A secure password consists of at least 12 characters that are chosen at random. However, no one can remember a bunch of random characters. Even writing them down on scraps of paper and Post-its quickly reaches its limits.
The best way to manage secure passwords is with a password manager. This kind of software remembers all your passwords and stores them securely and encrypted. It allows you to sort and organize your passwords easily. You can add notes and see when you last changed a password, among other things.
Password managers also offer a solution to a very common security problem: using the same password multiple times. I once had a very well-thought-out password that I used in many different places. Unfortunately, this greatly increases the risk of access data falling into the wrong hands. All it takes is one leaked list containing the password.
Password managers are available for all operating systems (Windows, Mac, Linux) as well as for smartphones and mobile devices (Android, iOS). The software is quite convenient; for instance, it usually provides extensions for web browsers. The password manager also saves the URL of a login page and immediately suggests the correct combination of username and password.
This might also protect you from fake websites, as your password manager will not provide the login data since the URL is unknown. (Unfortunately, you certainly are able to add it manually. But maybe the short moment of surprise is enough to make you realize that something is not right.)
Three of the best known password managers are:
- 1Password – A widely used password manager with many features for individuals and teams.
Visit the website of 1Password - Bitwarden – Open-source password manager with secure encryption and cross-platform use.
Visit the website of Bitwarden - Keeper – Great if you need to share passwords with others
Visit the website of LastPass
This article in Wired gives you a short overview over some of the password managers.