What Is a Password Manager?

Passwords. We all have them, we all have trouble remembering them. Yet in today’s world, they’re a necessity. It seems you can’t even check the weather these days without creating an account—which means another hard-to-remember password.

So, what can you do about it?

Well, some people like to write their passwords down on a piece of paper or save them in a Word document on their computer. Others (shudder) let their web browser, such as Chrome, save their passwords for them to easily log in later.

I’m going to level with you: those are all really bad ideas. The best way to keep your passwords safe is with a password manager.

Why Use a Password Manager?

A password manager is a program on your computer (often available as a browser extension, for ease of use) that safely stores your passwords. Think of it like a bank vault—locked, secured, and encrypted.

Now, the only password you need to remember is the one you use to log into your password manager. Simple.

There are many password managers out there—some free, others requiring a subscription. Each offers a variety of extra features such as:

• Dark web monitoring
• Two-factor authentication (2FA)
• Data breach alerts
• Automated privacy requests to data brokers

But the core function is always the same: to keep your passwords safe and make them easier to access.

Our Recommendation: Password Boss

Here at Reality Bytes, we use Password Boss, and we recommend you do too! It’s a secure, easy-to-use solution with all the essential features you need to protect your online life.

Bonus Tip

Use a strong passphrase instead of a password.
Choosing 4 or 5 random words of different lengths, with hyphens between each word, is stronger than any single password and much easier to remember!

Example: grape-Toaster-Window-breeze

Not all sites allow passphrases, so always check password requirements before setting one.

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