Experienced Virginia Attorneys Explain Why We Should Think Twice Before Allowing Our Internet Browser To Save Our Passwords

Saving Passwords

Manually keeping track of different passwords for all your different online accounts is extremely difficult, so the default behavior is to use the same password for everything.  This is a security nightmare.  With so many risks existing online these days, it is imperative that you have different and unique passwords for each website/account.

Hackers Can Access Internet Browser Databases

Intended to make your online life more convenient, a lot of times your browser or the account website itself will offer to “remember your password for next time.” Is this a safe solution to secure easy access to these sites? Unfortunately, it’s not. When you allow a browser to save your passwords, it stores that information on a database that can be accessed by hackers. There are even some browsers with utilities that will display the database contents, and these utilities are readily vulnerable to some hackers.

How Can You Protect Your Passwords?

The best way to protect yourself and to manage your passwords is to use a password manager such as LastPass or Dashlane. Some of the offerings are free, the most useful features require a subscription, but the cost is minimal.  These services allow you to have one password (which should be a strong passphrase, such as “I_l0ve_h0rses”) that accesses the service and from there you have unique, random passwords for each site. These password managers will also remember logins and even auto-fill with a click of a button from your computer, tablet, or phone.  This not only keeps you secure but simplifies your online access.

We use a password manager and recommend to all our clients to do the same.  The minimal cost is a small price to pay for securing your personal information and ensuring your credit is safe.  

Contact our experienced Virginia attorneys today if you have any questions about best practices and your cybersecurity. 

Call 888-691-9319 or fill out this short form to get started. 

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