Where do you store all your passwords? Whether you rely on a password manager of your own choosing, or opt for the classic option of writing down all your passwords in your phone’s notes app, the information below may be of interest to you, as long as you care about your privacy and security. If you want to know the best way to protect your passwords on your smartphone, we are going to explain what we do to store and consult these keys safely.
Because it’s the quickest, most practical, and because it’s what most people do, you probably have a note app with passwords written down. No problem, we’ve all had those kinds of notes, but luckily, some of us now know that this is a mistake. If you still don’t know what it’s all about, here we analyze the best ways to keep your passwords safe on your smartphone.
Protecting your passwords is essential
In the digital age, our passwords are like the guardian of our personal data. From accessing our bank accounts to social networks and emails, a compromised password can lead to serious security problems. That’s why we shouldn’t take the way we manage them lightly. To be safe, follow these tips and don’t make it easy for them to start with all the dangers you expose yourself to when browsing with your smartphone.
Use a password manager
A password manager is an essential tool for keeping your passwords safe. Apps like NordPass, LastPass, or 1Password not only store your passwords, but they also encrypt them, ensuring that only you can access them. These apps generate strong, unique passwords for each of your accounts, significantly reducing the risk of them being hacked.
A good password manager offers multiple benefits:
- Enhanced Security: They use military-grade encryption to protect your data, typically the encryption algorithm is 256-bit AES.
- Convenience: You only need to remember one master password to access the rest of the keys and be able to copy and paste.
- Generation of secure passwords: They create complex and unique passwords for each account, this guarantees that we will not reuse passwords in different services.
- Autofill: Automatically fills in login fields, saving time and avoiding errors.
Set up two-factor authentication
Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of security to your accounts. With 2FA, in addition to your password, you’ll need a second factor, such as a code sent to your mobile phone, to access your account. This makes it harder for hackers to access your data even if they obtain your password. Nowadays, most password managers require a second factor of verification; in the case of smartphones, the smartphone itself will be the second authentication factor, so we will have a password to access all the information about the passwords later.
It is never advisable to use a 2FA system via SMS, as it is not secure. What you should do is use an authenticator application. Nowadays, we have options with local token storage such as Google Authenticator, and others such as Microsoft, Authy and even Latch, which is stored in the cloud, so that we can access all those tokens easily and quickly, and be able to change smartphones without having to deactivate 2FA for all accounts and re-enable it later.
Keep your device updated
Keeping your mobile device and apps up to date is critical for security. Updates often include security patches that fix known vulnerabilities. Set your phone to automatically update both the operating system and apps.
On all Android operating systems we have monthly security updates, pay close attention to these updates because they usually solve important security problems.
Use additional security applications
There are apps that can help protect your phone and your data. For example, firewall apps like NetGuard can monitor network traffic and block unwanted connections. Privacy-focused browsers like DuckDuckGo can prevent tracking of your online activities. And you can also make use of VPN services to secure all your internet connections, adding a layer of encryption and anonymity to your communications. Some highly recommended services include: CyberGhost VPN, Surfshark, NordVPN, PureVPN either PrivateVPN inter alia.
In our personal case, we use both a private browser and a VPN to our home, so that all internet traffic goes through our home connection. All traffic from our smartphone to the VPN server is encrypted and authenticated, to prevent anyone from capturing the traffic and reading it, or even manipulating it.
Avoid unsafe notes and apps
Storing your passwords in notes or apps that are not designed for security can expose your data to potential theft. Notes on your phone are not encrypted and can be viewed by anyone who accesses your device. The same goes for data storage apps that do not have adequate security measures in place. For this reason, it is not recommended at all to use a notes app to write down your passwords. It is very important that the app you use has additional authentication, whether based on a PIN, password or biometrics, but that it has this additional authentication.
Nowadays, there are manufacturers such as Samsung that provide their users with different applications to store passwords, credit cards and even other sensitive information and files. Although the software is Samsung’s own, the truth is that we have many configuration options, but, above all, we can add an additional layer of authentication.
In short, you see that protecting your passwords and, therefore, your personal information is vital in today’s digital world. If you have been doing so up until now, from now on, start avoiding that document with all your passwords in unsafe places like the notes on your phone. Instead, opt for solutions specially designed for security, such as password managers. Use two-factor authentication and don’t forget to always keep your device updated. By following these tips, you can keep your data safe from cybercriminals and enjoy greater peace of mind in your digital life.
