Password manager: what is it and which one should you have? – Checkout

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Every Dutchman has dozens of online accounts. In fact, you should have a unique password for each account. But it’s impossible to remember, so we often use the same password or a variation of it.

Our own survey of over 2,000 Kassa followers shows that as many as 61% have reused passwords. It is therefore not surprising that experts believe that hundreds of thousands of Dutch people have the passwords on the streets. Although there is a simple solution: the so-called password managers. What exactly are they and which ones should you have? Technical journalist Daniël Verlaan (RTL Nieuws) has been writing about cybercrime for years and has also a manual written on how to manage passwords online. With him, we take a closer look at five password managers.

What is a password manager?

A password manager, also known as a “password manager,” is an application that you can use on your phone, laptop, and computer to store all of your passwords safely and securely. one place. “It’s actually a digital safe that stores all of your passwords and to access it you really only have to remember one password,” says Verlaan. “It’s very simple, because it allows you to use a unique, different and strong password for each website or application without having to remember it yourself.”

Step by step plan: here’s how to ensure a good password system

To get started, you first need a password manager. The steps for all password managers are comparable. First, you download the app to your smartphone, laptop or computer, and then surf to the password manager website. There you create an account and get a master password. Note: this is the only password you need to remember, so be sure to make it as difficult as possible to guess. See a video with Daniël Verlaan’s advice here. It’s also helpful to install the password manager app on all of your other devices.

Do you have an account with a good, strong password? Then you will fill the safe with your accounts. That will take time. So take an evening for it. First make sure that you are signed in to your password manager, then go to the websites for which you have created accounts. Don’t just add your login details, but change the existing password immediately. Choose a password here recommended by the password manager. This can often be done by clicking on the “Generate Secure Password” button. Then enter this information and save it in your safe. The next time you log in, the password manager on your phone, laptop or smartphone will automatically enter your details.

Choice: which password manager should you have?

But which password manager should you have? By itself, it doesn’t matter which one you take, says Daniël Verlaan, as long as you take one. “I have selected four, which I find good and user-friendly, which I recommend to everyone.”

Last pass

Verlaan: “Lastpass is one of the most user-friendly password managers. It’s easy to use, good to start with, and clearly explains what you can do. Lastpass is free, easy to use, and people are getting used to working with a manager. In my opinion the best entry-level manager you can start with. »Lastpass is in Dutch and in principle free. If you want more functions, you have to pay for them.

1 Password

Verlaan: “1Password is my favorite. I have been using it for years. It is user-friendly, pretty and works well. 1Password explains how to use it, and there are many instructions for use online. This password manager costs money, around 3 euros per month. The password manager is also not in Dutch.

Bitwarden

Verlaan: “Bitwarden is a fairly new manager and has become very popular in a short time. With nerds and the general public, who find it friendly. Bitwarden is free and copies all the good stuff from other managers and it works fine. So I would say he’s a popular manager now, certainly not undeserved. Bitwarden is in Dutch and in principle free. If you want more functions, you have to pay for them.

Keepass

Verlaan: “Keepass is a little weird. Experts see it as the safest, then you think: I choose this one! But he really is by far the most hostile manager around. If you do something wrong there, you will no longer be able to access your passwords. So only use Keepass if you know exactly what you are doing and if you know a lot about the technology. »Keepass is in Dutch and in principle free. If you want more functions, you have to pay for them.

Dashlane

Our survey shows that Dashlane Password Manager is also popular with our subscribers. That is why we also submit them to Verlaan. “I hear Dashlane very often, it’s very popular. The company is very good with their marketing and maybe for that reason so well known. It is a very good password manager on its own, easy to use. But I don’t like it that much which is why I don’t include it in my lists. But you can use it with confidence. “

Investigate result

The Kassa subscriber survey shows, among other things, that 98 percent of people on average have more than 35 online accounts with a password. It also appears that they don’t have a unique password for all of these different accounts. 61% say they reuse their password. In addition, passwords are rarely renewed. 32% say they never renew the password, 31% renew it once a year and 15% say they do it once a quarter. 3 percent do so faithfully each month. Besides, our expert Daniel Verlaan says that it is not necessary to renew passwords, as long as you have a very strong password.

Our survey shows that 69% of respondents do not use a password manager. Besides, the number seems to be even higher, because people think that a Google, Apple or Norton keyring is also a password manager, but it is not. Finally, 53% say they use a laptop with passwords.

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