Protect Your Passwords – Now!

    Dashlane 3 is a big step up when it comes to effectively (and securely) managing a myriad of passwords.
    Dashlane 3 is a  big step up when it comes to effectively (and securely)  managing a myriad of passwords.
    Dashlane 3 is a big step up when it comes to effectively (and securely) managing a myriad of passwords.

    So what do you do with all the passwords and user names accumulated by your activities online? I sure can’t remember all of mine, and don’t really like to have them scribbled on a sheet of paper and stuffed in my sock in a dresser. It’s just not convenient and poses a security threat.

    And what do you do when you travel and may need to access sites? Do you carry that piece of paper with you? At all times? Those passwords could get into the wrong hands, revealing all sorts of identity information. Would you like only one secure “key” to all your passwords?

    Many digital solutions are out there, but one of the three solutions that PC magazine recently gave their top rating of five stars is Dashlane 3. The magazine’s words of caution: “If you are not using a password manager, you should start now.”

    Dashlane’s password manager works like this: Basically you only have to remember one master key to access all your encrypted data. It is not recorded anywhere by Dashlane; only you can provide it. Dashlane uses what they call “the world’s leading standard” for encryption – AES-256. You can choose to store in the cloud or purely local. To provide more security, Dashlane says you can add “two-factor authentication” with Google Authenticator.

    Among many security options on the Dashlane site is the ability to quickly change passwords with one click on multiple accounts. Weak or compromised passwords are changed online and saved in Dashlane and are available on all your devices, or whatever ones you choose.

    Here are a few tips (from Yahoo Finance and Wired’s Mat Honanto) to further protect your security:

    • Change often: Always change your password after using public Wi-Fi, say at a café, hotel or airport.

    • Create strong passwords: Don’t use the same password for different sites. Don’t use the name of your pets, kids or relatives, favorite sports team, where you were born. These are not strong passwords.

    • Delete automatic emails:  When you create a new password, an email is automatically generated. Get rid of those immediately.

    • Long is good: Passwords should be long and contain letters, numbers and symbols.