A password manager is an application that stores your passwords in an encrypted vault. You only need to remember one master password to unlock access to all your other credentials. Modern password managers also generate strong, unique passwords for every website.
Why You Need a Password Manager
The average person has over 100 online accounts. Using the same password across multiple sites is extremely dangerous — a single breach exposes all of them. Password managers solve this by making unique, complex passwords practical.
How Password Managers Work
- You create a master password that only you know.
- The vault is encrypted using your master password (usually with AES-256).
- Even the company running the service cannot see your passwords.
- When you visit a login page, the manager auto-fills your credentials.
- Crucially, it only auto-fills on the exact domain — it will not auto-fill on fake phishing copies.
Key Features
- Password generator — Creates random, unique passwords of any length.
- Auto-fill — Fills login forms automatically.
- Breach monitoring — Alerts you when a site you use has been breached.
- Secure notes — Store other sensitive information like recovery codes.
- Cross-device sync — Access passwords on all your devices.
Popular Password Managers
Bitwarden (free, open-source), 1Password, Dashlane, Keeper and the built-in managers in Chrome, Safari and Firefox are widely used options.