Importance of having a standalone and dedicated password manager application

Several people have the habit of reusing their passwords for different accounts. However, this is one of the main reasons such accounts get hacked. When a cybercriminal gets to know only one of your passwords, literally every account that you have becomes vulnerable to being breached. The only way you can avoid this is by having unique and different passwords for all the various accounts you have. However, remembering hundreds of different passwords can be complex. Therefore, you should use a password manager to avoid clicking on the “forgot password” link every time you access any account. All you need to do is remember the master password for the password manager you use, and then it becomes easier for you to secure all your passwords with utmost efficiency.

Why use standalone password managers?

Even though the web browser’s password manager can do the work of managing hundreds of passwords just fine for you, they do not provide the highest level of security. Hence, choose a high-quality dedicated password manager that can work precisely for your needs.

Here are some reasons why you should consider using third-party password managers.

Web browser password managers only provide basic level services

The password manager that comes with your web browser can only manage basic-level functions for you. It is much better than having nothing to rely on. Even if you have no additional application to remember your passwords, the web browser-based password manager can keep track of all the passwords you have and get them synced securely between multiple devices that you use. These passwords are encrypted and stored in the cloud. Since you are using a password manager that comes with your browser, you can create passwords complex and strong. You do not have to worry about your accounts getting breached as your accounts remain secure in that way. Many browsers these days offer a two-step authentication process to ensure there is a high level of protection at all times. However, the truth remains that these built-in password managers that come with the web browsers are not all that strong like the third party or standalone password managers.

Third-party password managers have cross-browser and cross-platform features

The third-party password managers work as cross-browser and cross-platform applications. On the other hand, the password managers that come built-in with the browser are limited to the specific browser. For example, let’s say that you like using Safari on your iPhone and Mac and Google Chrome browser on your Windows PC. So if you work with a third-party password manager, it allows you to have your passwords ready for easy access no matter the browser you use. However, if you only use the built-in password manager that comes with your web browser, you cannot shift from one browser to another.

Additionally, the standalone password managers come with excellent quality mobile and desktop applications. Hence, it makes it a lot easier for the end-users to access their passwords, Wi-Fi codes, license keys, and other data to be kept a secret. The third-party password managers are not only good at saving and remembering your passwords. These manager tools can automatically generate ideas for strong new passwords. Such tools can suggest passwords when signing up for any new account, or changing the password of any existing account. Some browsers come equipped with built-in password generators. However, they do not allow users complete flexibility in user experience and customization.

Convenient sharing of passwords

The dedicated third-party password managers are also known for their user-friendly password- sharing features. So if you are thinking of sharing your Netflix password details with the rest of your family or friends, you can certainly accomplish that by using a password manager that also comes with a sharing feature built into the app. It will offer everyone access to the same password. If you decide to change the password, everyone will know about it immediately. On the other hand, the browsers do not have this password-sharing feature. You can verbally share your password with another person or send it to them via email or text. However, such online methods are not very secure. Moreover, it will not let everyone know about the password change you have carried out.

Notifications about potential password dangers

When setting a new password for some accounts, you must ensure it is sufficiently strong and not vulnerable to attacks. A dedicated standalone password manager will let you know if the password you just chose has been reused in the past or is a weak one. It will help you change the password. So choose one with a low chance of ever getting detected by hackers. At present, browsers like Google Chrome are trying to implement this feature, and you can also find browser extensions for Google Chrome that can do this for you. However, such options are not as strong as those provided by a dedicated standalone password manager.

Due to factors such as the ones described above, the standalone password managers are a lot better than the ones that come built-in with the web browsers. You can click here to learn more about the standalone password managers.