Ways to Store Passwords [& Other Means of Security Explained]

Passwords are tricky enough on their own, but then mix in security issues; it’s a disaster! As humans, we forget what passwords we have for a particular account, and it’s partially our own fault as the number of accounts we have multiplied.

We cannot keep our passwords simple and easy to remember because of security risks, so it’s better to figure out how to save passwords. Ruling out how to remember our secret codes, we need to, as a society, learn the best way to store passwords.

Can we store passwords for safekeeping? Of course, we can, which means we can save ourselves from worrying by managing our passwords. If you worry more about storing passwords than the passwords themselves, this article will help you solve those worries with inside knowledge and facts.

Why You Should Take Storing Passwords Seriously

According to McAfee’s digital password data, the average person has 23 password-protected online accounts; some even double that. Many people change their passwords frequently because they are constantly forgetting them.

Furthermore, scientific data shows that you are more likely to make your next password simpler than the one before it. That being said, one way that people learn how to remember passwords is by creating an easy password to reuse. This is riskier in terms of security, though; these passwords can make you more vulnerable to identity theft and other security breaches.

2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic brought an increasing shift towards using the Internet frequently, Identity thefts have become increasingly common as more people switch to working remotely. Password hacking is a very obvious (and serious) possibility if you are not careful.

There is a whole list of statistics that can tell you how common identity theft is, but we’re just going to give you a few examples. There’s a new case of identity theft occurring somewhere in the world roughly every two seconds. There were 1,387,615 cases of identity theft reported in 2020 alone! This is double the number reported in 2019 and is just more proof of how the online shift poses imminent security risks.

The Best Way to Store Passwords

We can all agree that the current password-storing system is broken. It’s easier to change passwords than store them effectively with minimal security risks. Storing passwords efficiently is better than changing them when you forget them, which could happen a million times in your lifetime. The good news is that there are different approaches you can use to store passwords. Here are a few you should consider:

Write Them Down

This may sound too simple, but it is a life-saving way of storing passwords. Make sure to read more on how to organize passwords on paper if you think this method is for you.

Yes, we know that common sense is probably telling you that this is a bad idea, as losing your list can land you in serious trouble. However, with so many accounts to manage these days, you may be tempted to reuse passwords if you can’t remember them all. By understanding how to successfully integrate this method of remembering, you’ll always have your password with you without needing to remember it.

You can write them down on paper or on devices such as your phone, tablet, or computer.

On Paper

Writing down passwords on paper can be risky, given that you might lose them and display your passwords for the world to see. The positive to this is that your worry will make you treat this piece of paper as the most important thing.

This is one of the best ways to learn how to keep track of your passwords. You might not have to remember the passwords, thankfully, only where you have kept the password list. Another con can be carrying this list with you everywhere.

On Your Computer

You can eliminate carrying a list everywhere by composing it digitally. A digital copy of your passwords on your computer or, more conveniently, your phone can help keep control of passwords. The main difficulty of having this digitally over handwritten is that it’s easy to accidentally delete.

Make sure to read up on how to store passwords on your computer to decide if this method is a keeper for you. If so, be extra careful to not lose your list, whether you wrote or typed it up! The pain of keeping track of one note is less than trying to remember every password.

On Your Browser

Users of Google Chrome, Safari, and Firefox can use a built-in password manager to save their passwords. Some browsers will even generate and remember random passwords! This is unquestionably a beneficial feature that was developed in response to popular demand. Wondering where to store your passwords? The browser might be the right spot.

Keep in mind, however, that browser-based password managers do not provide the same level of security as explicit password management solutions; a browser-based password manager is unlikely to safeguard your system effectively, especially if you aren’t protected against physical access, To avoid jeopardizing your whole network, read up on how to remember passwords on Chrome and other popular browsers.

On Each Website, You Log Onto

Every time you log onto a platform or website, there is a displayed option to save that password immediately. If you’re asked if you want to, say yes! To prompt this, navigate to the website where you wish to save your information and log in.

If you’re on Google Chrome, for example, it will prompt you to save your password credentials while the page is loaded by selecting ‘Save Password’. You can also sync passwords to where you can log in through different devices into one singular account.

This is the method most used. If you are looking for a safe way to store your passwords, this would be it!

There are times where you can accidentally get logged out of an account, forcing you to re-enter your information to log in. There are also moments where your password may not be auto-filled, but it’s rare.

Another approach is to log in to your accounts through your social media. If you’re wondering how to keep track of your passwords safely and conveniently, this would be one of our top recommendations.

