
(1) Password managers are a great way to create and keep track of strong passwords.
(2) Use 2FA whenever you can.
HERE is a Youtube video that covers Password Mangers.
—- Published January 2026 —-