Your Passwords Deserve Better

If you only take one step this year to improve your online security, let it be this: get a password manager. Not later. Now. It’s one of the most powerful, sanity-saving tools you can add to your life, especially when paired with multifactor authentication (we’ll cover that next week).

Let’s unpack why.

Why do I need a password manager?

So glad you asked. We live in a digital sprawl. From banking to email to streaming services, we have accounts everywhere. Trying to remember dozens (or hundreds) of logins? That’s a setup for reused passwords, weak choices, and frustration.

A password manager keeps everything in one encrypted, secure place. It automatically creates strong, unique passwords. It remembers them so you don’t have to. And many can store other useful information too: like credit card numbers, notes, and scanned documents.

Think of it like a fireproof safe for your online identity.

Can’t I just write them down?

Let’s be honest: you can use a paper notebook. There’s nothing wrong with that if:

• It’s physically secured like the treasure it is

• Your passwords are unique, long, and complex

• You don’t spill coffee on it, lose it, or accidentally recycle it during spring cleaning

But when I say password managers are better, I mean resilient, portable, and encrypted. A paper book can’t sync across devices or autofill your login at 2AM when you just want to watch one more episode of The Great British Baking Show on your tablet. A password manager can.

Why DIY passwords don’t cut it anymore

People used to get away with using “Password123!” for years. Some still do. Those folks should buy lottery tickets while their luck holds, because it’s not going to last much longer.

Let’s talk cryptography for a second.

Password managers use cryptography (ie: math – really good math) to create passwords that are exponentially harder to crack. I’m not a cryptographer, and I don’t play one on TV, so I won’t take you down the rabbit hole of salts, hashes, and key derivation functions. But if you're curious, There’s a fantastic discussion of it in Cory Doctorow’s book Little Brother.

The bottom line: your brain is no match for a machine when it comes to password generation. Let the math win.

Bad password habits (and better ones)

Here’s a list of what not to do:

• Reuse the same password everywhere

• Use personal info like birthdays or pet names

• Write passwords on sticky notes stuck to your monitor

• Save passwords in your browser without a master password

• Use “Password123!” or “LetMeIn!” (we’ve all done it, no shame, just stop)

Here’s what you should be doing:

• Use a password manager

• Let it generate random, unguessable passwords

• Enable two-factor authentication wherever possible

Password Managers Make Life Easier — Now and Later

Whether you're helping a parent stay organized or preparing for the what-ifs in life, a password manager can make things much easier. It’s not just about convenience: it’s about being ready.

Let’s break it down:

Legacy planning

Let’s say your parent or grandparent passes away. Now you need to close accounts, cancel subscriptions, and access financial tools. But there’s no paper trail, no neatly organized file cabinet. Just a jumble of online services and billing cycles.

A password manager lets a trusted person access exactly what they need, no guesswork. It’s peace of mind for them and for you.

Resiliency planning

Disasters happen. Fires, floods, tornadoes, landslides. I’ve been through one myself. When my car was flooded, all of its paperwork was destroyed. But I still had everything that mattered digitally, because it was stored in my password manager.

I pulled up my car registration from my phone and showed it to the DMV to get a replacement registration. That small act felt like a superpower.

You can’t always save the original documents. But with a password manager, you can save access. That’s gold.

Wait, what about my browser’s password tool?

It’s better than nothing, but not by much. Browsers (like Chrome or Safari) do save passwords, but:

• They aren’t encrypted to the same degree

• They’re only as secure as your browser account login

• They can’t store backup documents or secure notes

• They often don’t work well outside the browser

Your digital lockbox starts here

Just like you lock your front door, your car, and your safe, you should lock down your digital life. A good password manager is that lock.

This week’s action: Choose your password manager

If you don’t already have a password manager, this is your moment. You don’t need to install anything yet. Just pick one.

Some have free tiers, and that’s perfectly fine to start with. The goal this week is simply to choose the tool that’s going to help you stay safer and more organized online.

We recommend:

• 1Password 

• LastPass

Next week, we’ll walk you through how to set it up, import your logins, and start using it with confidence. One small decision now can save you a whole lot of trouble later.

Further reading

• EFF: Choosing a password manager

• Security Education Companion: Password Managers

• Digital estate planning with 1Password

What else is brewing…

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