Don't Click on That
Cart 0
Home Resources Security for Business
New Here?
All Blog Posts Passwords Social Media Digital Footprint
Cart 0
Home Blog All Blog Posts Passwords Social Media Digital Footprint ResourcesSecurity for Business
Don't Click on That
New Here?

How to Secure your Passwords in 30 Minutes

password_manager1.JPG

Many people delay setting up a password manager because it seems like a big time commitment to get started. It doesn’t have to be and I’m here to give you some tips on how to set-up a password manager when time is not on your side.

Step 1: Choose your password manager.

Trusting one company to hold all of your passwords can seem scary. So many people ask me, “What if the password manager becomes breached? Doesn’t this put your passwords at more risk?”

This is a very smart question and definitely one worth asking. This is why it is important to choose a company that you can trust. Searching for a secure password manager also adds to the time commitment to set-up a password manager. So for the sake of time, I’ve done that for you. Here are my top 3 recommendations, the reasons I trust them, and a comparison of the features between them.

Lastpass Dashlane 1password
Ease of Use Ranking (based off personal use) 2nd 1st 3rd
Cost Free
Premium @ $2/mo
Family @ $4/mo
Free
Premium @ $4.99/mo
Premium Plus @ 9.99/mo
Individual @ $2.99/mo
Family @ $4.99/mo
Strong Password generation Yes Yes Yes
Breach Alerts Yes Yes Yes
Family Account Option Yes No Yes
Secure Password Sharing Yes Yes Yes
Travel Safety Mode No No Yes
Mobile App Yes, Android, iOS, Windows Yes: Android & iOS Yes: Android, iOS, Windows
Desktop App Yes: Mac, Windows, Linux Yes: Mac and Windows Yes: Mac and Windows
Browser Extension Yes: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Internet Explorer, Opera Yes: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Internet Explorer, Edge, Opera Yes: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Opera

Why I trust these 3 companies?

All 3 of these companies use the strongest level of encryption that is currently available in the industry, AES-256 encryption. This is referred to as “Military grade encryption”, which is widely used by governments and banks. Even if the encrypted data were to become compromised, it would take billions of years for a computer to decrypt this level of encryption.

What is encryption? Encryption is the process of encoding a message or data so that only authorized parties can access it.

Step 2: Create your account.

Okay, now that you have chosen your password manager, let’s create an account. Things that you should keep in mind:

Create a strong master password to protect your password management account. It is going to store a lot of sensitive information, so pick a good one. But there is good news: this is the only password you need to remember.  I suggest going with a long nonsensical phrase, like Pillowsliketojumpandhide! (Don’t use this one ;))

Or take your favorite song lyric and take the first letter from each word in the line. If you are constantly singing Taylor Swift, the lyric...


The world moves on, another day, another drama, drama

But not for me all I think about is karma!


turns into

TwmoadaddBnfmaItaik!

(Try guessing that hackers!)

Enable two-factor authentication on your password manager account: Keep that account extra secure by turning on two-factor authentication. This protects the account from unwanted intruders, in the case that your master password falls into the wrong hands. This is done by requiring an additional code at login that is generated by an item in your possession (Like an app on your phone).

Two-factor authentication is a method of confirming your identity when logging into an account through a combination of two different factors: something you know, something you have, or something you are.

To save you some time, here are the support guides for each of the companies I suggested above:

LastPass Guide on Setting up Two-Factor Authentication

Dashlane Guide on Setting up Two-Factor Authentication

1password Guide on Setting up Two-Factor Authentication

Step 3. Make your account easy for you to access.

Where will you need to access your password manager? Your laptop? Your phone? Download the desktop app, browser extension, and mobile app. Then log into your account in all these different places. Then you are ready to go when you need to access them and don’t have to waste time later.

Step 4. Add your accounts to your password manager

This seems like the most time consuming part of the process, especially if you have a lot of accounts. But here is the secret, you don’t need to add your accounts right now. You are already finished setting your password manager up! Pat yourself on the back.

But how do I add all my passwords?!

Commit yourself to adding a password to your password manager the next time you log into a new account. This breaks the process up into a more manageable chunks. After about a month, you will have the majority of your passwords safely stored in your password manager.

Some things to keep in mind as you are adding passwords…

Ask yourself, is my current password secure?

My criteria for a secure password:

  • Is it long? (12 characters or longer)

  • Is it unique? (Does only this account use this password)

If you answered No to any of those questions, change your password and store the new, secure password in your password manager. Even a password manager cannot protect an account if the password is bad.

Finally, find out if your current password has been compromised in a data breach? To do this, visit https://haveibeenpwned.com/ and enter your username or email address to check.

Now go celebrate for a half hour well spent. 🎉

Want more content like this?

Sign up for my newsletter.

We care about your privacy. We will never share your email and will only send Don’t Click on That related content and updates.

Thank you!



