Updated
Since the original post the need to properly manage passwords has become even more critical. In the last few years data breaches have exposed the emails, passwords and other personal information of hundreds of millions of individuals. Using the same password on multiple sites is a recipe for disaster. Password requirements for most sites require a minimum of 12 or more characters including uppercase, lowercase, numbers and symbols making them virtually impossible to memorize and the use of a password manager a necessity.
Combined with 2FA – 2 factor authentication, a password manager can prevent your bank account from being emptied or your identity stolen.
Ny current recommendation is Bitwarden, a feature rich password manager that works on all popular devices and operating systems.
Advantages of Bitwarden:
1. Open Source Architecture
Unlike most of its competitors (LastPass, 1Password, Dashlane), Bitwarden is open-source software.
Transparency: Its source code is publicly available for anyone to inspect. This means security researchers constantly audit the code for vulnerabilities, making it difficult for backdoors or security flaws to go unnoticed.
Trust: You don’t have to blindly trust the company’s word that they are secure; the community validates it.
2. Industry-Leading Free Plan
Most password managers restrict their free plans to a single device type (e.g., only on your phone or only on your computer). Bitwarden does not.
Unlimited Devices: You can use it on your phone, laptop, tablet, and desktop simultaneously for free.
Unlimited Passwords: There is no cap on how many login credentials you can store.
Core Features Included: You get unlimited syncing, a secure password generator, and basic two-factor authentication (2FA) without paying a cent.
3. Strong Security Fundamentals
Bitwarden employs a Zero-Knowledge encryption model.
Client-Side Encryption: Your data is encrypted on your device before it is sent to Bitwarden’s cloud servers. Bitwarden staff cannot see your passwords even if they wanted to.
Compliance: It is compliant with major privacy and security standards, including GDPR, CCPA, and HIPAA.
Third-Party Audits: The software undergoes regular security assessments by reputable third-party security firms (like Cure53) to validate its safety.
4. Advanced “Power User” Features
For technical users or those who prefer total control, Bitwarden offers features that competitors often lack:
Self-Hosting: You can host your own Bitwarden server on your personal hardware (e.g., Raspberry Pi, NAS, or private cloud). This gives you complete sovereignty over your data, removing reliance on Bitwarden’s cloud entirely.
Bitwarden Send: A feature that allows you to securely share encrypted text or files (up to 500MB in the paid plan) via a link that can be set to self-destruct or expire.
Even though the quarantine is over it’s worth the time and effort to get your passwords in shape.
POST UPDATE Last Pass experienced a serious security breach resulting in users passwords potentially being exposed. I no longer recommend using LastPass.
Who has time to undo years of poor password hygiene? You do now.
Cleaning up and securing your passwords is a great COVID19 quarantine activity.
This activity involves:
Signing up for LastPass- Collecting all your old password notes and account emails
- Deleting any accounts that do not bring you joy
- Setting secure passwords for all remaining accounts