Stay Protected Online with Dashlane

GIVEN THE NUMBER OF ONLINE SERVICES available today, it’s very tempting to use the same password for each website. However, if hackers manage to break into one service, they’ll be able to access your other accounts, too.

Password managers, such as Dashlane, offer a good compromise between security and convenience. They work by letting you choose a single master password to store all your login credentials in an encrypted database. Each time you visit your favorite website, Dashlane retrieves your password and fills in the login fields automatically. The app even includes a builtin strong password generator, enabling you to create individual secure passwords for all your online accounts.

In this guide, you’ll discover how to install the Dashlane desktop client, as well as the dedicated Dashlane web extension, which loads login details into your browser. You’ll also learn how to make Dashlane more secure by storing your password database locally, and protect your logins with two-factor authentication.

Dashlane comes with a free trial of its premium version, which allows you to sync your passwords across all your devices. After one month, you’ll switch to the basic free version, which stores credentials only on your own machine. –NATE DRAKE

1

INSTALLATION

Navigate to www.dashlane.com. Select “Get Dashlane—it’s free.” You are then directed to a download page; choose the link labeled “For the Windows version click here.” Choose “Run” to launch the Dashlane setup. Click “Create your free Account,” then enter your email address and password. You’ll use these credentials to sign in to Dashlane [ Image A] from now on. Setup also prompts you to add Dashlane to your browser.

2

SET A SECURE MASTER PASSWORD

In the previous step, you created a password for your Dashlane account. This is known as your master password, because it’s used to access all your other credentials. This means it should be unique, strong, and easy to remember. We recommend using Diceware (http:// bit.ly/diceware) to create a high-entropy password. To update your master password, open the Dashlane app from the Start menu. Go to “Tools > Preferences.” Select the “Account” tab. Click “Change” beside “Master Password,” and enter the new password. Make sure you write your password down and keep it in a safe place.

3

CHANGE SYNC PREFERENCES

The Dashlane app comes with a free one-month trial of its premium version. This means your login credentials are synched across all your devices via Dashlane’s servers. This is very convenient, but if Dashlane’s computers are ever compromised, your details will be at risk. After one month, Dashlane reverts to the basic free version, which stores passwords locally on your machine in an encrypted database. This is much more secure, as your credentials never leave your device. To change your sync preferences, open Dashlane, go to “Sync > Open Sync Preferences,” then deselect “Sync between my devices.”

4

TWO-FACTOR AUTHENTICATION

Two-factor authentication (2FA) is a great way to secure access to your Dashlane account. Each time anyone tries to sign in to Dashlane from a new device, they need to enter a six-digit code as well as your master password.

>> To enable 2FA, go to “Tools > Preferences > Security,” then click the “Two-factor Authentication”

tab. Switch “Two-factor authentication” to “On,” then click “Next.” In order to continue, you must have an OTP authentication app on your device, such as Google Authenticator. Choose “Next” to proceed. Scan the QR code using your OTP app [ Image B], then enter the six-digit code, and select “Next.” Dashlane prompts you to enter a backup cell phone number as an alternative way to receive codes. Enter this, then press “Next.” Once 2FA setup is complete, Dashlane displays a small list of emergency codes you can use to log in if you lose access to your mobile device. Write these down and put them in a safe place.

5

SAVE YOUR PASSWORDS

Visit a website you use and choose to sign in. Once you’ve entered your credentials, a Dashlane pop-up appears, asking if you wish to save your login details. If you do this, from now on, when you visit this site, your username and password load automatically. If you’re creating an online account for the first time, consider using Dashlane’s password generator. You can access this via the Dashlane web extension icon. Repeat these steps for all your online accounts. If you’re registering a new account, Dashlane can create a secure password for you. Just choose “Generate strong password” in the password field.

6

MANAGE YOUR CREDENTIALS

Dashlane has a built-in Password Changer [ Image C], which is compatible with a number of online services. This is a quick and easy way to change your existing passwords to stronger, randomly generated ones. To get started, open Dashlane and select “Passwords” on the left-hand side, then go to “Password Changer” at the top. You can choose to change all passwords at once or you can auto change them individually. Just click the checkbox beside “Auto change password.” Select the green “Change all passwords” button at the top of the screen. Dashlane logs into each of your accounts and attempts to change your passwords. If your online account isn’t compatible with Password Changer, you can still use Dashlane’s built-in password generator to change your login details manually. Launch the password generator via the Dashlane web browser.

7

SECURE NOTES

The Secure Notes feature allows you to store private keys to software, Wi-Fi passwords, and any other documents you need to store securely and access easily.

>> To create a Secure Note, open Dashlane, choose “Secure Notes” on the left-hand side, then click the “Add New” button at the top-left. This opens up a note editor. You can enter a title for your note along with the body. This can be as large as you see fit. You can also securely store a file by attaching one to your note. Click “Attach File” to do so. Select “OK” to save your new Secure Note. Dashlane has ready-made templates for certain credentials, such as Wi-Fi passwords. You can choose to use these each time you click “Add New.”

8

IN CASE YOU ARE LOCKED OUT

Dashlane claims that it never stores your master password on its servers. This means that your credentials are safer, but if you’ve forgotten your master password, you may not be able to recover your data.

>> If you think that you might have forgotten your master password, but have previously followed the steps in the boxout below to create an emergency contact, you can ask your contact to follow the steps at

http://bit.ly/2Wofp32 to request access to your credentials. Be aware that there’s a mandatory waiting period for this, depending on the settings you chose when creating your emergency contact.

>> If you know your master password but have lost the mobile device you use for two-factor authentication, enter one of the emergency backup codes you wrote down during setup to access your account. Alternatively, you can choose to receive a security code via SMS to your alternate cell phone number.