When we looked at password security last time, we emphasized how important it is to avoid identity theft and the safety of your personal data. In this post we’ll look at three ways to help you with password management so you can access your passwords easily.
All tools have strengths and weakness and need to be used appropriately to ensure effectiveness and protect against determined cybercriminals. Still, any password management solution is an improvement on having no security solution in place. If you have sticky notes with password reminders all over your computer screen, then these tips will definitely help!
LastPass
This is an affordable password management solution, with a free option if you don’t want to pay for the premium version. Its advantage is that it encrypts your data and uses cloud storage. It works as a browser add-on, so that when you login to a website all you have to do is click the LastPass icon and it will autofill the relevant details.
As mentioned, LastPass stores your password information in their own cloud storage. Because of the sensitivity of password information, some people are concerned about this, but it is encrypted to keep it safe from cybercriminals. In 2011 a cyberattack caused a LastPass data breach, but there was no damage because of their data encryption. The same month Sony was hacked, but came out of it a lot worse because they hadn’t encrypted their files. Cybercriminals helped themselves to passwords, emails and financial details of Sony’s clients.
KeePass
KeePass is a robust password management solution that has the added bonus of being open source and free to use. It’s also portable. You can store it on a USB drive or on your phone, so you can use it on any computer that you’re working on. Because it originated as open source it’s compatible with nearly all computer systems and devices.
This password security solution doesn’t include a cloud storage option but you can still use it in conjunction with a cloud server. For example, you can use it with Dropbox (which is also free) by storing your password database there. Dropbox offers two-factor identification, so using KeePass and Dropbox together will give you an extra layer of security for your password data.
Roboform
Online forms can be a pain if you have to do it regularly. For example, at work you might have to endlessly enter your company details (name, address, email and so on). Roboform will do it all for you in a matter of seconds. It also uses cloud storage and is a secure solution for your passwords and any other sensitive information it might have access to.
Roboform is a more expensive option, though again you can sign up for a free trial. The simplest package for individuals and home users is only a few dollars a month, with packages for teams of up to ten users costing around $20 a month. They offer a custom quote service for enterprise level services. As a password solution it works well, and stands somewhere between LastPass in terms of ease of use and KeePass in terms of flexibility.
There’s always a risk of falling prey to cybercriminals in today’s world, especially if your phone, laptop or tablet is stolen, but there are tech solutions for that too. For more information give Quikteks a call at (973) 882-4644 and we’ll be happy to advise you on a security solution that will work best for your business.