When a website is hacked, stolen passwords are often tried on other sites within hours. If you use the same password everywhere, one breach can unlock your email, your shopping accounts and more.
What a password manager does
A password manager is an app that creates and stores long, random passwords for each of your accounts. You remember one strong master password, and the app fills in the rest.
Frequently asked questions
Is it risky to keep all my passwords in one place?
Reputable password managers encrypt your data so that even the company cannot read it. The risk of reusing one weak password is far higher than the risk of a well-protected vault.
What makes a good master password?
Length matters most. A passphrase of four or five unrelated words is easier to remember and harder to guess than a short password with symbols.
What if I forget the master password?
Many managers cannot recover it, by design. Write it down and keep it somewhere safe at home, and set up any recovery option the app offers.
Do I still need two-step verification?
Yes. Turn it on for your email and banking at least. It stops most attacks even if a password leaks.
Getting started
- Start with your email account, because it can reset all the others.
- Change one or two old passwords a day; you do not need to do everything at once.
- Use the manager's built-in check to find reused or weak passwords.
Unsure whether a message asking for your password is genuine? See our guide to warning signs of scams.
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