ReclaimMyID

Social media, banking apps, email and shopping websites are just a few of the various online mediums that most Americans use every day. One thing that all of these have in common are that they all require a password to log in. The average American has over 100 passwords to remember. If you’re like 75% of Americans who struggle with keeping track of passwords, start using a password manager. The accounts you log in to hold a variety of important personal information, so you should take your privacy and security seriously.

What is a password manager?

A password manager is a secure, virtual storage device where you can house all of your passwords safely. Using a password manager will allow you to easily access a password when you need it without having to remember off the top of your head.

The most important thing that a password allows you to do is create unique, strong passwords for every site you log in to. Many of us get so tired of trying to remember all our passwords that we end up using simple passwords or using the same password for every site. It’s extremely important to vary your passwords and make them strong (around 12 characters using upper and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols) so that they are more difficult to hack. Many password managers will create strong passwords for you which is a nice feature.

There are three types of password managers:

Local – Passwords are stored locally in a password manager on your device.
Cloud-Based – Your passwords are stored by the vendor in their data center.
Portable – Passwords are stored in a password manager which is housed on a USB drive.

There are pros and cons to each type of password manager. A cloud-based manager (most popular) allows you to access your passwords anywhere you can access the internet. However, there is a very slim chance that the vendor could encounter a data breach. Locally based managers can only be accessed at home and portable devices can be lost or hacked. The choice is up to you. Choose one that works best for your needs.

Keeping your information safe is the key to preventing identity theft. Your passwords are the key to unlocking some of your most important information. Start using a password manager – you can protect yourself while not having to remember so many passwords.