Account Security, PasswordsKristen KozinskiAugust 5, 2018Comment
Twitter LinkedIn0 StumbleUpon Reddit Tumblr Pinterest0 0 Likes
Previous

The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up Online

Digital FootprintKristen KozinskiJanuary 17, 2019Digital Footprint3 Comments
Next

Hacking a Good Password

Account Security, PasswordsKristen KozinskiJanuary 29, 2018password, password manager, passwords

Follow me on Instagram

🌻Double Tap if you’re ready for spring. Y'all, this southerner is ready for some warm weather. My first New York winter has been relatively mild, but my southern mindset means my body is craving the sunshine after 4 months of chilly temps. I include fall in that because fall in NY is basically “southern winter.”
☀️
You can find me in my cozy NY apartment until spring has come. HURRY UP SPRING! Share your favorite flower emoji below.
.
.
.
.
.
#citylife #southerner #itscold #nyc #newyork #newyorkcity #southern #springtime #womensupportingwomen #theinstagramlab #tilinsiders #creativeentrepreneur #mompreneur #momlife #workingmom
🙋RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU LIKE PODCASTS. I had the privilege of being on the Learn to Code with Me podcast, and today my episode airs. I shared one of my favorite stories, my journey into tech. It’s a weird and wonderful story that started with me working in a shrimp restaurant wanting a better life for my family. 🍤
I’ll never forget the year I decided to go back to school. My son was almost a year old. That Christmas, his first Christmas, all of his toys were 2nd hand. We were surviving on food vouchers from WIC and rent was always late. 🌙
Sometimes looking into the past feels like a dream. I feel fortunate to be in the place we are today, but I also have to remind myself of the hard work that it took to get us here. That hustle will never die and lives on today in Don’t Click on That and my new project, Complayance. What dreams are you trying to accomplish?
.
.
.
.
.
#keepgoing #determined #positivity #womensupportingwomen #theinstagramlab #tilinsiders #womeninbusiness #femaleentrepreneur #creativeentrepreneur #cybersecurity #womenintech #hustle #techladies #womeninstem #womenentrepreneurs #tech
🗒️Like this post if your list to-do list out of control! I am guilty of creating overly ambitious to-do lists. It’s all gotta get done, right?! I should create a list of it ALL. NOPE! I realized after doing this for years; I was setting myself up for failure. Why? Because no matter how productive I was, the list was never-ending. It made me feel like I wasn’t doing enough or working fast enough.
☑️
Now I spend my morning setting more clear intentions for the day. I plan my list and make sure I am setting myself up for success. I also evaluate each item on my list. I ask myself, what things do I need to do to complete that item? If it’s more than two things, I break it out. It helps me better evaluate my time, and it feels great checking off tasks.
🏆
This approach helps me end the day on the more positive note of completing my list. What are your to-do list tips?
.
.
.
.
.
#mondaymotivation #mondaymindset #mondaymood #mondaymorning #newweek #jamminonmyplanner #workforit #positivevibes #planner #planning #hustle #theinstagramlab #tilinsiders #mompreneur #creativeentrepreneur #womensupportingwomen #notebooktherapy #onmydesk
TELL ME ABOUT YOUR VALENTINE. It’s hard to believe that I’ve been married to this smart ass for almost 10 years. Cam may tease me and play pranks on me from time to time, but he makes up for it with the love he gives our family.
.
I work one job during the day and then spend my evenings working on Don’t Click on That, between both my time is limited. He helps me enjoy what’s left by handling the majority of the domestic duties, like cooking dinner, doing laundry, and making sure our kid does his homework. He supports my dreams and believes in my future, and I love him forever for that.
.
Who is your Valentine? It doesn’t have to be about romance, just someone who loves and supports your dreams and goals.
.
.
.
.
.
#valentinesday #supportivespouse #superdad #marriage #smiles #bestfriends #bff
 #husband #datenight #dadstagram #love #support #mompreneur #theinstagramlab #tilinsiders
DOUBLE TAP IF YOU’RE A FACEBOOK USER.
I’ve had many conversations with my friends and colleagues about Facebook in the last year. Most on the topic of "should I stay or should I go?" They’ve had some tough news days, and people are really starting to evaluate how they use and interact with the platform. In response, there is a slew of new privacy and security settings that you should be using.
.
Read my advice on the best settings to enable on Facebook, today on the blog. Link in bio.
.
.
.
.
.
#facebook #facebookadvice #facebookprivacy #facebooklife #ontheblog #linkinbio  #womensupportingwomen #theinstagramlab #tilinsiders
 #socialmedia #womeninbusiness #femaleentrepreneur #creativeentrepreneur #fblogger #privacy #cybersafety #internetsecurity #onlinesafety #cybersecurity #safety #technology #data
My name is Kristen and I’ve worked in Cybersecurity for the past 3 years, with a total of 7 years working in tech. I had the idea a couple years back to create a website that teaches people how to secure themselves online. I created it after my friends and family had experienced issues of their own and had no resources to help them resolve it. I didn’t want this website to be boring, as most security education is. I’ve hustled for the past 2 years designing, writing, and building a place that will empower people to make better decisions about their personal information online. After 2 years, very low traffic, and continued resistance from my friends to change their habits, I’m starting to feel like personal security is a place that people don’t want help in. At least not in this way. For that reason, I am contemplating an ending Don’t Click in That and exploring another path to go down.
kristen@dontclickonthat.com
Hours
Guide to Not Getting HackedContactNew Here?Social MediaPasswordsDigital FootprintResourcesTerms of Use & Privacy Policy

Copyright 2019 Don’t Click on That, LLC