Stop Reusing Passwords: A Beginner's Guide

Here is a common scenario: You use the same password (maybe P@ssword123! or Fluffy2010) for Netflix, LinkedIn, and your email.

One day, LinkedIn gets hacked. Hackers steal millions of passwords. They now have your password. They don't just log into your LinkedIn; they run scripts to try that same email/password combination on Gmail, Amazon, Facebook, and your bank.

This is called "Credential Stuffing," and it is how most people get hacked.

The Solution: Every single website needs a unique, long, random password. The Problem: Humans can't remember 50 different random passwords like Xy9#mP2$Lq. The Fix: A Password Manager.

What is a Password Manager?

A password manager is a secure vault. You remember one strong "Master Password" to unlock the vault. Inside, the manager saves all your other logins. It can also generate secure random passwords for you.

You don't need to know what your Amazon password is. You just hit "Auto-fill."

Top Recommendation: Bitwarden

For 99% of users, Bitwarden is the best choice.

• Open Source: The code is public, so security experts can verify it is safe.
• Free: The free tier is incredibly generous. It syncs across unlimited devices (phone, laptop, tablet) for free.
• Secure: It uses "Zero Knowledge" encryption. Bitwarden (the company) cannot see your passwords. Only you can.

How to Switch

1. Install Bitwarden on your phone and browser.
2. Create an account with a very strong Master Password (use a passphrase like correct-horse-battery-staple but unique to you). Write this down on paper and hide it. If you lose it, you lose everything.
3. Start using it. When you log into a site, let Bitwarden save the login. When you create a new account, let Bitwarden generate the password.

Other Good Options

• 1Password: Extremely polished, great user experience, great family controls. It is not free (subscription only) and the code is not fully open source, but their security reputation is stellar. If you don't mind paying ~$3/month, it's excellent.
• KeePassXC: For advanced users who don't want their passwords stored in the "cloud" at all. You manage a local database file. It's totally free but harder to sync between devices.

Avoid: LastPass

LastPass was once the industry leader, but they suffered major security breaches where user vault data was stolen. Their response was slow and lacked transparency. We do not recommend them.