Now more than ever, start using a password manager

I often forget what life was like before password managers were a thing. But for many, that dreadful past is still a current day reality.

Polling my friends, family and work colleagues there’s a clear divide. Practically everyone who works in my industry or similar I.T. roles already use a password manager. Everyone else, not.

For those others, it’s not for lack of wanting.

Any time I ask them to consider using a password manager I get Déjà vu, because it’s usually at least the third time we’ve had the same discussion. Explaining the benefits is an easy sell, but as soon as I start giving them a demonstration on my phone, explain that they should also get a complimenting browser extension for the desktop, and import their existing passwords to make the transition easier (assuming they have them stored somewhere already and not just written down on sticky notes), then suddenly I’m staring at a dear in headlights.

So why are password mangers too darned unapproachable? This might be a redundant question now that the likes of Google, Microsoft and Apple and are pushing Passkeys as a safer and easier alternative to passwords. But while Passkeys are currently still the domain of early adopters and geeks like myself, it’s still worth exploring possible reasons why password managers are such a hurdle for the average person.

Most people already have a process that works for them, regardless of how inconvenient or potentially insecure it might be. As long as it works, right? I understand the sentiment, because remembering multiple complex passwords comes with a certain amount of cognitive debt. This leads users to create passwords that are easy to remember, a slight variation on an existing password, or worse the same password they use elsewhere.

Three reasons to help convince your friends to start using a password manager

You only ever have to remember one password

Because password managers generate strong and unique passwords for you, the only password you ever have to remember is your master password. As long as this is balance between something complex and memorable, you should be fine.

Security Benefits

Password managers can generate strong and unique passwords for each of your accounts, significantly reducing the risk of breaches. With a different password for every site, you are protected from widespread damage even if one password is compromised.

Ease of Use and Convenience

No more fiddling around with notes or trying to recall passwords.

Get a Password Manager

There are plenty to choose from, but whichever password manager you use or recommend (I use Bitwarden), just don’t use LastPass.

Image credit: Password Strength by XKCD