![]() ![]() ![]() I tested for usability by doing a number of spot checks to verify that the features described in the apps' marketing materials matched what I saw in real life. And, because most of us use more than one computing device, the capability to sync passwords securely across those devices is essential.Īfter narrowing down the options, I tested eight finalists: 1Password, Dashlane, Enpass, Keeper, LastPass, LogmeOnce, RoboForm, and Sticky Password. I excluded apps that force you to copy and paste passwords into your browser rather than offering a browser extension that lets you click a button or use a keystroke to fill in your credentials. This means, ideally, support for the four biggest platforms-Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android-as well as desktop browser integration with at least Chrome and Firefox, plus Safari on macOS. If you use only one or two platforms or browsers, support for the others may be irrelevant to you, but broad compatibility is still a good sign. Next I looked for apps that support all the major platforms and browsers. I began by ruling out the password autofill features built into browsers like Chrome and Firefox-although they're better than nothing, they tend to be less secure than stand-alone apps, and they provide no way to use your stored passwords with other browsers. And the barrier to entry should be low enough-in terms of both cost and simplicity-for nearly anyone to get up to speed quickly. A password manager should disappear until you need it, do its thing quickly and with minimum interaction, and require as little thought as possible (even when switching browsers or platforms). I looked for tools that do their job as efficiently as possible without being intrusive or annoying. How we picked and testedĪlthough I'd already spent countless hours testing password managers in the course of writing my book Take Control of Your Passwords, for this article I redid most of the research and testing from scratch, because apps in this category change constantly-and often dramatically. If you don't already use a password manager, you should get one, and LastPass is a fabulous overall choice for most users. It enables you to easily ensure that each password is both unique and strong, and it saves you the bother of looking up, remembering, typing, or even copying and pasting your passwords when you need them. If you have more than a handful of online accounts-and almost everyone does-you need a good password manager. And if your reused password is weak, the problem is that much worse, because someone could guess your password even if there isn't a security breach.īy subscribing, you are agreeing to Engadget's Terms and Privacy Policy. But reusing passwords is dangerous: If just one site suffers a security breach, an attacker could access your entire digital life: email, cloud storage, bank accounts, social media, dating sites, and more. The things that make strong passwords strong-length, uniqueness, variety of characters-make them difficult to remember, so most people reuse a few easy-to-remember passwords everywhere they go online. Who should get thisĮveryone should use a password manager. ![]() It has all the essential features plus some handy extras, it works with virtually any browser on any device, and most of its features are free. After 15 hours of research and testing, we believe that LastPass is the best password manager for most people. As we wrote in Password Managers Are for Everyone-Including You, a password manager makes you less vulnerable online by generating strong random passwords, syncing them securely across your browsers and devices so they're easily accessible everywhere, and filling them in automatically when needed. If you're not using a password manager, start now. When readers choose to buy The Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, it may earn affiliate commissions that support its work. This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a buyer's guide to the best technology.
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