Why storing passwords on a connected device isn’t safe

Why storing passwords on a connected device isn’t safe

By Edwin Alvarado

Cybersecurity experts recommend that you have a different password for all of your accounts. With the average employee having close to 200 accounts, remembering a unique password for each one seems impossible AND ridiculous when I can’t even remember phone numbers anymore (Yes, there was a time when people actually did that). So, it’s no surprise that we resort to the easiest way possible to keep track of our passwords. 

What is the easiest way, you ask? Storing them on your device, obviously. Admit it, you know you’ve done it at some point. We all have. Whether it’s in a note on your phone, a spreadsheet or you let your web browser save them for you, it’s just not a good idea because they are still connected to the internet. Storing passwords on your device may be convenient but in reality, it’s not safe considering they can still be reached by bad actors, and I don’t mean Steven Seagal. It’s very important to keep in mind that anything connected to the internet can be hacked.

The second problem is, if you leave your device unlocked someone can physically access your passwords for all of your accounts. At the very least you should be making sure that your phone, computer, tablet, etc. always have some type of lock on them to prevent someone from physically accessing them. There’s also a lot of third-party lock screen/security apps available to add additional security to what already comes with Android or iOS. Many of them are free to use and give you the choice to use patterns, swipe movements, fingerprints, voice or facial recognition. Just google them. 

Now that you know better, don’t be lazy. Make sure you take extra caution to protect your passwords. Whether you are using Stash, some other password manager or writing them down in a notebook, use a solution that fits your needs and also keeps your data as safe as possible.