Buttons on pages that let you log on through other websites (such as logging on through Facebook or Google) can help cut down the number of passwords you need to create and/or memorize. Since your social media account passwords would already be saved, you don’t have to put them in manually, being more convenient!

Use Password Managers

There are a lot of different services that can help you manage your passwords, although some of them do cost money. Despite the finances involved, this is by far the most ideal way to store passwords offline.

These services vary differently, but they all operate on the same core principle: Each is an online storage vault for your passwords, all of which are protected by a single password that only you know (meaning you can’t recover your master PIN from anywhere other than your head).

Other features of password organizers include a secure notepad, credit card details, and information filling out Web forms. You only need to install the apps into your web browser for them to keep track of your login credentials while you surf.

Password managers are useful because they can generate strong passwords for your accounts at random and then remember them for you. This can just be the best way to save passwords, keeping in mind some demerits as well.

One primary disadvantage of password managers is that you are still keeping everything in one place and relying significantly on the security of that service. In addition, if you don’t have access to your locker for some reason, it’s practically useless.

Several password managers render great services. This is also the best way to keep passwords organized. This list of best password managers can help you pick out the best option for yourself.

Key Takeaways

Passwords VS 2FA VS Biometrics

These three are a full-fledged debate or more of a discussion since each option has its own merits and demerits. This discussion is important when choosing a way to store passwords. Exploring each of them would help you choose the best option for yourself and your needs.

Passwords, as we have discussed so far, have always been tricky. With an increase in number, they also are able to get messy. The main advantages of passwords are that they are easy to use, and they are basic. With that in mind, creating difficult passwords is the only thing you need to do to prevent security risks.

In addition, whenever there’s any breach of privacy (for example, someone else knows your password and has logged into one of your accounts), changing your password immediately is easy and convenient. This would also force the other person to be logged out.

We have also discussed the way to store passwords in a database as well. This may not eliminate all the risks, but it does cover most of them.

The major disadvantages remain. Too many accounts mean too many passwords, and using the same password for every account makes you vulnerable. You can still keep your social media accounts password protected because they are easily changeable.

It is important to change your passwords every once in a while without reason and note those changes down. Having a symbolic password also helps a lot, rather than direct passwords that anyone can figure out.

Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Two-factor authentication (2FA), often known as dual-factor authentication or two-step verification, is a security method in which users validate their identity using two independent authentication factors. 2FA safeguards your login credentials, as well as your data. This helps rule out worrying about how to remember your password.

Imagine that your password is compromised; with 2FA, this still doesn’t put you at utmost risk. A password alone isn’t enough to pass the authentication check. Two-factor authentication (2FA) delivers an extra layer of security to the verification process, making it more difficult for hackers to obtain access to devices or login credentials. This rules out any unauthorized access and provides safety to data like no other.

The process is a little more lengthy than any other because users have to go through an additional step to log into an app. On the plus side, this means you don’t have to worry about how to manage passwords as much.

2FA is typically reliant on third-party services or devices, such as a cell service provider sending verification numbers via text or email. In the absence of an effective approach to managing a directory of users and user authentication, the operation and maintenance of a 2FA system could be a nuisance.

Today, 2FA is routinely used to restrict access controls to more vulnerable portions of a web application in online banking services, social networking sites, and e-commerce platforms.

Biometric Security

Biometric security systems are more popular than other security techniques due to the world’s increasing impact on digitalization. A unique biometric trait such as your face, fingerprint, iris, or voice cannot be stolen. Using this special feature as a gate keeps your account safe, as you have to be present to unlock it.

That being said, biometric features are extremely difficult to forge, and you can never lose or lend them out. Biometric data is never sent from the device to the server during authentication, exclusively providing another layer of protection. Except for you, no one else would ever have access to your account or system. The best part about biometric data is that it reduces the risk of password hacking greatly.

Using biometrics is a more complicated and costly technique; since you can’t modify biometric information, it’s a lot scarier if your data is ever exposed. Facial recognition and other forms of biometrics work on the “close enough” premise of being accurate and exact. There’s always a chance you’ll come across an authentication error, which is tricky to navigate.

Biometrics are largely used to establish security for phones and vaults. Biometrics increase the chance of preventing security breaches compared to passwords, although remembering how to manage passwords is still important!

Conclusion

Ordinary password protections have worked in the past, but they clearly need to be reinvented for the future. New security technology is being worked on by the day, which also rises in cost and complexity.

Since security is given precedence over many other aspects, these technologies are becoming a huge part of our lives. We saw how to store passwords physically and the different approaches you can use as well. Finally, while biometric data is interesting, it holds the same possibilities as regular passwords: a security issue.