Use a Password Manager

Challenge

Are you overwhelmed with creating and remembering strong passwords for many online accounts you access at work and at home?

Are you risking multiple accounts by using the same password?

Solutions

Use a Password Manager

A password manager application can help you securely store your passwords. Password managers store passwords and other sensitive data in an encrypted vault/database accessed with a master password so you have only one password to remember.

Password managers may store the encrypted vault/database in different locations:

  • On your computer (good for passwords that are private to one computer)
  • In the cloud (good for passwords that you need to access on other computers/devices).

University staff and faculty should check with their Technology Support staff before using a password manager to store University passwords or authentication credentials. For those in a health care component area, store the password vault/database on a University managed device.

What else can a password manager do for you?

  • Generate unique passwords that meet complex password rules.
  • Access password-protected accounts in seconds, no typing required.
  • Save sensitive information like security questions or notes in an encrypted format.
  • Auto-fill information in online forms.
  • Save passwords when accessing an online account automatically after you install the plugin feature.
  • Automatically backup and sync your passwords across all your desktop and mobile platforms.

Things to Remember

  1. Use a password manager that uses strong encryption.
  2. Check with your Technology Support staff before using a password manager to store University passwords or authentication credentials.
  3. For those in a health care component area, store the password vault/database on a University managed device.
  4. Create a strong password or passphrase for the master password. Because you will be typing this passphrase many times throughout the day/week, select something that is easy to type – including on a cellphone keyboard.
  5. Remember your “master password”.  If you forget it, you will lose access to all of your other passwords on all sites or areas you used the password manager to store. The software vendor will not be able to recover your master password.
  6. Write down the password to your password manager and store that in a secure location.
  7. Maintain a backup copy of your password manager. For those in a health care component area, store the password database on a University managed device.