[ti:Tech Tip: Password Manager Can Simplify Logins, Improve Security]
[al:Science & Technology]
[ar:VOA]
[dt:2024-07-18]
[by:www.voase.cn]
[00:00.00]For most of us, using - and trying to remember - a collection of passwords is just a normal part of our digital lives. 
[00:11.18]But it seems like the number of passwords we need for online activities just gets bigger and bigger.
[00:20.33]Some passwords - especially for work-related systems - must be changed often. 
[00:27.70]That makes passwords even harder to create and remember.
[00:32.92]These difficulties can lead some people to reuse passwords to help simplify the process.
[00:40.37]But most security experts warn against this. 
[00:45.63]Reusing passwords can make it easier for internet attackers, or hackers, to digitally seize personal accounts.
[00:56.28]One of the most suggested methods for effectively dealing with passwords is to employ a separate product called a password manager. 
[01:08.46]These tools are not new. You have probably already heard of such tools and might have even tried one.
[01:18.31]Here are some tips for deciding whether a password manager might be right for you.
[01:25.92]The general idea behind password managers is simple: Your passwords are stored securely in a digital vault.
[01:36.87]When you need to use a particular online service, the manager automatically enters login details and password fields for you.
[01:48.42]The U.S. government's Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency notes, "When we use a password manager, we only need to remember one strong password - the one for the password manager itself."
[02:07.52]Most password managers have a smartphone service, or app, that works with internet browsers and other apps. 
[02:18.41]This means they can be set to open with a fingerprint or face identification.
[02:25.66]If on a computer, you can also sign into your password vault through a browser tool, called a plug-in, or by going to a website.
[02:37.71]A good password manager should be able to create complex passwords using letters, numbers and special characters when setting up a new account.
[02:52.27]And, it should also recognize that you are signing into an online service for the first time and ask if you want to save the information you have entered.
[03:05.60]Password managers can also protect against so-called phishing attempts.
[03:12.35]These usually appear as emails seeking to trick users into clicking onto a link to a false website designed to capture login details.
[03:26.10]A password manager can prevent such details from automatically being filling in if the web address is not the same as the one linked to the saved password.
[03:40.26]Most password managers can store other information as well, such as bank and credit card PINs. 
[03:50.05]Many also support passkeys, a new technology that companies like Google have launched as a safer method than passwords.
[04:01.51]There are many different password managers on the market. 
[04:06.49]Some of the best-known systems include 1Password, Bitwarden, Dashlane, Bitdefender, Nordpass, Keeper and Keepass.
[04:20.13]One of the best ways to choose the right manager is to look at online reviews based on professional testing and ratings. 
[04:31.00]Britain's National Cyber Security Centre has also established a buyer's guide to help users choose the right password manager.
[04:43.33]Most services have free and paid versions. 
[04:47.95]The free offerings come with restrictions, such as permitting only one device to be signed in at a time or limiting the number of passwords to store.
[05:00.70]Top-rated managers work across different devices and services, with apps for Windows and Mac computers, as well as iOS and Android devices.
[05:14.11]And plug-ins can be downloaded for browsers like Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, Brave and Opera.
[05:24.61]Apple also has its own Keychain service for Macs and iOS devices.
[05:31.78]Good password managers use strong encryption methods that aim to prevent any other parties from seeing your data.
[05:42.29]Pieter Arntz is a security researcher at California-based cybersecurity company Malwarebytes. 
[05:52.20]He told The Associated Press that many password managers use the most secure kind of encryption available.
[06:02.08]Arntz noted this kind of encryption can protect users even when their computers, devices or password managers are hacked. 
[06:14.28]This is because encryption ensures the saved passwords are stored in an encoded state. 
[06:22.47]This means the attacker would need to know the main password in order to read any of the saved passwords.
[06:32.56]I'm Bryan Lynn.