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Passwords are the weakest link in any successful case of data theft. Every online service with an account must be secured with a password. With the average American estimated to have around 300
online accounts, cybercriminals have a broad range of options when selecting their next target. In this article, we’ll show you how to securely store passwords in the cloud. It’s exhausting to have dozens of accounts, let alone hundreds. An easy
solution is to use the same password for all your accounts and call it a day. Using one password is certainly a more convenient solution than making a unique one for every account, but that level of negligence is exactly what cybercriminals need to steal your sensitive data. Keep reading for tips on how to store your passwords securely online. 05/04/2022 Facts checked Rewrote the article; removed LastPass, added Bitwarden as a
suggested password manager.Key Takeaways:
Using a password manager is the best way to keep your passwords out of the hands of cybercriminals.
How to Securely Store Passwords in the Cloud: Using a Password Manager
The good news is that you won’t need to remember hundreds of passwords if you use a dedicated password manager.
Password managers are applications designed to generate secure passwords and store them in an encrypted vault. You can save hundreds of encrypted passwords behind a single master password — the only password you’ll need to remember yourself. Read our comprehensive guide to learn how password managers work.
Since it’s the only point of compromise for every other password, take care to make a strong master password that’s still memorable enough to minimize the chances of getting locked out. Take a look at our article on creating a strong password for some tips, and give our password generator a spin while you’re at it.
Creating strong passwords and storing them securely makes up the basic functionality of a password manager, but some applications come with a wider suite of features.
Some will automatically fill in your password each time you log in to an account, and some come with an array of security features like VPNs and dark web monitoring solutions. There are many ways to manage your passwords.
How to Store Passwords Securely With Bitwarden
We’ll walk you through the steps to securely storing your passwords with Bitwarden, one of the best free password manager options. Don’t worry if you’re using a different application, as the steps are similar.
- Go to Bitwarden’s Website
Begin by visiting the official Bitwarden website. It’s a browser-based application, so you won’t need to download anything to your device.
1Password
- : Unlimited storage, 1GB document storage
1Password Families
- : Up to five users, Up to 5 additional guests
Teams Starter Pack
- : 1GB of document storage per user, up to 10 people
Business
- : 5GB of document storage per users, Free family accounts for members, Up to 20 guest accounts
2. Dashlane
Free
- : Up to 50 entries, One device, Autofill, Security alerts, Password sharing with five accounts
3. Bitwarden
Free
- : Unlimited storage, Multi-device sync, 2FA
Premium
- : 1GB of encrypted file storage, Additional 2FA options, Password health reports, Priority customer service
Teams Organization
- : Per user, includes all premium features
Enterprise Organization
- : Per user, includes all premium features and families plan for all users,
How to Store Passwords Manually Without a Password Manager
Using a password manager is the ideal storage solution, but it’s not the only one. You can always go the old-fashioned route and write down all of your passwords on paper, which no one can hack into.
Another option would be to type each of your passwords in a text document and store it in a cloud storage service. As long as you make a secure password for your cloud storage account, the document shouldn’t fall into the wrong hands.
Still, these solutions are less than ideal, especially because they lack so many other important security and accessibility features. If you’re serious about online security, we still recommend using a dedicated application to manage your passwords.
Final Thoughts: Storing Passwords Securely
No one enjoys making a strong, unique password for every account, but password managers provide the best solution to that problem. We hope we’ve given you a good place to start when looking for a secure and convenient way to store your passwords.
You can also scroll through our password manager archives to find other helpful guides and how-to articles.
What is your favorite password manager? Are there any other good services we neglected to mention? Let us know what you think in the comments section below, and as always, thanks for reading.