What is a password and what makes it secure?
How to store passwords safely?
If you are interested in a secure way to store your passwords, then you are a special case and realize that you have access to spaces that are critical and deserve the best protection.
The current foolproof way to store a password is in your mind, but the reality is that as humans we have memory limitations and when we must protect multiple spaces, we reach a point where it is not possible to manage only from our mind the totality of the data.
If you already use a password generator, those passwords do not follow a pattern and it is not possible to remember them. At this point, a password manager becomes essential. However, the security of your data will depend on the security of the manager.
Is it safe to use a password manager?
It is crucial to ask yourself a series of questions before choosing to use a manager, since by using it, you entrust it with access to all your important spaces.
- Trust in the developer: Do you trust the company or person who created the manager?
- Policies against corruption: Is it possible for an external agent to corrupt the manager?
- Safety team: Does the manager have a team of IT security experts?
- Data policies: Does the manager have clear policies for handling your data?
- Information leakage: How does it affect the manager if, without your authorization, your information is disclosed?
- Popularity: Is the manager the most widely used in the market, making it a more attractive target for attackers?
- Privacy: Does the manager have unrestricted access to your information?
We therefore recommend that you follow a series of principles,
Transparency: Use open source managers, where the processing of information can be publicly validated.
Secure synchronization: If the manager synchronizes your data, make sure it does so securely, using encryption and without revealing any part of your information.
Unauthorized access: The manager should never store your information in a way that allows him to access it without your consent.
Risks associated with managers:
If a manager is compromised or its authentication data is accessed, all stored passwords will be accessible to the attacker, which could be considered a security catastrophe.
Storing your passwords securely is essential to protect your accounts and sensitive data. Choosing a reliable password manager and following security recommendations can minimize risks and keep your logins protected.