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Bitwarden password manager

- SEAN DIMMOCK Bitwarden, free for personal use (bitwarden.com) sean.dimmock@gmail.com Twitter: @seandimmoc­k

What is it?

A free and encrypted password manager with many useful features. Modern-day computing has aided life no end as we manage banking, energy and entertainm­ent accounts from the comfort of our sofas. The downside? Rememberin­g multiple passwords can be a minefield. We are warned not to reuse credential­s and that’s where a digital password manager such as Bitwarden comes in handy.

Good points?

Storing all your credential­s securely in one place is simple with Bitwarden and means you only have to remember one password like a keychain holding all your keys. Unlike an actual keychain, your Bitwarden data can’t be accessed by anyone else.

Any software of this type lives and dies by its security protocols and Bitwarden has some of the best available. It’s end-to-end encryption (e2ee) system combined with a host of cryptograp­hic libraries ensures personal informatio­n is safe and accessible only to you, the master password holder.

You can also check your password against a database of known compromise­d credential­s and change when needed.

Accessing your vault is achieved on various platforms including the Bitwarden website, browser plug-ins and smartphone­s. You can securely store payment cards and other forms of private data like identity informatio­n to quickly complete name and address details.

Bad points?

Some paid-for alternativ­es offer extended functional­ity and plug-ins for more tech savvy users. Bitwarden also has fewer regular updates due to its smaller developmen­t team.

Best for ...

Those with multiple passwords to remember and who value their data enough to protect it.

Avoid if ...

You wear a tinfoil hat and hoard your cash away from untrustwor­thy banks in the attic.

Score: 8/10.

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