Password Management

Password Management – Don’t Get Eaten!

Written by Luke O'Connell

Password Management is a lot like being chased by a t-rex. You just have to be faster than the other guy. Follow this 6-step guide to avoid being a dinosaur’s lunch.

Keep Password Management Simple

You’ll hear hundreds of password management principles and can spend half your life being over-cautious, but the simple fact is that the bad guys only have time for easy targets. If you’ve got a blue checkmark on Instagram then you might have to be a little more cautious (or have someone to do this for you), but for us regular-Joes, we just need to follow some simple rules. I’m not going to cover the basics here like the structure of your passwords because you already know that, right?

Six Golden Rules

  1. Use a password manager. It doesn’t really matter which password manager you use but use something to coordinate your passwords. A good password manager like LastPass or Dashlane will allow you to use your passwords cross-device, share them with family & friends and can now even now change your passwords automatically.
  2. Be unique. You’ll need a password manager so that you can have unique passwords. The truth is that you don’t even need to remember your passwords, let the password manager take the strain. The one exception to this? DON’T USE YOUR BROWSER TO REMEMBER YOUR PASSWORDS. Just don’t. They are inherently insecure.
  3. Split out your passwords. Generally speaking, you’ll have 2 clear types of passwords – ‘throw-aways’ and important services. That random cosplay forum you’re on can have a generic password… nobody wants to hack that. Your bank or credit card however is a different story. You can then save time and thousands of passwords building up in your password manager (remember: you’re using one now). Just always think “would it matter if this account was compromised?”. Don’t over-complicate your life.
  4. Share responsibly. If you need to share your passwords, remember to change them when you’re done. Even if you’re using a great password management solution, other people can always be a weak link. Don’t share your generic password (as above) as you’ll likely be giving them access to too much.
  5. Use two-factor authentication for important services. Yes, it’s annoying, but it drastically reduces the likelihood that you’ll be hacked.
  6. Don’t keep your passwords anywhere else. This is a platinum rule. No post-its, word documents on your desktop, notes in your email, little black books. If you ever feel like doing this, sit down in a quiet room and contemplate what a moronic move it is. Remember the analogy we started with and don’t be easy pickings for a dinosaur.

In Summary

  1. Use a Password Manager
  2. Use Unique Passwords
  3. Understand Important vs Throw-Away
  4. Share Sensibly
  5. Use 2FA
  6. Don’t Go Off-Book

That’s it. Don’t overthink it, just follow the principles and you won’t have to deal with the cosmic headache that someone hacking you can bring.