ASK CAPPIE THE COMPUTER CAT
MANAGING PASSWORDS
I use a little green notebook to keep my passwords. I’m not sure that I need anything else, but my friends tell me I should use a password manager for better security. First, how does this type of program work, and secondly, how expensive are they? Pat from SCG View the digital version of “Ask Cappie” monthly column by going to www. grandinfo.com. Click on the More News>Grand Lifestyles Magazine> to choose the month you want to view.
Dear Pat, To be safe online, it is crucial to use unique, complex passwords for every website you visit. The biggest risk to your security is password re-use. If you use the same passwords over and over, a breach at one website means your email and password can be used by attackers to log into other sites and to seriously compromise your security. That is where a password manager comes into play. A password manager is an app/program that generates, stores and manages passwords. n
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Password managers can generate passwords of any length with whatever criteria is necessary for a particular site. You determine length, type of character (letter, number, symbol), mixed capitals or not. Password managers then store your passwords in an encrypted database. The
program’s entire password database is accessed with ONE master password – so the master password is the only one you need to remember. n
Password management, which includes syncing passwords across your devices, falls into two categories: browser-based and dedicated.
Firefox, Chrome, and Safari are examples of browserbased password managers. They are a convenient solution if you only browse the internet and if you utilize a unique password for every site. As long as you use the same browser on each of
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Dedicated password managers can be free, for-pay dedicated versions, family plans, etc. Rather than using the same browser across all devices, you download the password manager program/ app to all your devices. Dedicated managers offer more options: n
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AND WE LIKE OUR FAMILY!
Tom Ranalls • 623-695-5687 Kris Ranalls • 623-640-6199
TOM & KRIS RANALLS REALTORS
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Special thanks to Claire Lucas for sharing her handsome dog, Gus who is 14 years young. (Photo by Jackie Couzens).
your devices, they will sync. Many popular tech websites recommend Google Password Manager (for Android/ Chrome OS) or Apple Keychain (for iOS/macOS) because a user can use a fingerprint scanner or Face ID as a “master password.”
Ability to add secure notes containing text like entry codes Ability to store documents such as tax records, health directives, scanned copies of passports, driver’s license, vaccine data, etc. Notifications if a website for which you have an account has been compromised or if a password you use has appeared in a leaked password database Ability to provide all of the above data to an emergency contact in the event of a catastrophe Travel mode to keep
important data off your devices going through airports n
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Warnings for weak or reused passwords Family plans for safely sharing an unlimited number of passwords
Whatever your choices, Cappie urges you to prioritize security over convenience. Cappie suggests you ask your favorite tech guru, the Computer Club, or research reputable tech websites (i.e. Cyber News, TechRadar, The Verge, Znet, Cnet, Wired, Tom’s Guide, PCmagazine, Wirecutter, Tech Crunch, Mashable, etc.) for reviews of the best password managers on the market, their options and cost.
Grand Lifestyles | April 2021 | suncitygrand.com
