How to Securely Store & Share your Passwords - Updated
How many passwords do you have? If you’re anything like me you probably just answered, “I have no idea” or “Way too many to count”.
How do you remember all these passwords?
The truth is that most people (unless they have some super amazing memory) just can’t. So they end up either using weak passwords or reusing their passwords on multiple websites.
According to wired.com the 2 most commonly used passwords for the past 7 years are “123456” and “password” and the average person only uses 13 different passwords. This leaves these accounts really vulnerable to attacks.
So how do you use unique and strong passwords for all your accounts without having to memorize hundreds of passwords? I recommend using a password manager.
There are many password managers available right now, some paid, some free such as: Dashlane, Bitwarden, Nordpass & Logmeonce.
Why use a password manager?
You only need to remember 1 strong password – your master password
They help generate better passwords
You can share passwords securely
This last point is really important to me. As a web designer, I often need to exchange passwords with my clients. I definitely don’t want them sending them to me by email (a security yikes). You might also need to share passwords with people working on your social media or with other members of your team. Luckily, this can be done easily and securely.
Last Pass Vault
Here’s an example of how to share passwords using LastPass. I usually recommend LastPass for sharing passwords with me as it’s very user friendly (full disclosure though, this isn’t my main password manager).
Log in to your LastPass vault
Locate and hover over the relevant site or secure note, then click the Share icon
Enter the email address for the LastPass user (recipient)
Click Share
In 2019 80% of all hacking breaches involved either stolen, weak, or default passwords. Security experts recommend using a password manager (even better with multi-factor authentication). They can help you keep your data more secure by creating & protecting unique & strong passwords.
Update: Since this blog was written I’ve been asked, “Which password manager should I use?” My horrible non answer is that you should use the one that’s most comfortable for you, since that will ensure that you use it. I do want to give you some resources to help you find the best one for you.
Here are some guides from websites I use when I’m looking for new tech:
https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-password-managers
https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/best-password-manager/
