Password managers are not only the most secure way of storing login information and other sensitive data, but they also have plenty of other features with which password management becomes hassle-free. One such convenient tool is the extension that can integrate into all browsers found on your device and allows the program to automatically import all information as the browser is used. Some browsers include their own in-built password managers, but it isn’t often preferable to use these in favor of specialized software.
This leads to a necessary question: are these in-built password management solutions by popular browsers like Google Chrome worthy competitors to true password management software? Are they safe enough to keep our most sensitive data in their online storage or are we better off with tools designed purposefully for this task?
Nowadays having a password manager is a must if you hope to ever recall all those complex, secure passwords created for numerous websites. However, passwords are worth nothing if the program managing them is too complicated. This is where Sticky Password enters the picture, a brutally simple password manager with Czech origins.
With this software on your devices all your passwords will be well protected by military-grade encryption both locally and in the cloud. The program offers various data syncing options (both online and offline), integrates with many browsers and it sports an equally simple mobile application. This password manager features a free for life version alongside both a subscription for Sticky Password Premium on a cheap annual basis or the option to purchase a license for the software and use all of its stellar features without any limitations. And to top it all, Sticky Password treats premium subscribers like kings, as both the annual plan and the lifetime license are available with a 50% discount that makes it available for as low as $1.25 per month.
Let’s face it – a data breach is the ultimate nightmare scenario for anyone, and the consequences are the worst for companies. Unfortunately, back in 2022, hackers were able to breach LastPass and steal segments of customer data like usernames and salted and hashed passwords.
Although the incident caused the loss of customer trust and brand reputation, the company has been taking all the measures possible to restore confidence and retain customers. A few examples include splitting from its parent company, enhancing its security infrastructure with strengthened password security and advanced logging, and investing in cybersecurity leadership.
LastPass's core features were never in doubt, since it offers all elements necessary for excellent password management, such as a password generator, password sharing, dark web monitoring, and autofill. Additionally, there’s a free version with unlimited password storage, free trials, and discounts of up to 20% on all plans.
In this era of ever-evolving cyberthreats, a reliable password manager is not just a convenience but a necessity. Developed by the Canadian company AgileBits in 2006, 1Password has grown from its initial release as a simple password manager for Mac into a polished and highly comprehensive service that’s available on the most popular platforms and browsers.
Offering data breach warnings alongside secure sharing and seamless synchronization across devices, 1Password consolidates its reputable position in the password manager industry.
Even though the software doesn’t have a free version, prices are cost-effective and start at just $2.99 per month. Plus, users can take advantage of s 14-day free trial and see for themselves what the software offers before committing financially.
Google’s native Smart Lock is basic yet perfect. In fact, Smart Lock is super simple to use: every time new information is entered, Google issues a prompt to save that data so it is then displayed during future login attempts. Moreover, this solution is cross-platform, meaning that all saved data is accessible on all Google products by going to the respective settings or visiting a dedicated site. And as a nice extra, certain Android phones can be paired with Android Wear so that it serves as a secondary authenticator, too.
However, a huge downside of Smart Lock is that it only works with Google products, unlike password managers, which are compatible with all major browsers via extensions. Granted, users still have to download a usually pay-only program and will need to memorize a so-called master password to access the password vault, but these are small nuisances compared to the advantages of password managers. First, they import data directly from browsers, making them super convenient. Second, they are extremely safe thanks to features like military-grade encryption, in-built password generators and two-factor authentication. Typically they are able to store all kinds of data as well, not only passwords and web forms.
Unfortunately simply exporting the necessary data from Chrome is out of question due to the fact that, as of build 61, Google has axed the in-built import and export option. This makes it mandatory to either use third party software or an extension to export everything out of Chrome, a solution that is not always recommended due to the risk of data sniffing and accidentally downloading malware.
The simplest and safest way to export the data is to use a password manager and its browser extension, since it automatically imports everything from the selected browser to the program’s encrypted vault where it can be accessed by nobody else but you. Although these browser extensions are far from perfect – considering how many bugs have been discovered recently – password managers themselves still remain fully functional without them, and such issues are usually patched out within a short period of time.
There are other solutions for getting those passwords out of Chrome, such as ChromePass, a program that is not only free, but doesn’t even require installation either. To make things better, the software allows passwords to be saved in various formats (HTML or CSV for example), and it also displays the strength of each password.
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