ONE TECH TIP: WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU HAVE TOO MANY PASSWORDS TO REMEMBER

Everyone has too many passwords.

The credentials we need to remember to navigate online life keep multiplying, not just for frequently used email, banking, social media, Netflix and Spotify logins, but also, say, the little known e-commerce site you’re not sure you’ll buy from again.

According to some unscientific studies, the average person has hundreds of passwords. That’s a lot to keep track of. You might be tempted to recycle them, but it’s one of the bad password habits that cybersecurity experts warn against.

Instead, use a password manager. They’ve been around for a while and can be useful tools to keep on top of your credentials. But they can also be intimidating for those who aren’t tech-savvy.

Here’s a guide on how to use them:

WHY SHOULD I USE A PASSWORD MANAGER?

Many people just use the same password for all their online accounts, mainly because it’s the most convenient thing to do.

Don’t!

If your credentials are caught in a cyber breach, the hackers could try using the stolen passwords to get into other services.

Other no-nos: Using easily guessed information like birthdays, names of family members, favorite sports teams, or simple phrases like abc123.

The best strategy, experts say, is to use a different password for each account, the longer and more complex the better, backed up by two-factor authentication where possible.

But it’s impossible to remember all those various codes. So let a password manager do the job.

HOW DOES A PASSWORD MANAGER WORK?

The basic concept is simple: Your passwords are stored securely in a digital vault. When you need to access an online service, it auto-fills the login and password fields. The only thing you’ll need to remember is a single password to open the password manager.