Here’s how password managers protect you

QUESTION: If someone acquires the master password for my password manager program, then they have access to all my accounts. How’s this different than a single password for all accounts?

ANSWER: This is a common and legitimate question that often keeps nontechnical users from incorporating a password manager.

Using the same password on all your accounts means that if any one of those accounts is breached, they are all at risk because the standard operating procedure for cyber-thieves is to try the same password on thousands of other sites.

If you were to write down all your passwords and keep them in a very secure place, that would be preferential to using the same password on every account.

The key is to not make it obvious that the information is a bunch of passwords in the event someone else finds it.

Most password management programs provide lots of additional layers of protection that you can set up that include 2-factor authentication and rules that deny access based on location, device or IP address.

When you add these additional layers of protection, even if an unauthorized person acquires your master password, they won’t be able to use it because they won’t have the necessary additional items to be fully authenticated.

Another common question about password management services is “what happens if they suffer a breach?”

Your passwords on all of the services are stored using powerful encryption, which means any breach of the encrypted data would require the hacker to spend time attempting to decrypt the information.

The service would automatically require you to reset your passwords, which would render the stolen information useless by the time it was decrypted.

For many years, I’ve recommended LastPass because it offered lots of features in its free version of the program, but if you want to use it on both a computer and smartphone, it’s no longer free.

Another fee-based service that has lots of great features is 1Password.

Both services offer individual or family-based plans that range from $3 to $5 per month.