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At the time, conventional wisdom said never store your passwords in your browsers. This is no longer true. Modern browsers are much more secure, linked to accounts protected by two-factor authentication. Most major ones can now serve as basic password managers, with the ability to create strong and random passwords – Microsoft’s Edge browser is the latest to support this feature. Most people will probably be even better off using a third-party password manager.
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There is no doubt that using your browser’s password manager can solve some headaches. At the very least, it makes it easier to use strong and unique passwords for every site and service you use, thus eliminating the potential risk of password reuse. (If a website is breached, criminals can use your leaked login details to log in to other sites if you reuse passwords.) Some will even tell you if your login details have been leaked as part of the process. ‘a security breach and will prompt you to change your password. And good: browsers are free!
MicrosoftMicrosoft Edge random password creation feature.
But browser-based password managers prevent you from using that browser.
If you use Chrome’s password manager, for example, your login information will be synced to your Google account. When you try to sign in to a website in Firefox or Edge, these passwords are not readily available, they are only available in Chrome. And if you use the ability to automatically generate long, random passwords (you should be!), There’s no way you can recall the information without logging into Chrome to find it.
Logging into websites or mobile apps can also be a huge headache, but if you’re an Android user who stores passwords in Chrome, or an iOS user who stores passwords in Safari, you might be able to maybe sign in to mobile apps that connect to your Google or Apple Account, respectively.
Why you need a password manager
PC WorldLastPass displays all of your login accounts as tiles in its virtual vault.
Conversely, third-party password managers like LastPass (our favorite) and Dashlane (a relative) were designed from the ground up to be cross-platform and work with all Navigator. Once you have their tools installed, you can log into any service in any software on any device, easy-peasy. Websites? Mobile app? Office software? No problem. That alone makes a standalone password manager useful in today’s multi-device world. (They can usually import saved passwords from your browser when you start!)
Password managers also offer other benefits. Browsers revolve around your account only, but password managers include features that help you easily and securely share passwords with other people – useful if someone needs to use your. Wi-Fi, or if a colleague needs access to a common account, or if you want to share your Netflix password with your parents. Sharing login information is a pain if the information is stored deep in your browser.
Password managers generally support more robust autofill options. Yes, your browser probably includes these features, but like password management, it’s a basic incarnation. Whatever your browser can do, a password manager can usually do better.
Password managers can also offer other useful features. It can issue reminders to change old passwords, provide a secure vault to store sensitive information, share emergency passwords with chosen contacts, or even offer basic VPN capabilities for secure access. to open Wi-Fi hotspots.
DashlaneDashlane Password Status report identifies weak, compromised, and reused passwords so you can easily replace them
Think of it this way: Password managers exist to keep your accounts safe. Their developers are completely focused on your protection. With browsers, password management is just another supported feature.
If you don’t have to worry about sharing passwords with other people or if you only use one browser on your devices, a browser-based password manager can work just fine for you. you. Using the random password generation feature in your browser is a big step up from either reusing passwords or using simple passwords. If you are a Chrome user with an Android phone or a Safari user with an iPhone, those stored passwords could even be transferred to many mobile apps with minimal headache.
Most people, however, would be better off using a proper password manager for all of the reasons outlined above. The best options all offer free accounts with basic capabilities, while splurging on a premium account only costs a few dollars a month. It is money well spent. Our guide to the best password managers can point you to the cream of the crop, and it explains everything you need to look for in a decent password management service.
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