With all the dreary weather in Chicago, I really wanted to write about something fun this week. However, today happens to be the World Password Day – how could I not talk about it?
You’ve heard me preach about complex passwords and multi-factor authentication before, but this time I’m going to underline password managers.
When I ask a client for their password during support sessions, one of these situations usually unfolds:
I can’t find that sticky it’s written on
It’s the same password I use for everything else but this time it stopped working
Let me try a few passwords, I think I can guess what it is
It’s in a Word document named “Travel” on my desktop
I save it in my phone under notes
I have a contact stored on my phone named “xxxxx” and it is saved inside of it
I have this super sleek password notebook I keep in my drawer but I can’t read my writing. Looks like its crossed out.
I don’t recall ever setting a password maybe there isn’t one?
I’ve heard all the above and then some. I can tell you that, in comparison to these methods, password managers are both much more secure and convenient. It’s frustrating when you are prompted to log in or, even worse, when you are breached and your password doesn’t work. So, I’m here to convince you a good password manager should be used by you and all your team members.
But what is a password manager? Password managers are software that can help you generate, store, and manage all your passwords in an encrypted database locked behind a master password.
Why is it more secure? Most reputable password managers use encrypted databases which are extremely hard to hack. Information is well protected, especially in comparison to a sticky note or a word document on your computer. They also promote better security habits by having features like native support for multi-factor authentication and a complex password generator built-in.
Why is it more convenient? Most popular password managers come with a smartphone app, desktop app (or access via web browser), and browser plugins. All these stay in sync, so passwords stored or updated in one place are immediately available in the others. Features like browser plugins help auto enter passwords or save new ones on the fly. Built-in password generator quickly spits out a complex password when creating account online and stores it on the database. Integrated multi-factor authentication helps simplify securing your accounts using the same app. To put it simply: using a password manager allows you to have unique, complex, and secure passwords for every account while requiring you to only remember your master password.
Which password manager is best? This all depends on your needs, so I recommend connecting with us so we can talk about your team, setup, and use case. CTS Pass Manager is fantastic for small teams so passwords can be shared and tracked across companies. However, there are many other that may fit the bill.
How can I learn more about password managers? Here is a great article that’s written in depth about password managers.
Securing your passwords with a password manager could mean less frustrations, more convenience, and time savings. Change takes time and energy but in this case it’s well worth it. Here to hold your hand and get you across to the safe side when you are ready.
Best,
– Burak Sarac, Team Lead
Best Password Managers of 2022
It sounds troublesome, but every one of your accounts needs a unique password constructed out of capital and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols. (Yes, using “password123” for everything is not enough). Password managers are vital tools that can help you stay safe online and be more digitally secure by simplifying the steps to using strong passwords (see Burak’s article above). And they’re easier to use than you may think. Check out this article for the best password managers of 2022.
National Barrier Awareness Day is May 7th
National Barrier Awareness Day brings awareness to the challenges faced by people with disabilities. There are 5 barriers to accessibility: Attitudinal, Organizational, Architectural, Informational, and Technological. If this is your first time seeing this breakdown, you should really read this article. As an employer, it can be difficult to identify, address, and fix all of the barriers within your organization – especially if you yourself have preconceived notions or biases against individuals with disabilities. However, there are substantial benefits to taking this initiative. In fact, not accommodating disabilities can be a significant deterrent for employee retention. If you don’t know where to start, the best and easiest to do is listen & learn.
Declutter your iPhone
Isn’t it amazing how those “iPhone Storage Full” notifications always come at the worst moments? Somehow your iPhone seems to hit capacity during your tropical getaway or before recording a once-in-a-lifetime video, but never while downloading a TikTok or screenshotting an awful tweet. It’s easy to forget that storage is not infinite. Photos, videos, games, podcasts — they all eat up space. This article will show you 5 ways to declutter your iPhone storage so you’re not screwed on vacation.
Mother’s Day is May 8th
Remember when the Peace Corps adopted the slogan “The toughest job you’ll ever love”? No offense, Peace Corps, but that adage is more appropriate for motherhood. Moms don’t get days off, nor do they receive handsome salaries or generous pensions. Instead, their rewards come in the form of sticky kisses, necklaces made of elbow macaroni, and the satisfaction of seeing their children grow up to be happy, healthy adults… which is nice and all, but we can do better. Please read this article on how to support working moms and this article on why you should be hiring mothers. Once you’ve read them, hopefully you’ll take some affirmative action, too.
