Computing Australia

Do you share passwords with your friends? Friends are at the apex of the sharing chain. You can share anything with them. From your clothes to the deepest secrets. One thing it isn’t cool to share though are your passwords, yet this is what people do every day by storing passwords in unsecured text files, in emails, or sharing them with friends via chat, email, text etc. Even if you believe you are safe, anything could go wrong. Time to take cybersecurity seriously.

Unless you are a supercomputer, you have just too many passwords to store in your brain. Did you know that the average person has around 200 passwords? The average person also falls into the trap of using the same password for every site – increasing the risk for hacking. Here is an ultimate guide to password managers to help you with passwords.

What is a password manager?

It is an app used to store passwords in an encrypted form and manage them. It requires the user to create a master password to access it.
By storing all the passwords in one place, it makes it very easy to access them, and the headache of remembering all the passwords can be forgotten. This is not only user friendly but also adds another level of security to your passwords. There are good paid and free ones out there. The best thing about free password managers is that if you don’t like the one you are using you can skip on to the next one – at no cost. So, which is the best one? Here is an ultimate guide to password managers to make your task easier.

Free password managers – our top six picks

Myki Password Manager and Authenticator

• Data secured on the smartphone.
• Secure sharing.
• Brower extensions available for any platform.
• Password strength report available.
• Excellent and enhanced features.

LastPass Password Manager

• Two-factor authentication (2FA)
• Secured sharing.
• Advanced features that are mostly available with paid versions.
• Excellent password strength report.
• Password syncing across devices.

RememBear

• Best for new password manager users with its simple to use features
• Easy syncing across devices
• Biometric identification for iOS and Android
• Unique New Device Key (NDK) option if you lose the master password
• Free version offers unlimited password storage for a single device only. However, the premium version has the best value for similar managers.

Bitwarden

• 2FA option
• Sync across multiple devices
• Unlimited online storage
• Optional self-hosting
• End-to-End Encryption
• Secure password generator

Logme Once

• 2 FA
• Powerful Password Generator
• Unlimited Passwords
• Unlimited Autofill
• Syncs across unlimited devices
• Secure password sharing

Sticky Password

• Unlimited storage for data and password
• 2FA and Biometric Authentication
• Very strong password generator
• Auto-fill and auto login
• USB version for Windows
• Secure notes

Paid Password Managers – Our top six picks

If you are looking for a paid one that provides more features, Dashlane is the best password manager out there.

Dashlane

It is highly secure, has excellent encryption and has a whole set of powerful features.

• Password Changer – This is the star feature of Dashlane – replaces hundreds of passwords with just one click.
• Authentications – 2FA, biometric identification, USB authentication.
• VPN – No-logs policy prevents the storage of browsing data. Unblocks geo-restricted streaming services.
• Monitoring of Dark Web for breach – Scans, notifies and recommends fixes for any breach of identity on the dark web.
• Syncing across major devices and platforms.
• Family plan– Six accounts at approximately 75% lesser cost of six individual accounts. Private accounts for each member.

NordPass

• 2 FA option
• Save unlimited passwords
• Save notes & credit cards
• Data breach scanner
• Passwords, notes & credit cards synced across all devices
• Sync across all major browsers and OS

Keeper Password Manager & Digital Vault

• 2 FA
• Protect unlimited passwords
• Sync across all devices
• Zero-Knowledge Security
• Autofill passwords option
• Stores credit and debit information safely
• Certified TRUSTe and SOC-2

1Password – Enterprise password manager

• Multi-factor authentication
• Very secure – works only in verified browsers
• Activity log for all actions and changes
• Remote removal of sensitive data from device
• Integration with business tools for easy deployment
• Set custom security policies and monitor access attempts
• Two service options available– for Families and for Businesses

Zoho Vault – Corporate Password Manager

• Unlimited storage for passwords, documents and notes
• Manage user roles and access privileges
• Real time audit of all actions
• Option for emergency access to business passwords
• Password sharing with individuals and groups
• Additional security options for critical passwords

RoboForm Everywhere

• Sync across all devices
• Secure password sharing
• Multi-platform and browser support
• Backup data to secure cloud
• Strong encryption for protection against attacks
• Priority 24/7/365 customer support

Now you can forget to remember passwords! You can choose the most suitable password manager from our ultimate guide of free and paid password managers.

For more help on securing your devices and systems, speak to our cybersecurity technicians.

Computing Australia is a member of The Computing Australia Group of Companies

Jargon Buster

VPN – Virtual Private Network. Creates a private network across a public network to provide online privacy and anonymity for sharing of data.
Two-factor authentication (2FA) – Access is granted only after two steps of authentication. You will need to provide two pieces of evidence to establish your identity.

Article originally published on 30/07/2020
Article updated by Monisha on 21/12/2020 – Updated the content. Included new free and paid password managers.