Jay Calvert Tips and Tricks

Secure Your Login: Why You Need a Password Manager

Password managers are apps that keep your passwords all in one place, securely. They allow you to manage, store and utilize strong unique passwords for each site or service you log in to.

You can store your own passwords in the password manager or have the password manager generate a new password for you. They usually generate 20+ character passwords made up of random strings, so complex, that it is not worth the effort to even try to remember them

When you have a password stored in a password manager, you use the app to provide the password to the website / service you are trying to log into. You can install the app on your Windows or MacOS device, or on your IOS or Android device. You can even install it directly into your browser as an add on. When you go to a website to log in, you open the app and it provides all the information.

Your passwords are securely stored and are locked behind a secret key and a secure password you use to log into your password manager.

Password Managers offer the following bonuses

  • Let you know if your password is insecure
  • Let you know if your password was included in a known data breach
  • Lets you know if you are using the same password on multiple sites.
  • Can be used over multiple devices, so you always have your passwords on your phone, your tablet and your laptop or desktop computer
  • You can choose to ‘Remember Me’ on secure devices like your phone or laptop if you never leave it unattended, so you don’t have to log in each time, but it should prompt you every now and then for security reasons so don’t forget the master password you set.

One Password to Rule Them All, One Password to Find them….

The best part of using a password manager is that you only need to remember one password and that is the master password to your password manager. Make sure it is a secure one by using a passphrase.

Learn about passphrases here

A Few Suggestions Though

  • Don’t store passwords for sensitive accounts, such as banking or email accounts
  • Don’t reuse the password you used for the master password
  • Don’t share your master password

Options for Password managers, though some are free with very limited features, most are around $40 a year with subscription. It is a small price to pay for added security, and always having a unique, secure password recorded and stored for you is a huge bonus!

* At the time of this writing

Jay Calvert Tips and Tricks

What is Multifactor Authentication?

Multifactor authentication, or Two Factor Authentication (sometimes abbreviated as MFA, and 2FA respectively) is a secure way to log in to websites using more than one method of authentication.

Types of Authentication

  1. Something you know – a password, a pin, a passcode etc
  2. Some you have – an authenticator app on your cell phone, an email address, a text message
  3. Something you are – Biometric, fingerprint scan, face scan

You probably use all of these methods on a daily basis anyway, you use a thumb scan or faces can to log into your iPad, you use Passwords to log into websites and services, and you probably receive text or email verifications to proof who you are.

Combining more than one of the above Types of Authentication is Multifactor Authentication.

How It Protects You

By having Multifactor Authentication enabled on your online accounts, you are stopping cybercriminals from logging in as you if they managed to get a hold of your account password. They will also need to have that other component, your cellphone, access to your email* etc, to complete the verification process.

Most sites and services these days support Multifactor Authentication and it is the recommended way to secure your accounts along with a unique password on each site and service you use.

* always make sure to use separate passwords on each account, if they know one password you use, they will try it on your email account and could intercept that Multifactor Authentication request on your behalf